Free thought/free speech – Fritt Ord allocates MNOK 1.5 to freedom of expression projects at public libraries

August 27 2021

This past spring, Fritt Ord invited applications for grants of NOK 60 000 each for debates and discussions based on non-fiction and fiction literature on issues involving freedom of expression. The Foundation received 47 applications, and will award funding to 27 applicants. Altogether, MNOK 1.5 will be divided among libraries all across Norway.

Fritt Ord has included a broad scope of presentation ideas, giving priority to presentations that address and discuss current issues related to free speech. The successful projects will promote literature through panel discussions, lectures, talks with writers, and school projects.

Examples of successful projects:

The Asker Libraries, “Queer censorship”
Series of events in connection with the Year of Queer Culture in 2022, including meetings to discuss the LGBTQ movement’s challenges, and topics such as transgender history and the censorship of queer literature and films.

Grünerløkka Branch, Deichman Library, “Free thought/free speech”
Series of events to explore some of today’s predominant narratives about freedom of expression. The meetings will shed light on myths related to freedom of expression, the space available for free speech and representation, and freedom of expression and racism.

Hamarøy Library, “Mihá Cultural Festival”
Three meetings will be arranged during the Mihá Cultural Festival on the topics religion, minority culture and feminism, based on relevant fiction and non-fictional prose.

Ringsaker Library, “Racism and hate speech”
Series of meetings on right-wing extremist and racist statements, with local conditions in Brummunddal as an historic backdrop. Six events featuring non-fiction writers, based on publications involving current affairs.

This invitation from Fritt Ord is intended to encourage the innovative promotion of language and literature, and to strengthen public libraries as communications arenas. The projects will be carried out in 2021-2022.

News

See all

Call for nominations: Free Media Awards 2025

March 14 2025

In collaboration with the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS of Hamburg, the Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated the Free Media Awards annually since 2004 to Eastern European journalists and media that defy every obstacle to tirelessly ensure independent press coverage. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the subsequent wave of disinformation clearly demonstrates the need for independent reporting in the region. Journalist, editorial teams and media companies in and from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Hungary who make a contribution to press freedom through their investigative, independent reporting can be nominated for the Free Media Awards.

Civitates' Tech & Democracy open call

March 6 2025

Civitates – The European Democracy Fund is a pooled philanthropic fund that was set up in 2018 for the sole purpose of addressing democratic decline and closing civic space in Europe. The case for confronting these threats is growing increasingly urgent. Fritt Ord Foundation is one of the initiators and partners of Civitates.

Civitates has launched its Tech and Democracy open call to support organisations working to ensure safer, more inclusive online spaces (social media platforms, search engines etc.) by improving the enforcement of EU tech regulations at the national level.

This open call offers a unique opportunity to strengthen civil society’s role in holding the tech sector accountable, with a focus on key EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act, GDPR, AI Act or the European Media Freedom Act to name a few.

Norwegians increasingly more positive to computer games

March 5 2025

Norwegians are increasingly more positive to accepting computer games as culture

About 17 per cent have developed a more favourable view of computer games over the past year. Six of ten play computer games, and one of three plays computer games weekly. At the same time, computer games are ranked as having lower status than books and music, for example.
“Computer games deserve more attention and discussion”, contends Joakim Lie of Fritt Ord.

– Computer games are also art

March 4 2025

“The problem with far too many media reports about computer games is that they start begin with sentences like: ‘computer games have come a long way since Pac-Man’,” sighs American computer game critic Jacob Geller.

“Let us first simply agree that computer games are indeed an art form and an expression of culture, and then let us examine the works as part of the history of art and culture.