www.norway2019.com #norwegen2019

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Press kit

Guest of Honour Norway Frankfurter Buchmesse

(16-20 October 2019)

Press Krystyna Swiatek, Annika Grützner, Sabrina Detje c/o Literaturtest Alte Jakobstraße 87/88 10179 Berlin Tel. +49 (0) 30 531 40 70-20 Mobil +49 (0) 176 427 256 63 Fax: +49 (0) 30 531 40 70-99 press@norla.no

Guest of Honour organisation NORLA, Norwegian Literature Abroad PB 1414 Vika, 0115 Oslo, Norway Press: Sunniva Adam sunniva.adam@norla.no Tel. +47 23 08 41 00

Website: www.norway2019.com Facebook: @norwegen2019 Instagram: @norwegianliterature Books from Norway: booksfromnorway.com Website NORLA: norla.no #Norwegen2019

The digital press kit and images can be found in the press section of our website.

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Content

Press release, 15 October 2019 Norway – The dream we carry. The Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019 Authors from Norway and Sápmi who presents their titles in the Guest of Honour Pavilion The Guest of Honour Pavilion Concept, Forum, Level 1. The literary programme at Frankfurter Buchmesee and in autumn 2019: A selection of events The Cultural Program About NORLA The Guest of Honour project Partners and collaborators

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Norway – The Dream We Carry The Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019

Press release, 15 October 2019

“The Dream We Carry“ – is the slogan for Norway’s appearance as Guest of Honour at

Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019. The phrase is based on the poem “It Is That Dream“ by

the beloved Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge (1908–1994). As Guest of Honour,

Norway’s dream is to use its literature and art to surprise and bring them to unknown

places – as Hauge’s poem puts it: “into a cove we didn’t know”. Sharing this dream

means telling stories from Norway, promoting the joy of reading and standing up for

freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a crucial part of Norway’s political

culture, and it will also play a key role in the literary and cultural programme at

Frankfurter Buchmesse.

Diversity of Norwegian literature in Germany’s bookshops

Roughly 510 books will be published by the end of 2019 by 217 German-language

publishers, including Norwegian literature in translation and books about Norway

(counted as of autumn 2018). Of these 510 titles, 229 are new translations of

Norwegian titles into German. The titles will be presented at libraries, bookshops and

houses of literature, as well as at Frankfurter Buchmesse (16–20 October 2019). The

literary programme was developed by Norwegian Literature Abroad (NORLA), the

organisation that initiated and organises Norway’s presence as Guest of Honour on

behalf of the Norwegian Goverment, in cooperation with literary institutions and

publishing houses in the German-speaking world.

The programme will showcase the diversity of Norway’s literature, which ranges from

contemporary offerings by the country’s “new voices” to classics by writers such as

Sigrid Undset and Henrik Ibsen. More than 100 Norwegian authors will present their

books at the fair, thereby providing insight into Norwegian literature and society. The

authors Erika Fatland and Karl Ove Knausgård will speak at the Frankfurter Buchmesse

opening ceremony. The fair’s visitors can also look forward to experiencing acclaimed

authors such as Maja Lunde, Jostein Gaarder, Dag Solstad, Linn Ullmann, Tomas

Espedal, Åsne Seierstad and Roy Jacobsen. Things will also be suspenseful and

entertaining, thanks to renowned Norwegian thriller authors such as Jo Nesbø, Karin

Fossum, Unni Lindell and Thomas Enger. The Norwegian literature for children and

young adults has a high standing, and at the fair you will meet internationally acclaimed

authors such as Maria Parr, Gro Dahle, Svein Nyhus and Lisa Aisato. Many Norwegian

authors write for both children and adults, e.g. Maja Lunde and Jørn Lier Horst, who will

present both their books for children and adults at the fair. Visitors can also discover

many writers who are not yet so well known internationally, including Simon Stranger,

Nancy Herz, Anne Fiske, Marta Breen and Helga Flatland.

