Strong interest in Polyfon's new development funding scheme
This year, Polyfon launched a new development funding scheme for the first time to support the development of practice and services. We received many strong applications and are pleased to present the seven projects that were awarded funding in this round.
Published:
Development funding welcomed as a new initiative
By the 1 June deadline, we had received many applications presenting exciting and important projects. Following a thorough assessment by an independent external committee, seven projects were selected for funding in this first round. The projects are presented below in alphabetical order by the name of the lead cluster partner.
The Norwegian Academy of Music
Establishing a mentoring scheme for newly qualified music therapists
Project leader: Ingeborg Nebelung
Funding awarded: NOK 68,000
Project summary
"This project aims to establish a mentoring and supervision scheme for newly qualified music therapists (within their first two years of practice). The scheme will include both individual and group-based sessions, with a particular focus on challenges related to the transition from education to professional practice. The aim is to strengthen participants' confidence, sense of professional competence and professional identity, while reducing the risk of attrition from the profession.
The programme will be based on participants' own experiences and challenges, with an emphasis on developing practical tools for working in interdisciplinary teams and navigating the role of a music therapist across different sectors. The project builds on experiences from a previous research and development project, in which group-based supervision proved effective even when participants worked in diverse fields such as elderly care, mental health and education.
Through this project, we aim to lay the foundation for a sustainable supervision and mentoring scheme that can be further developed and implemented across the music therapy field, helping to strengthen professional identity and foster a stronger professional community among music therapists."
Note: The English version of this project summary has been translated by Polyfon.
Partssamarbeid Vestland, represented by Vestland County Council
Music as a health-promoting resource in municipal services in Voss herad
Project leader: June Eide Viken.
Collaborating cluster partner: Voss DPS, NKS Bjørkeli
Other collaborating partners: The District Musicians in Voss Municipality/ Vestland County Council
Funding awarded: NOK 90,000
Project summary
"Partssamarbeid Vestland is seeking funding for a development project aimed at mapping and strengthening the use of music and music therapy in municipal health and care services in Voss Municipality. The project is planned as a three-stage initiative over three years. Funding is currently being sought for the first stage.
The aim of the first stage is to carry out a local needs assessment for music therapy, explore collaboration with the District Musicians in Voss Municipality, and strengthen transitions and follow-up care between specialist and municipal health services in collaboration with Voss DPS. The project aligns with Voss Municipality's health and care strategy (2025-2035) and mental health and substance use strategy (2024-2034), both of which emphasise prevention, empowerment and early intervention.
The project may also provide insights and approaches that can be transferred to other municipalities within the Polyfon collaboration."
Note: The English version of this project summary has been translated by Polyfon for publication.
ROM-Agder
ROM-Agder submitted two applications and both were awarded funding.
Inclusive musical meeting places: from initiative to sustainable practice
Project leader: Alexander Bjotveit Østerholt.
Collaborating cluster partners: Ansgar University College, Kristiansand Municipality and Sørlandet Hospital.
Other collaborating partners: Arendal Municipality (Kulturkammeret and Lassens Hus, Unit for Activity and Coping), Med hjerte for Arendal, Blå Kors Kristiansand, AKKS Kristiansand, Ung i Risør, the Interdisciplinary Team for Children and Young People – Mental Health and Environment (TIBU) in Risør, and Agder Music Council.
Funding awarded: NOK 55,000
Project summary
"ROM-Agder, a regional user-led resource centre, is developing low-threshold inclusive musical meeting places through the project Inclusive musical meeting places in Agder. The first initiatives are being established in Kristiansand, Arendal and Risør.
The project is closely connected to Polyfon's development of a regional hub for Southern Norway and the wider development of music therapy services in the region. During the initial phase of the project, we have experienced strong support and engagement from leaders, colleagues and participants alike. The next challenge is to develop sustainable initiatives that can be embedded in regular services, balance professional expertise and user involvement, and be adapted for use in other municipalities across Agder.
To support a sustainable and professionally grounded development process, psychologist and specialist practitioner Birgit Valla will lead the initial phase of a collaborative development process. The aim is to bring together service users, professionals, municipalities, specialist health services, voluntary organisations and representatives from the music therapy field to develop a shared language and understanding of what is needed to create successful inclusive musical meeting places.
At this stage, funding is being sought to organise a professional development day led by Birgit Valla. This event will serve as the starting point for further development work focusing on professional quality, recovery-oriented practice, collaboration across services and sectors, and the development of sustainable low-threshold initiatives. The process will result in a set of values and principles for inclusive musical meeting places."
Note: The English version of this project summary has been translated by Polyfon.
