How to Create Cultural Hubs for the Whole City

May 29 2018

On Tuesday, 29 May at 16.45 pm, the Fritt Ord Foundation, Sparebankstiftelsen DNB and Fondazione CRT will host a session on the role of culture hubs such as literature houses and culture centres. What does it take for a building to become one of the most important venues in a city for exchanging opinions?

The Fritt Ord Foundation, which established the House of Literature (Litteraturhuset) in Oslo in 2007; and the Savings Bank Foundation DNB, which opened The Centre (Sentralen) in 2014; will share their insights into how these cultural hubs have become popular, important meeting places for natives and visitors alike in their city.

​The OGR – Officine Grandi Riparazioni – was purchased and redeveloped by Fondazione CRT, transforming the area from a train workshop to a workshop of ideas, creativity and innovation for the city.

The session will explore – through the perspectives of people who work at cultural centres and their users – what it takes to make a cultural centre for a whole city, including what initiatives have been taken to ensure user involvement from the planning stage up to the present.

Speakers:
Andreas Wiese,
Manager of Litteraturhuset – House of Literature
Martin Eia-Revheim, Manager of Sentralen – House for cultural and social innovation in Oslo
Nicola Ricciardi, Artistic Director of Torino OGR

The session will take place at the 29th European Foundation Centre Annual General Assembly and Conference, in Brussels.

The EFC is a membership organization for foundations and other actors in the philanthropic sector. Their aim is to help nurture an environment where philanthropy can flourish as it tackles many of today’s greatest challenges. The 2018 EFC Conference is titled “Culture Matters – Connecting Citizens and Uniting Communitites”, and consists of a series of exhibitions, topical sessions and site visits.

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.