The focus will be on the topics of freedom of expression, Sami literature and culture,

feminism and equal rights, nature and the environment, the North and the poles,

modern family life, and diversity and identity in a changing Europe.

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Norway is the first Guest of Honour to centre its campaign on cooperation with the

booksellers. As a result, readings with Norwegian authors will take place at over 200

bookshops throughout the German-speaking world.

During the country’s year as Guest of Honour, Norwegian authors, illustrators,

musicians and artists will make over 1,000 appearances in Germany, Austria and

Switzerland. Roughly 185 authors will present their books in more than 100 cities, and

155 cultural events are scheduled to take place by the end of the year as part of the

Guest of Honour activities.

Experiencing Norway at the Guest of Honour Pavilion

Norway’s appearance as Guest of Honour will take place at the Guest of Honour

Pavilion (Forum, Level 1). An extensive programme of readings, discussions,

performances and music can be experienced on two stages. The “Freedom of

Expression Series” will feature an event each day at 1.00 pm on a relevant topic; during

the “Green Hour” series, visitors can attend events relating to nature and the

environment. The programme for Saturday, 19 October, is curated by the Norwegian

Festival of Literature in Lillehammer.

Organised by Frankfurter Buchmesse, the “Books on Norway” exhibition will present

some 600 titles by Norwegian authors which have been translated worldwide, along

with books about Norway from a wide range of genres. During the daily happy hour at

5.30 pm, visitors can end the day relaxing to the electronic sounds of DJ Olle Abstract.

The programme for the Guest of Honour Pavilion is available at norwegen2019.de,

through the Frankfurter Buchmesse app and in its events calendar at

buchmesse.de/kalender.

While at the fair, visitors can also discover more about art, culture and culinary delights

in the Gourmet Gallery on Visit Norway, Oppland County Council and the Ciy of Oslo’s

stand and at Arcus’ stand, at THE ARTS+ on Munchmuseet’s stand and at Arts Council

Norway and Visit Norway’s stand and events, at the exhibition stands organised by the

citiy Bergen and by ICORN and the city of Stavanger, and at the Norwegian collective

stand in Hall 5. At Agora you can visit Oppland County Council’s library bus.

In close cooperation with the official Norwegian Guest of Honour programme, the

International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) will operate its own international stand

on the fairgrounds as well as its own stage for freedom of expression.

The Guest of Honour will also be present at Frankfurt Audio and – with Jan Åge Fjørtoft,

legendary player for the Eintracht Frankfurt football club – at LITCAM’s Culture

Stadium. On Saturday, 19 October 2019, at 1.30 pm, the authors from the German and

Norwegian national teams will compete at the Soccer Court in the Events Area (open

space between Hall 1 and the Festhalle). The teams will also face off during a literary

exchange (Saturday, 19 October 2019, 12.00 noon, and Sunday, 20 October 2019,

11.00 am, in the Culture Stadium, Hall 3.1 B 33).

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During the closing ceremony on Sunday, 20 October 2019, at 3.30 pm, Norway will

hand off the Guest Scroll to Canada, Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2020

(14–18 October 2020).

Design, architecture, art, film and music – the programme accompanying the fair

Visitors can also experience Norwegian authors beyond the fairgrounds at numerous

readings, discussions and talks – such as the OPEN BOOKS reading festival and

BOOKFEST, Frankfurter Buchmesse‘s festival. In addition to the literary programme,

Norway will be presenting an extensive cultural programme, which will include the fine

arts, performing arts, music, film and architecture.

From 11 October 2019 to 26 January 2020, Museum Angewandte Kunst will dedicate

its entire exhibition space to the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019 Guest of Honour. As the

“House of Norway”, it will present outstanding contributions from the country in the

areas of art and culture, design, applied crafts, and architecture. From 26 September to

12 January, Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt will mount an exhibition of 25 works by textile

artist Hannah Ryggen (1894–1970). From 12 October 2019 to 1 March 2020 you can

experience the exhibition Edvard Munch – seen by Karl Ove Knausgård at

Kunstsammlung NRW in Düsseldorf. Numerous other cultural institutions will also

participate in the programme, including Deutsches Architekturmuseum, Fotografie

Forum Frankfurt, the Portikus gallery, Schauspiel Frankfurt, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm

with NORSK Festival for Norwegian music, literature and performance, Haus am Dom

and Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum.

