Fritt Ord's Grants for critics awarded for 2024-2025

June 19 2024

The Fritt Ord Foundation awards annual grants to critics for 2024-2025. At NOK 250 000 each, the grants should result in a steady stream of reviews during the period from August 2024 to August 2025.

This year’s 10 grants have been awarded to Andreas Breivik (Klassekampen), Ida Madsen Hestman (Klassekampen), Mari Grydeland (Aftenposten), Sigrid Elise Strømmen (Vårt Land ), Mariken Lauvstad (Klassekampen), Per Christian Selmer-Andersen (Aftenposten), Rasmus Andreas Hungnes (Dag og Tid), Renate Rivedal (Bergens Tidende), Eivind Myklebust (Klassekampen) and Viviana Vega (Morgenbladet).

The critics work in literature, film and TV, pictorial art, dramatic art, music, computer games and general cultural issues. Several of those who write for journals and magazines also write for newspapers.

Further information
For more information, please contact Executive Director Knut Olav Åmås by email at: knut.olav.amas@frittord.no

Allocations 2024-2025

  • Andreas Breivik, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Eivind Myklebust, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Ida Madsen Hestman, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Mari Grydeland, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Mariken Lauvstad, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Per Christian Selmer-Andersen, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Rasmus Andreas Hungnes, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Renate Rivedal, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Sigrid Elise Strømmen, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000
  • Viviana Vega, Grant for critics, NOK 250 000

Earlier grants
A complete list of the recipients of the Fritt Ord Foundation’s Grants for critics is available in the grants database (choose “all years” and “category": “Grants for critics”).

News

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.

Call for nominations: Free Media Awards 2025

March 3 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. Journalists and media in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Hungary that promote freedom of the press through their investigative and independent reporting are eligible to be nominated for the Free Media Awards.

Art and Institutions: “I Demand a Museum to Feel its Own Floors Tremble When Other Museums are Destroyed in War”

February 12 2025

Saturday 22 February 2025 at Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, from 14.30 to 16.30 h.

Conversation with Adam Budak (Poland/Germany), Stefanie Carp (Germany), Matej Drlička (Slovakia), Andrea Geyer (USA) og Sarah Lookofsky (USA/Norway). Ingerid Salvesen is moderator.

Across the world, cultural institutions are under increasing pressure. Censorship, self-censorship, drastic funding cuts, and political and sponsorship interference are on the rise. Former and present institutional directors – with personal experiences of political pressure, cancellation and censorship from different geographic contexts – will discuss the limitations and capacities of art institutions in the present.

Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute to Sara Gaulin

February 5 2025

Sarah Gaulin (30) is being awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for her courageous and principled defence of freedom of expression in the face of extremism, gang crime and negative social control.
As a prominent voice, Gaulin has drawn attention to some of the most demanding and controversial social challenges of our time.