In response to 48 applications submitted by the deadline, Fritt Ord has awarded eleven grants for critics. The grants went to Espen Hauglid (art critic, Morgenbladet), Morten Ståle Nilsen (film and TV critic, VG), Gro Jørstad Nilsen (literary critic, Bergens Tidende), Johannes Grytnes (literary critic, Bergens Tidende), Ola Hegdal (literary critic, NRK), Marius Lien (music critic, Morgenbladet), Einar Aarvig (film and TV critic, Vårt Land), Live Kristianne Lundh (literary critic, Morgenbladet), Mari Grydeland (literary critic, Aftenposten), Anna Serafima Svendsen Kvam (literary critic, Stavanger Aftenblad) and Lars Elton (art critic, Dagsavisen).
Critics who write for daily and weekly media were given priority, although several of the critics mentioned above also write for journals, magazines, online publications and different niche media. The Foundation’s priorities are based on high quality and the critics’ future plans, and attention is devoted to achieving a good balance between the arts and culture when distributing the grants.
Established in 2015, Fritt Ord’s grant scheme is intended to help enhance the quality and professionalisation of reviews and criticism. The Foundation would like to give more critics better opportunities to pursue their profession and to spend more time cultivating it. The grants are intended to supplement other income from newspaper reviews. Read more here.

In addition to the annual grants for critics, Fritt Ord also supports this field in other ways. Daily and weekly media, and the critics who write reviews for them, can apply for funding for specific review projects in response to the call for proposals. Read more here. There are six ordinary deadlines for applications for this scheme each year. The next deadline is Friday, 6 August, at 3 p.m.
For more information, please contact Knut Olav Åmås by email at: knut.olav.amas@frittord.no

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”). Read more about each year’s allocations here:
• Recipients of grants for critics in 2015
• Recipients of grants for critics in 2016
• Recipients of grants for critics in 2017
• Recipients of grants for critics in 2018
• Recipients of grants for critics in 2019
• Recipients of grants for critics in 2020