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Authors from Norway and Sápmi who present their titles in the

Guest of Honour Pavilion

Lisa Aisato

Samuel Bjørk

Ketil Bjørnstad

Marta Breen

Karen Anne Buljo

Bjørn Andreas Bull-Hansen

Anne Bårdsgård

Lars Saabye Christensen

Kjell Ola Dahl

Niels Fredrik Dahl

Gro Dahle

Torkil Damhaug

Inga Ravna Eira

Jan Ove Ekeberg

Torbjørn Ekelund

Lotta Elstad

Thomas Enger

Martin Ernstsen

Tomas Espedal

Matias Faldbakken

Erika Fatland

Anna Fiske

Helga Flatland

Maria Kjos Fonn

Jon Fosse

Karin Fossum

Jostein Gaarder

Harald Gaski

Maria Grøntjernet

Erik Fosnes Hansen

Johan Harstad

Nancy Herz

Vigdis Hjorth

Edvard Hoem

Knut Hoem

Niillas Holmberg

Jan Erik Holst

Jørn Lier Horst

Mona Høvring

Ida Hegazi Høyer

Roy Jacobsen

Erling Kagge

Are Kalvø

Marianne Kaurin

Karl Ove Knausgård

Roskva Koritzinsky

Monica Kristensen

Torolf Kroglund

Steffen Kverneland

Jon Larsen

Lars Lenth

Ruth Lillegraven

Unni Lindell

Merethe Lindstrøm

Erlend Loe

Rauni Magga Lukkari

Jeaninne Masika Lukusa

Thure Erik Lund

Maja Lunde

Cecilie Løveid

Reidar Müller

Lars Mytting

Jo Nesbø

Gert Nygårdshaug

Svein Nyhus

Bjørn Ousland

Maria Parr

Anna Kaisa Eriksen Partapuoli

Synnøve Persen

Per Petterson

Siri Pettersen

Juvvá Pittja

Agnes Ravatn

Kirstine Reffstrup

Tore Renberg

Øyvind Rimbereid

Wenche Roald

Helge Rønning

Biret Risten Sara

Máret Ánne Sara

Åsne Seierstad

Tore Skeie

Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold

Tore Slaatta

Dag Solstad

Bjørn Sortland

Sofia Nesrine Srour

Gunnar Staalesen

Thorvald Steen

Simon Stranger

Annemor Sundbø

Lars Fr. H. Svendsen

Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson

Carl Frode Tiller

Andreas Tjernshaugen

Øyvind Torseter

Linn Ullmann

Jan Erik Vold

Herbjørg Wassmo

Long Litt Woon

Knut Ødegård

Hanne Ørstavik

Håkon Øvreås

Gunnhild Øyehaug

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The Guest of Honour Pavilion Concept, Forum, Level 1.

The design of the pavilion is the result of a competition entered by more than 60

architects from Norway. The task set for contestants was to develop a spatial concept

for the large exhibition hall and to come up with suggestions on how the various

activities forming part of Norway’s presence at the book fair might optimally unfold.

The winning design by Manthey Kula and LCLA Office depicts literature as a space and

as a landscape. It consists of a group of table-like objects representing the ideas,

elements and characters of Norwegian literature in material form. The 23 tables, which

provide space for books and for readers, are three-dimensional works that are both

abstract and playfully narrative. Their design was inspired by poems published over a

period of one year on the Guest of Honour website www.norway2019.com under the

heading ‘Poem of the Week’. At the same time, the designers took into account the

various activities that will take place during the fair. One of the tables in the pavilion is

dedicated to smell: a silent biography of a Norwegian in 22 smells. It is created by the

smell researcher and artist Sissel Tolaas and author and explorer Erling Kagge. The

installation titled Invisible silence - The best things in life have no lasting forms is

consisting of 22 objects placed on the table, where the audience is invited to

experience, discover and associate a Norwegian life through smell.

