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

Mykhailo Tkach, Andrei Aliaksandrau, Arevhat Sahakyan (Factor TV), Nino Bakradze (iFact), and Lola Tagaeva (Verstka).

Free Media Awards for 2026. Press freedom under pressure in wartime: – Silence does not protect democracy

September 29 2026

This year’s winners of the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius received their awards in Toppsalen at the Munch Museum in Oslo on 29 September 2026.
The Belarusian journalist and media manager Andrei Aliaksandrau came straight to Oslo after spending over five years in prison for his work. Aliaksandrau dedicated the award to imprisoned journalists and editors in Belarus and quoted the Liverpool FC anthem: “You’ll never walk alone”.

Mykhailo Tkach heads investigations at Ukrainska Pravda, which uncovers corruption, even in a Ukraine fighting an existential war against Russia.
– I face charges in at least thirteen cases related to my work. I have been threatened. My team has been threatened. And what is our answer? To keep digging. Silence does not protect democracy. Journalism does.

Mykhailo Tkach

Ukrainian, Georgian, Armenian, Russian and Belarusian journalists and media to receive five Free Media Awards for 2026

September 3 2026

This year’s prize laureates for the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius are:
The investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach from Ukraine
The investigative media outlet iFact from Georgia
The online media Factor TV from Armenia
The online media Verstka from Russia (in exile)
The journalist and media director Andrei Aliaksandrau from Belarus (imprisoned)*

Fritt Ord's grants for master’s degrees

August 30 2026

Is your master’s project about freedom of expression, social debate or journalism? If so, you can apply for a student grant from the Fritt Ord Foundation.

The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute 2026

August 18 2026

The rap duo Karpe has been awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for giving voice to the experiences of many young people from minority backgrounds. Through the language of rap, they are expanding the space for the expression of identity and belonging.