User-to-user evaluation of inclusive musical meeting places in Agder
Project leader: Alexander Bjotveit Østerholt.
Collaborating cluster partners: Ansgar University College, Kristiansand Municipality and Sørlandet Hospital.
Other collaborating partners: Ung i Risør, the Interdisciplinary Team for Children and Young People – Mental Health and Environment (TIBU) in Risør, Blå Kors Kristiansand, Arendal Municipality, Kulturkammeret Arendal, the Competence Centre for User Experience and Service Development (KBT), and Sagatun Recovery.
Funding awarded: NOK 94,500
Project summary
"ROM-Agder, a regional user-led resource centre, is developing low-threshold inclusive musical meeting places through the project Inclusive musical meeting places in Agder. The first initiatives are being established in Kristiansand, Arendal and Risør. The target group includes anyone who would benefit from a musical meeting place in everyday life, with a particular focus on people who have previously taken part in music therapy within child welfare services, mental health services, substance use services or the correctional system.
To ensure high-quality services and generate knowledge that can support the development of similar initiatives regionally and nationally, ROM-Agder plans to carry out user-led evaluations. This approach involves training service users in a focus group methodology, enabling them to interview participants about their experiences of the service. The findings then form the basis for dialogue meetings between service users and providers, with the aim of developing a shared understanding of the service and identifying opportunities for improvement. Finally, a report is produced, combining a summary of the findings with participant quotations that illustrate how the service is experienced.
ROM-Agder is seeking development funding from Polyfon to deliver training in the user-led evaluation method, recruit participants for the training programme, and carry out evaluations of the inclusive musical meeting places in Kristiansand, Arendal and Risør."
Note: The English version of this project summary has been translated by Polyfon for publication on this website.
Innlandet Hospital
Professional seminar on leadership engagement and the implementation of music therapy in the Mental Health and Substance Use Clinic at Innlandet Hospital
Project leader: Ingunn Thomassen Berg
Funding awarded: NOK 60,000
Project summary
"The Mental Health and Substance Use Clinic at Innlandet Hospital Trust recently became a member of Polyfon. This provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen the development of music therapy within the clinic. We are seeking funding for a professional seminar for department heads, unit managers and key staff with responsibility for professional development and service priorities. The aim is to strengthen leadership support for, and implementation of, music therapy across the clinic's services.
The seminar will be planned in consultation with the Clinic Director and held in connection with Rockovery Innlandet in October 2026. This will allow participants both to experience music therapy in practice and to take part in professional discussions on implementation, prioritisation and service development.
The clinic currently employs two music therapists. To make music therapy available to a greater number of patients who may benefit from it, stronger support at department and unit level is needed, together with a foundation for further capacity building."
Note: The English version of this project summary has been translated by Polyfon.
University of South-Eastern Norway
Establishing the Østafjells Music Therapy Network
Project leader: Ingelill Susann Berger Eide
Awarded funding: NOK 35,000
Project summary
"The Østafjells Music Therapy Network aims to establish a professional network for music therapists in a region where services are limited and geographically dispersed, thereby strengthening the music therapy community across the region.
The network will provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, collegial support and quality improvement of existing services, while also encouraging the development of new music therapy initiatives. As a first step, two network meetings will be organised, and funding is being sought to support the establishment of the network and the launch of these activities."
Note: The English version of this project summary has been translated by Polyfon.
Voss DPS NKS Bjørkeli
Further developing music therapy across community mental health centres and municipal services
Project leader: Tor Øyel Bidne Kvitne
Collaborating cluster partner: Partssamarbeid Vestland, represented by Vestland County Council
Funding awarded: NOK 108,000
Prosjektsamandrag
"The project Further developing music therapy across community mental health centres and municipal services is a one-year development project led by Voss DPS NKS Bjørkeli, starting in autumn 2026. The overall aim is to strengthen collaboration around music therapy services, with a particular focus on improving transitions between specialist health services and participation in everyday community life.
The project is based on the observation that people who have taken part in music therapy at the community mental health centre currently have limited opportunities to continue their musical engagement after completing treatment. In some cases, this has led to a loss of momentum in the recovery process and an increased need for re-referral to services.
The project is organised into four phases: needs assessment, service development, documentation, and dissemination. It will be carried out in close collaboration between Voss DPS and partners in Partssamarbeid Vestland.
The application seeks funding of NOK 108,000. The project partners will contribute substantial in-kind resources in the form of project management and advisory support.
The project's findings and approaches may be transferable to other municipalities and regions and are directly relevant to Polyfon's work on implementing music therapy across a range of services."
Note: The English version of this project summary has been translated by Polyfon.