The pavilion is divided into two distinctly separate spaces. On one side are the

fantastical book tables surrounded by mirrored walls and large photos taken in the far

north of the country, the land of the Sámi, by the professional photographer Per

Berntsen. In the middle is the main stage where events take place from morning to

evening. In front of the large balcony, the pavilion offers space for a second, smaller

stage as well as an exhibition put together by the Frankfurter Buchmesse – ‘Books on

Norway’ with publications about and from the country – and a café serving Norwegian

specialities. Visitors can also see an installation by the artist Marianne Heske. In

‘Wittgenstein’s Boat’, she visualises the periods that the philosopher Wittgenstein

spent in a remote location in the Sognefjord in Norway, where he wrote a major part of

his oeuvre.

Although the pavilion itself will be open to visitors for only five days, the book table

sculptures will live on after the fair: they will be distributed among German bookstores

in gratitude for the cordial and valuable cooperation between booksellers and the

Guest of Honour.

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The literary programme at Frankfurter Buchmesse and in autumn 2019: A selection of events

The literary programme organised for Norway’s presence at Frankfurter Buchmesse

will be staged in the Guest of Honour Pavilion and at various other venues around the

fair itself as well as during the OPEN BOOKS reading festival and BOOKFEST in the city

of Frankfurt am Main. Here you will find a few examples of events in the city and after

Frankfurt Buchmesse. Further information on the literature events outside Frankfurt can

be found on our website www.norway2019.com. The events in Frankfurt during the

book fair can be found at norway2019.com/en/program.

Powerful voices Never before has Norwegian literature enjoyed such great international success in all genres. In the context of the literary programme, Norway will be presenting powerful voices and stories, mainly on two stages in the Guest of Honour Pavilion. The three main strands will be stories from Norway, the pure joy of reading and freedom of expression.

The Hour of Freedom Freedom of expression is of central importance for Frankfurter Buchmesse as well as for the political culture of Norway. Under the title “Freedom of Expression series” there are daily sessions in the pavilion focusing on freedom of expression organised by organisations and authors who have been concerning themselves with the issue for years.

Nature, environment and diversity Other key themes of the literary programme include nature, the environment, the polar regions, the High North (in particular Sapmi , the traditional homeland of the Sami), Norwegian non-fiction, the bold, imaginative literature for children and teenagers that has been winning acclaim for many years now,

‘reality fiction/autofiction’ and the relationship of literature to issues such as feminism and gender equality, modern families, and diversity and identity in a changing Europe.

Zofingen Literature Days (25-27 October 2019) As every year, Zofingen Literature Days will take an in-depth look at the Guest of Honour. Switzerland will be receiving a visit from Johan Harstad, Unni Lindell, Helga Flatland, Gunstein Bakke, Ida Hegazi Hoyer and Bjørn Ousland. Ousland, who is not only an author of children’s books but also an illustrator, will visit various Swiss schools throughout the week. Crime Fiction Marathon Berlin-Brandenburg (4-17 November 2019) This year’s Crime Fiction Marathon will be featuring some of the stars of Norwegian crime literature. Øistein Borge, Unni Lindell und Trude Teige will be present in Berlin and Brandenburg. Nordic Literature Days, Literaturhaus Hamburg (25-28 November 2019) Only a few weeks after the Harbour Front Literature Festival, Norwegian writers return to the city on the Elbe to join colleagues from other Scandinavian countries in representing the diversity of Nordic literature. Lars Saabye Christensen will be reading on the opening night (25 November).

