Call for applications: FutureLab Europe 2015 – The Council of Young European Citizens

February 8 2015

FutureLab Europe was established in 2011 as a cooperative project among 10 European foundations (European Alliance for Democratic Citizenship), including Fritt Ord. The programme focuses on engaged young people between the ages of 20 and 30 who would like to take part in debates and influence the future of Europe. The deadline for applications is 16 March 2015.

How can we deal with the serious challenges facing Europe, and how can engaged young Europeans contribute? The topics discussed at FutureLab include solidarity, identity and migration policy in a multi-cultural Europe, as well as climate and energy issues.

The nucleus of FutureLab Europe is an obligatory one-week course in Brussels in autumn 2015. There will subsequently be a series of national debates in different European countries under the title Europe@Debate, including a spring session in Brussels. Additional activities will be organised by the participants themselves. Participants are also expected to be active on FutureLab’s Internet forum.

It would be an advantage for applicants to have taken part in one of the qualifying initiatives under the auspices of the organising foundations. As regards the Fritt Ord Foundation, the qualifying events are the Freedom of Expression Foundation Competition for Young People, HIFO’s story competition Eustory, student research grants and project support. Other applicants will also be considered.

Applicants should be knowledgeable about Europe, have a strong sense of social commitment and be interested in exchanging lessons learned and ideas about European issues. English will be the working language.

How can I apply?

The electronic application form and all necessary information about the programme, criteria for application and the selection process are available on the FutureLab Europe website or here (pdf).

News

Eirin Larsen and Hadia Tajik join the Fritt Ord Board

August 5 2025

Eirin Larsen (36) and Hadia Tajik (42) bring valuable experience from journalism, technology, politics and jurisprudence to the Fritt Ord Board.

Making the film «Farouk» – on the geologist that secured Norway its oil

July 1 2025

Geologist Farouk Al-Kasim joined the the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate in 1968, shaping Norwegian petroleum resource management for decades afterwards. Now, documentary film director Halkawt Mustafa and producer Janne Hjeltnes are making a film about Al-Kasim’s life and reflections.
“Farouk tells me something in this film that he has not talked about before, because he has always told the version he feels Norway wanted to hear,” recounts Mustafa, who has Iraqi roots himself.

Read the interview with the director and see the list of grants awarded by Fritt Ord in June 2025.

Bård Vegar Solhjell new chair of the Fritt Ord Board

July 1 2025

Bård Vegar Solhjell (53) has taken over as the new chair of the Fritt Ord Foundation Board.

Cultural newspaper TBATBA.no and new journalism grants – June 2025

June 19 2025

– Cultural journalism is under pressure. Part of the problem is media outlets failing to cover culture in formats and ways that appeal to people under 30, says Ida Madsen Hestman, editor, freelance critic, and founder of TBATBA.no. Last year, she started the kind of publication she herself would want to read.

The magazine TBA is among those awarded funding in June 2025. See the full list of grants in Norsk Journalistikk.