Program - Culture Day 2026

About the event: We’ll be discussing the opportunities and challenges artists face in Agder, and how to make it more attractive to establish a career in the region. More information and participants to be announced.

Organized by #vårtagder and Agder County Council

Much artistic work is underpaid.
The principles regarding fair compensation for artistic work are clear, but a strategy for putting these principles into practice is still needed.
Through reflection and concrete perspectives, we explore how fair compensation can become more than just an intention and actually contribute to lasting change. We look toward the long-term benefits: a more robust arts sector, higher quality, and greater predictability for artists.

Featuring:
・Harald Furre. Executive Director, Kilden and Concert Hall
・Per Emil Grimstad. Union President, Norwegian Actors’ Union
・Geir Egil Bergjord. Union President, Norwegian Visual Artists
・Cecilie Nissen. Director, Kristiansand Kunsthall
・Trude Storheim. State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Norwegian Labour Party

Organized by the Artists' Network

By Israa Mahameed, Munken, and Agder County Council

"Uutslettelig" is a participatory installation and a living memorial to the victims in Gaza.
The installation consists of large pieces of fabric filled with handwritten names. In the light, the writing appears white against black, while in the dark, the names glow with an insistent presence.
Through the collective act of writing, freedom of expression is activated at a fundamental level: each participant contributes a concrete expression that becomes part of a larger community. Every handwriting is unique, just as every life is unique. The installation creates an open space for reflection, grief, and solidarity, and explores how names can serve as a form of resistance against anonymization and dehumanization.
During Arendalsuka, the installation is presented as a darkroom exhibition, where the audience encounters the work and the glowing names in silence. A writing workshop will be held on Wednesday as part of Culture Day.

State Secretary Trude Storheim will officially open Culture Day 2026.
Under the theme “Culture for a New Era,” Culture Day brings together stakeholders from across the cultural sector for discussions on transformation, social development, and the role of culture in addressing new challenges and opportunities. The opening ceremony marks the start of the day’s program.

Organized by the Norwegian Directorate for Culture

Research from OsloMet describes Norwegian cultural policy as sedimentary and lacking in democracy—characterized by lobbying, opaque distribution practices, and a one-sided focus on palliative measures rather than structural reforms. KS points out that the cultural sector has long positioned itself in opposition to societal values rather than in harmony with them, which has sidelined culture from the broader political landscape.
How can we change this—and pave the way for a cultural policy that is more democratically grounded, transparent, and politically appealing?

With
・Line Anni Solbakken, Moderator. Special Advisor on Culture, KS (Local Government Association)
・Erik Henningsen. Director of Research, OsloMet
・Jacob Nødseth (V). Chair of the Main Committee for Culture, Sports, and Inclusion, Vestland County Council
・Haagen Poppe (H). Member of the Family and Culture Committee, Stortinget
・Jens Storli. Executive Director, Council for Art and Culture in Trondheim

Organized by KS

The proposals from the Savings Bank Committee have sparked debate about the role of savings banks in society.
Is customer profit a driving force for strong local communities? Or does it come at the expense of contributions to culture and volunteerism?

Featuring
・Terje Svabø, journalist – moderator
・Harald Furre, CEO, Kilden performing arts centre
・Siri Haugan Holden, Executive Director, Norwegian Cultural Organizers
・Tore Bråthen, Professor, UiA, UiT, and BI
・Jan Erik Kjerpeseth, CEO, Sparebanken Norge

Organized by Kilden performing arts centre the Spekter Employers' Association

Artist Israa Mahameed joins host Elmedin Zunic for a conversation about the art project “Uutslettelig”—a participatory installation and a living memorial for the victims in Gaza.

The conversation explores how art can serve as a space for collective memory, expression, and resistance to anonymization and oblivion. Through this project, Mahameed examines how names, handwriting, and participation can foster reflection, presence, and human connection in the face of war and annihilation.

The discussion will also address the role of art in the public sphere, the relationship between art and politics, and how participatory art practices can create space for conversations that are often marginalized. In the context of Arendalsuka, the discussion raises questions about freedom of expression, democracy, and which stories are given a voice in the public sphere.

The conversation will be moderated by artist Elmedin Zunic.

Norwegian cultural policy is often described as values-based, inclusive, and artistically free. It is intended to safeguard freedom of expression, diversity, and a cultural life that enriches society. At the same time, many artists and cultural workers experience a daily reality marked by financial insecurity, temporary employment conditions, and the concentration of power and resources in the hands of a few. When temporary arrangements and project-based funding are the norm, the long-term artistic foundation is challenged. At the same time, the concentration of power and structures that favor some over others can result in important voices and perspectives being sidelined. Balansekunst believes that the cultural debate should be about more than individual measures and budgets; it must be about direction, responsibility, and the choices we make as a society to ensure a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable cultural life.