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The Cultural Program

Experience arts and culture from Norway before, during and after Frankfurter

Buchmesse. We have an extensive cultural program consisting of exhibitions, theatre,

concerts etc. Read more at the different venues' websites and at norway2019.com.

In Norwegian Landscapes. Hunting High and Low 14/9/19−19/1/20 The DAM – Deutsches Architekturmuseum Schaumainkai 43 dam-online.de Hannah Ryggen. Woven Manifestos 26/9/19−12/1/20 The Schirn Kunsthalle Schirn Kunsthalle am Römerberg schirn.de Frida Orupabo. The mouth and the truth 28/9−24/11/19 Portikus Alte Brücke 2 / Maininsel portikus.de Ethereal. Photographic Art From Norway 3/10/19−12/1/20 Fotografie Forum Frankfurt Braubachstraße 30−32 fffrankfurt.com Norwegian Drama in the 2019/20 season Schauspiel Frankfurt Neue Mainzer Str. 17 schauspielfrankfurt.de House of Norway 11/10/19−26/1/20 Museum Angewandte Kunst Schaumainkai 17 museumangewandtekunst.de Eaten Fish. Drawings by Ali Dorani 1-31/10/19 Haus am Dom Domplatz 3 hausamdom-frankfurt.de

Norsk Festival 15/10−19/10/19 Norwegian Festival Hub 16-19/10 @ Restaurant & Bar Lokal at Mousonturm Künstlerhaus Mousonturm Waldschmidtstraße 4 mousonturm.de FBM19 Closing Party 19/10/2019 Atelierfrankfurt Schwedlerstraße 1-5 atelierfrankfurt.de Norwegian playwrights: Performances, readings and talks for children and young people 16/10−12/11/19 Theaterhaus Schützenstraße 12 theaterhaus-frankfurt.de Filmland Norway 1−30/10/19 11 The DFF − Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum Schaumainkai 41 dff.film Midsummer Night. Harald Sohlberg: A Norwegian Landscape Painter 12/7−27/10/19 Museum Wiesbaden Wiesbaden: Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 2 museum-wiesbaden.de Edvard Munch seen by Karl Ove Knausgård 12/10/19−1/3/20 Kunstsammlung NordrheinWestfalen Düsseldorf: K20 am Grabbeplatz 5 kunstsammlung.de

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About NORLA

NORLA – Norwegian Literature

Abroad is the organisation that

initiated and is now organising

Norway’s Guest of Honour project

on behalf of the Norwegian

Government. NORLA is an

organisation that promotes the

export of Norwegian literature

through active promotional work

and translation subsidies. The

organisation disseminates

knowledge about Norwegian books and authors abroad, and is financed by the

Norwegian Ministry of Culture and supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign

Affairs. NORLA was founded in 1978, and since 2004 has contributed to translations of

close to 5,500 Norwegian books into no fewer than 66 languages. NORLA offers a

range of funding schemes, all of which are aimed at promoting the translation of

Norwegian books. Please visit NORLA’s website for more information about NORLA

and our work: www.norla.no.

Contact the team

Everyone in NORLA is working on the Guest of Honour project and some of the

employees in NORLA are working exclusively on the project:

Margit Walsø Director of NORLA margit.walso@norla.no Halldór Guðmundsson Project Manager halldor.gudmundsson @norla.no Andrine Pollen Coordinator, Literary Programme andrine.pollen@norla.no Marit Ingvill Sande Coordinator, Cultural Programme marit.sande@norla.no Oliver Møystad Coordinator, Literary Programme in the city of Frankfurt oliver.moystad@norla.no

Ellen Trautmann Olerud Project Coordinator ellen.olerud@norla.no Sunniva Adam PR Officer sunniva.adam@norla.no Janicken von der Fehr Project Coordinator janicken.vonderfehr @norla.no Thomas Böhm Project Coordinator thomas.bohm@norla.no Anna Schüller Project Assistant PR anna.schuller@norla.no

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The Guest of Honour project NORLA is organizing the Guest of Honour project on behalf of the Norwegian government. The Norwegian government is contributing to the project through three ministries: The Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Norwegian Publishers Association is the largest private sponsor of the project. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit has u ndertaken the task of promoting Norwegian literature internationally. As ambassador for Norwegian literature abroad Her Royal Highness is an important supporter of the Guest of Honour project. She travelled through Germany in a literature train by Deutsche Bahn AG from 14 to 15 October, accompanied by German schoolchildren and around 20 Norwegian authors.

