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

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.