Rochelle Roberts is a poet, writer and editor for the art publisher Prestel. In 2023 she was the editor of the art catalogue Alice Neel: Hot Off The Griddle Exhibition Catalogue, which was published in connection with the Barbican’s eponymous exhibition. Roberts contributes with texts in our festival book.

Language: English

Daniel Mariblanca is the artistic director for the transgender-inclusive dance and performance group 71BODIES in Bergen. 71BODIES emphasize diversity by conveying essential perspectives through media like film, photography and documentary-style videography, all woven into their dance and performance productions.

Brynjulf Jung Tjønn is an author and director of Den norske forfatterforening. His poetry collection Kvit, norsk mann (White, Norwegian Male) was published in 2022 and won the Norwegian Critics’ Award, the Young People’s Critics’ Award and Nynorsk Literature Award.

The poem Koreakrigen (The Korean War) will be published in the festival book, and is an extension of Kvit, norsk mann.

Language: Norwegian

Lars Korff Lofthus is a painter who divides his time between his studio in Hardanger and Bergen, where he was until recently associate professor at the Art Academy. Lofthus’s works examine positions where alienation and fellowship integrate, and creates tableaus where nature, desire and tradition flow together and establish new situations. His works have been purchased by, among others, Nasjonalmuseet, KODE, the Municipality of Oslo and Equinor. Korff Lofthus contributes works to the festival book.

Language: Norwegian

Martha Leivestad has always been interested in art, and often visits MUNCH. She launched her comedy career in the show 4ETG on NRK. After 4 years and many youtube videos, she is now working as a standup comedian and anchor for VGTV.

Language: Norwegian

Multi-artist Alexandra Drewchin, aka Eartheater, does not compromise. When Eartheater enters the stage in Oslo - one of the artist’s very few concerts in Europe - she leaves everything on the stage in an orgy of light, costumes, and images that transcend genres.

Mine Nilay Yalcin is a Norwegian-Turkish director, dramatist and performer. Her art focuses on class struggle, cultural frictions and diversity. Ivars Kro won the Hedda Award in 2023 for best stage script.

Language: Norwegian

Dana Jdid is an architect, entrepreneur and co-owner of Baba Bar. Baba Bar is inspired by African and Arab culture, and Jdid and her co-owners Zee Noubah and Nedia Bouzida wanted to create a space «by us, for us» where everyone can feel at home

Language: Norwegian

Bjørn Hatterud is an author, culture journalist, curator and musician. His projects tend to be highly diverse, but they all challenge accepted notions of high/low culture, conformity/non-conformity and normalcy/deviance. Hatterud has contributed writings to the festival book.

Ihra Lill Scharning is a visual artist focusing on film and installations. Her works question issues of ownership, copyright, and the freedoms and shortcomings of contemporary art. With self-competence as a disabled and queer person, Scharning’s works tend to cross over into many fields. She has contributed works to the festival book.

Language: Norwegian

Glenn Bech is a Danish psychologist and author who, based on personal experience, writes about class differences in Denmark.

Kathrine Thorborg Johansen was educated at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (2009-2013) and works freelance with theater and film. This fall she portrays former prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland in the tv-series Makta (NRK).

Language: Danish

Asha Abdullahi is a slam poet who uses her texts to express and illuminate issues that affect her as a black, hijab-wearing woman.

Ida Helene Benoinisen uses her poetry both as an expression of the personal and intimate, but also as a tool for her political activism.

The two of them are behind the slam scene Blue Monday at SALT in Oslo. Benonisen and Abdullahi both contribute texts to the festival book.

Language: Norwegian

Afterlife dives headlong into the violent story of classical ballet. More precisely it deals with the moment when the art form was born: The Italian renaissance (15th century). Performed by three dancers, the performance breaks open a messy time capsule of folksy renaissance dance as well as baroque dances for the aristocracy. A space is created for speculative futures and ambivalent interpretations of a renaissance that never happened. The original show lasts 60 minutes.

Oliver Lovrenski recently wrote the coming-of-age book Da vi var yngre (When We Were Younger), a story about friendship, sorrow, drugs and survival in today’s Oslo. His new text gutta mine (my boys) is part of the festival book. 

Language: Norwegian

Arif Salum is one of the country's most critically acclaimed and popular artists. In his music, he explores the possibilities of the Norwegian language and puts words to growing up on the outside of society.

Language: Norwegian

Siddharta Kapoor is an art historian and musicologist. Under the name Sid Hart he also creates his own art. He helped found the cross-disciplinary art collective One Kin. The collective explores how art can be used to investigate identity and create communities across cultural divides and artistic methods.

Katherine Paul’s third album, The Land, The Water, The Sky, is a celebration of the country she comes from and her people. A love letter to indigenous strength and healing. «When you stand on the land of your ancestors, you can never be alone».

Language: English

Black Belt Eagle Scout are doing their first tour of Europe, and arrive fresh off the renowned Pitchfork Festival in London.