Main sponsors Oppland County Council, the City of Oslo, and Thon Hotels are the project’s main sponsors. They are contributing to the project as a whole and will be visible throughout the project period. Oppland, the Literature County Oppland, a region with rich literary traditions that holds a leading position nationally, is home to the Norwegian Festival of Literature, the largest of its kind in the Nordic region. Here, surrounded by outstanding natural beauty, you will find the homes of two of Norway’s Nobel laureates in Literature: Sigrid Undset and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Lillehammer, in the heart of Oppland, was recently chosen to be a UNESCO City of Literature, as the first city in Scandinavia. The City of Oslo Surrounded by nature and growing fast, the City of Oslo is showcasing innovative solutions to become an even greener city throughout 2019. The aim is a compact and accessible urban environment for everyone, while reducing the carbon footprint. And in 2020 Oslo will add to its vibrant cultural life as the new Munch Museum, new public library, and new National Museum on the waterfront are opened. The City of Oslo proudly supports Norway as Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019. Thon Hotels By offering a high level of service, good food, and colourful design, Thon Hotels welcome every guest with our knowledgeable employees. Staying with us will make a difference and guests have a positive hotel experience every time they stay with us. Thon Hotels has 70 hotels in Norway. Additionally, Thon Hotels has five hotels in Brussels and one in Rotterdam. Thon Hotels is a member of Global Hotel Alliance

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(GHA), and by joining our loyalty programme – Thon Discovery – guests will receive benefits for stays at all Thon hotels, as well as 450 other hotels worldwide.

Event sponsors Visit Norway and Vestre are sponsors of the ‘House of Norway’ exhibition at Museum Angewandte Kunst, autumn 2019. Visit Norway Visit Norway is the tourism branch of Innovation Norway. Visit Norway has been given a special mandate to promote and inform about Norway as a travel destination, including in the German-speaking market. We love to think of ourselves as a hub for all the great stories about Norway that need and should be told to potential visitors, so please visit our website for inspiration. We would love to tell you the story about why you should Visit Norway – and hope you to see you soon! We are proud to support Norway as Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019. Vestre Vestre is a leading producer of furniture for public spaces. Over the past 70 years, we have helped to create social meeting places for millions of people. From Scandinavia with Love. Towns are growing and urbanisation is on the increase. It is our ambition to develop innovative, aesthetic solutions which will make a difference for people. Places to sit down, meet friends, park your bike or throw away your rubbish. We believe that good design creates good spaces. That is why Vestre is collaborating with well-known designers from Scandinavia. It is equally important for our products to have both a beautiful, unique design and be functional for their users; have a long life and have a minimum impact on the environment.

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Other collaborators (Not a complete list)

Fritt Ord Foundation

The Savings Bank Foundation DNB

Norwegian Publishers Association

Bergesenstiftelsen

Sálas – The Sámi Publishers’ and Newspaper Association

Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association

Norwegian Authors’ Union

Norwegian Writers for Children

Norwegian Association of Literary Translators

Norwegian Crafts

Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA)

Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA)

Performing Arts Hub Norway (PAHN) Music Norway

Norwegian Film Institute (NFI)

Munchmuseet

Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum - National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

Innovation Norway

National Library of Norway

Norwegian PEN

ICORN

Talent Norway

The Sámi Parliament of Norway Norwegian Writer's Center

City of Bergen

The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO)

The Sámi national theatre Beaivvàš

The National Theatre in Oslo

Det Norske Teatret

Fotogalleriet