Kraumur Music Fund is an independent foundation established by the Aurora Charity Fund. Its aim is to strengthen Icelandic musical life, primarily by supporting young musicians in performing and presenting their works. This will be done by strengthening the position of young musicians in Iceland through direct grants, professional assistance, and various forms of cooperation.

The fund also intends to fulfil its mission by sharing knowledge in the field, for example by courses, consulting and workshops, as well as through working in cooperation with those who share the same goals.

Aurora Board Reasoning:

“Icelandic musical life has a special uniqueness, in particular because of the palpable power and boldness that characterise young musicians. The Sugarcubes and Björk pioneered the global explosion of Icelandic music, and many musicians have followed in their footsteps with amazing results. Today, the Icelandic music experience has become one of the strongest elements of the image that Iceland and Icelanders enjoy abroad. The unusual interplay of pop and classical music can be a driving force in ongoing successes. The support of young musicians in their works, and in various forms of cooperation, creates a stronger foundation under this important growth area of Icelandic culture.”

Eldar Ástþórsson, General Manager of Kraumur, says that during this first year of operation, the Music Fund and its operations have been extremely well received and that lines have been drawn for future operations. However, the working procedure shall always be adjusted to what is currently happening in the music scene. „Kraumur is in its formative years and will continue to be so – after all, Kraumur is by far intended to take the form of a stiff institution with trajectories built in stone. We were very active last year, for example in projects such as the Invasion and the Kraumur Awards but also in direct support to artists such as Mugison, Víkingur Heiðar Ólafsson, and their projects. It is safe to say that Kraumur's support came to good use and was of pivotal importance for many of the projects. Direct, financial support, was obviously important, but our professional consultation was in many cases no less important. For example to get people noticed or to get in touch with the right people to get to the next level. In some cases, Kraumur itself was the protagonist for projects and the Professional Council was active and had a lot of input in two, good meetings. This first year of Kraumur operations has been eventful and we plan on continuing this good work next year!"

Kraumur's direct, financial support to artists in 2008

• Mugison: concerts and PR abroad.
• Víkingur Heiðar Ólafsson: concerts, teaching and introductions in schools.
• Amiina: concerts outside the capital area.
• Celestine: assistance in record production.
• Dikta: assistance in record production.
• Elfa Rún Kristinsdóttir: assistance in record production.
• FM Belfast: assistance in record production.
• Skakkamanage: assistance in record production.
• Ólöf Arnalds: assistance in record production.

Kraumur independent projects in 2008

• The Invasion (IS: Innrásin): An effort to support bands and artists to hold concerts in the countryside. Among the artists supported are: Benni Hemm Hemm, Benny Crespo’;s Gang, Bloodgroup, Borko, Dr. Spock, Elfa Rún Kristinsdóttir, Melkorka Ólafsdóttir, Morðingjarnir, Njútón, Reykjavík!, Sign, Skátar, and Sykur.
• The Kraumur Awards: New record awards, created to introduce and support record production of Icelandic bands and artists. Also to award and call attention to works that are thought to excel in quality, ambition, and originality.

Other projects of Kraumur in 2008

• Nature – concert on June 28_th featuring Sigur Rós, Björk and Ólöf Arnalds
  The Aurora Fund and Kraumur assisted in this free, outdoor concert. Around 30.000 people attended the concert, held in the park by the old laundry pools in Reykjavik, and over 2, 5 million people watched through the internet all over the world.
• Video/Internet/podcast programming
  Kraumur supports Stuart Rogers in reporting on the Icelandic music scene and its musicians in both pictures and words on the Internet. Stuart's Video Podcasts have received deserved attention on both Youtube.com and his own internet-television station, Lo Fi TV. He has, for example, recorded the Invasion concerts in the countryside, visited artists in their rehearsal space, as well as artists' ateliers, and recorded material from the Iceland Airwaves festival. Aside from Kraumur, the Icelandic Tourist Board's Office in the USA has supported Stuart's visits to the country.
• Kimi & Kraumur on Smiðjustígur
  Kraumur and Kimi Records put together a schedule of events in the rehearsal space of several bands on Smiðjustígur 4a during the Iceland Airwaves festival. Some of the most promising artists within the Icelandic music scene performed there, including: Retro Stefson, Reykjavík!, Dísa, Arnljótur og vinir, and Borko. Access was free.
• Ólafur Arnalds's concert in Fríkirkjan, feat. Ólöf Arnalds, on Dec. 18_th Ólafur finished his six month tour around Europe and N-America with a concert in Fríkirkjan. Kraumur supported the concert and helped arrange it.
• Concert in the Icelandic Opera on Dec. 28_th
  Some of the most promising bands in the country combined their forces: For a Minor Reflection, Retro Stefson, Ólafur Arnalds, XXX Rottweiler, and the Ultra Mega Technobandið Stefán.