The Fritt Ord Foundation is pleased to have been able to provide additional funding to cultural and social players in the very unusual year that will soon be coming to an end. As early as on 17 March, the Board of the Foundation allocated "additional grants ":/en/news/the-corona-crisis-fritt-ord-earmarks-an-additional-mnok-40-for-projectsof MNOK 40 to corona-related projects.
“This led to a record-high number of applications to Fritt Ord. Applications were up by 70 per cent and allocations increased by 54 per cent”, reports Executive Director Knut Olav Åmås.

The Fritt Ord Foundation allocated a total of MNOK 157.2 in 2020 in response to a total of 5211 applications, granting 1708, or 32.8 per cent, of them. This is the highest number of applications and allocations ever.

By comparison, in the more normal year 2019, we allocated a total of MNOK 102.3 to 1286 of 3075 applicants. In addition to grants in response to applications, the Foundation has also provided funding for projects Fritt Ord has initiated or on which we are cooperating with others. The projects include research on freedom of expression, collaboration with European foundations on journalism and freedom of expression in Central and Eastern Europe, and the Foundation’s own annual prizes, as well as a significant number of seminars and debates.

Fritt Ord is prepared to make all-out efforts again in 2021. We will continue to give high priority to projects and needs directly associated with the corona situation. The first deadline is 5 January. There will be six deadlines for applications for journalism projects and six deadlines for all other projects.

The Fritt Ord Foundation looks forward to having close contact with applicants and partners – and wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a brighter 2021.