Featuring:
・Joakim Aadland. Executive Director, Balansekunst
・Bente Estil. Member of Parliament, Labor Party
・Haagen Poppe. Member of Parliament, Conservative Party

Organized by Balansekunst

Art and culture should be for everyone, but participation and recruitment remain unevenly distributed. Does cultural policy help to reduce social inequalities, or does it perpetuate them? What does social sustainability mean in practice, and how can we tell if we’re on the right track?

In a public debate marked by clear divisions, contemporary art is cited as an example of elitism and wasteful public spending. Internationally, art and culture are also part of political discussions about identity and values. At the same time, we live in a turbulent world. As spending on healthcare, security, and emergency preparedness increases, culture may be perceived as less essential in public budgets. This raises a simple question: Who is art and culture really for, and why should the public pay for it?

We invite you to join the discussion on how the cultural sector can contribute to equal access, participation, and diversity, and build fair and inclusive structures within the sector.

Organized by the Norwegian Directorate for Culture

Kunstsilo invites you to a discussion on how artificial intelligence can help make art and culture more searchable, interconnected, and accessible. We will explore how AI can be used to structure, link, and analyze collection data—among other things—in new ways for research, management, and outreach.

We will hear exciting presentations sharing experiences from efforts to link local language models to collection databases and develop new ways of accessing collections through the use of artificial intelligence. The presentation will be followed by a discussion on the opportunities, challenges, and future prospects for the use of AI in the cultural sector.

Other topics discussed include issues related to copyright, access, and responsibility in the context of new technology.
Organized by Kunstsilo

The cultural sector is vast and complex, and encompasses many different voices. How can we set political priorities based on this reality? Can the cultural sector itself contribute more unifying input through local and regional cultural councils or other models?
Telemarksforskning has, on behalf of KS and NOKU, mapped the scope and structure of local and regional cultural councils in Norway. The researchers will present their findings, and we will discuss how we can strengthen the collaboration between the municipal sector and the cultural sector.

Featuring:
・Line Anni Solbakken. Moderator. Special Advisor on Culture, KS (Local Government Association)
・Jacob Nødseth. Chair of the Main Committee for Culture, Sports, and Inclusion, Vestland County Council
・Jens Storli. Executive Director, Council for Art and Culture in Trondheim
・Bjarne Dæhli. Advisor, Norwegian Cultural Forum
・Berit Inger Øen. Head of Culture, Bærum Municipality

Organized by KS and NOKU

A series of conversations in which artists meet with political leaders from various sectors of society for brief, engaging discussions. Together, they explore how the unique nature of art can serve as a driving force for development, and how art can act as a catalyst for new perspectives, solutions, and change.

The interviews highlight both concrete experiences and untapped potential, and demonstrate how art and culture can have a positive and creative influence on society.

Featuring:
・Veslemøy Østrem. Moderator. Editor-in-Chief, Alltinget
・Lubna Jaffery. Minister of Culture, Norwegian Labor Party
・Hege Bae Nyholt. Member of the Storting’s Education and Research Committee, Rødt
・Birger Emanuelsen. Author
・Ellen Arnstad. Executive Director, Sykehusklovnene
・Marthe Ramm Fortum. Artist
・Pål Svensberget. Director, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra

Organized by Kunstnernettverket, Kilden performing arts centre, the Norwegian Directorate for Culture, KS, Kunstsilo, Virke, Agder County Council, SØRF, Balansekunst, and Scenekunst Sør

The "Kulturpuls 2026" population survey shows that major barriers to cultural participation include financial considerations, time, health, and transportation. And then there are some who feel that culture is not relevant to them at all. For example, a clear majority of those surveyed say that nothing would make them attend ballet and dance performances more often.

Virkes’ “Kulturpuls 2026” links developments in the Norwegian economy with fresh insights into audience habits, preferences, and
willingness to pay. For several years,performing arts centre Kilden performing arts centre working on data collection, audience insights, and audience development.
In this event, we’ll present key findings from the study and discuss how cultural institutions can prepare for the audiences of the future.
How can the cultural sector develop offerings that are perceived as relevant and interesting? How can we make the cultural sector more accessible—financially, geographically, and practically? And how can we better reach those who currently use cultural offerings rarely or not at all?

Featuring:
・Rhiannon Hovden Edwards. Industry Director, Culture and Experiences, Virke
・Janneke Aulie. Sales and Marketing Manager, Kilden performing arts centre

Organized by Kilden performing arts centre Virke

At Culture Day, we discuss how the cultural sector can address the challenges and seize the opportunities of a new era. Culture Day, held during Arendalsuka, is an annual professional conference for the cultural sector, hosted at Munken in Arendal. The event brings together stakeholders from the arts, culture, politics, and business for debates, conversations, and professional presentations on cultural policy and conditions for artists.

Starting at 4:00 p.m., we invite everyone interested to a backyard party with music and mingling. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Welcome!

Munken is located a 5-minute walk from Pollen in Arendal, specifically at Munkegaten 4.