The Fritt Ord Foundation
The Fritt Ord Foundation is a private non-profit foundation that seeks to promote freedom of expression, public debate, art and culture.
One year of war in Ukraine: Art can provide documentation
24 February 2023 marks one year since Russia attacked Ukraine. The war has left its mark on Fritt Ord’s support for art and journalism in the past year. Fritt Ord has also provided funding for commemorations of the one-year anniversary.
Tinius, Fritt Ord and Amedia join forces to save the public information centre Medianorge for the remainder of 2023
Following the Ministry of Culture’s decision to move responsibilities from Medienorge to the Norwegian Media Authority, the Tinius and Fritt Ord foundations are joining Amedia to ensure funding for the Medianorge knowledge base at the University of Bergen for the remainder of 2023. The support totals MNOK 2.
Decolonisation, exile and cross-border media cooperation
Journalists, writers, film-makers, artists and culture critics from Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Estonia, among others, discussed decolonisation, life in exile, and media cooperation across the dividing lines of war at the Fritt Ord Foundation’s premises.
Call for nominations: Free Media Awards 2023
In collaboration with the ZEIT Foundation 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 demonstrate the need for independent reporting in the region. Journalists and media in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine that promote freedom of the press through their investigative and independent reporting are eligible to be nominated for the Free Media Awards.
Grants to young artists
Fritt Ord announces grants earmarked for artists under the age of 35 who would like their satirical drawings to reach a wider audience.
"The African art scene is an undiscovered treasure trove." Support for journalism projects November 2022
“The African art scene is an undiscovered treasure trove”, according to art critic Grace Tabea Tenga, recipient of a travel grant to visit South Africa. Since the ‘Black Lives Matter’ demonstrations in 2020, African art has become an important part of the ongoing showdown with many kinds of racism. The projects that received funding from Fritt Ord in November also include a podcast about the history of Norwegian Black Metal. Here is the list:
Apply for Funding
Apply for Funding
Application portal
The Fritt Ord Foundation’s new application portal is now available.
Grants
The Fritt Ord Foundation is a private non-profit foundation that aspires to promote freedom of expression, public debate, art and culture. The projects that receive funding should benefit the Norwegian public and be accessible to all. In special cases, the Fritt Ord Foundation can help promote freedom of expression in other countries.
Selected grants
Den Norske Helsingforskomite
Ettårsmarkering for krigen i Ukraina - utstilling og arrangementer
Utstilling
Human Rights House Foundation
gjestespill med ukrainsk teatertrupp, "War through the eyes of Ukrainian artists"
Teater
Screen Story Film og TV
utvikling av dokumentarfilmen "Løvene ved elven Tigris"
Film, utvikling
Svalbard Museum
utstillingen "Demokratiets kår i Longyearbyen"
Utstilling
Det Norske Samlaget
utgivelse av boken "Mørkemann. Mi reise til kristenkonservatismen og tilbake" av Emil André Erstad
Bok, utgivelse
Erik Bjerck Hagen
utgivelse av Willy Dahls litteraturanmeldelser i utvalg
Bok, utgivelse
Foreningen Røverhuset
Norsk journalistikk: RøverRadion
Radio
Gunel Imanova
Manusutvikling og oversettelse av boken "Den afghanske ghettoen"
Bok, manusutvikling
STIFTELSEN KÅKÅ KVERULANTKATEDRALEN
KÅKÅ 2022 - programstøtte
Organisasjon
Tekstallianse
Det flytande litteraturhuset Epos 2022-2024
Organisasjon
Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Manusutvikling av boken "Skogen og Norge"
Bok, manusutvikling
Bjarne Langseth
Manusutvikling av boken "VIDDAS POLITI. Reinpolitiets historie"
Bok, manusutvikling
Prizes
Projects
Research
Fritt Ord has taken the initiative for several research projects on freedom of expression that have been conducted by various Norwegian research communities. Among other things, the studies have examined social norms and political tolerance in respect of statements, online harassment and polarisation, artistic freedom of expression and freedom of expression in the workplace.
Documentary Photography
Over the years, Fritt Ord has worked to strengthen the position of documentary photography through special calls for applications for funding, providing ongoing support for photo books and exhibitions, and establishing projects like The Norwegian Journal of Photography.
Libraries, Encyclopaedia, and Houses of Literature
Fritt Ord has launched various initiatives related to the communication of knowledge and the promotion of literature, including an annual subsidy scheme earmarked for Norwegian public libraries. In 2005, the Foundation took the initiative to establish Norway’s first house of literature and, in 2010, to ensure the further operation of Store norske leksikon.
International Projects
Fritt Ord takes part in a number of joint projects outside the borders of Norway, primarily related to freedom of the press, democracy building and the strengthening of organisations of civil society.
Young People and Students
Fritt Ord offers grants for students working on master’s theses or on documentary films in fields such as human rights, journalism, freedom of expression and democracy building. It also hosts the Fritt Ord Foundation Competition for Upper Secondary Schools and the Norwegian Historical Society’s competition for pupils.
Media and Journalism
Since its inception, Fritt Ord has had media and journalism as one of its core target areas. In today’s demanding media situation, the Foundation has set up separate grant and subsidy schemes for journalists and critics.
Publications
Books and reports published by the Fritt Ord Foundation, alone or with partners.