The Bergen International Literary Festival

Children & youth

Jan 15

Who: LitFestBergen

What: Literary Festival

Where: Bergen

Project period: 2021

Web: LitFestBergen

The Bergen International Literary Festival for Non-Fiction and Fiction (LitFestBergen) has quickly become established as an important player on Bergen’s cultural scene, attracting attention locally, nationally and internationally.

Participants in LitFestBergen meet authors from the whole world and from Norway, whose works directly address the big and important questions which affect us all. The festival is characterised by literary, linguistic, cultural and geographical diversity.

With support from the Grieg Foundation, LitFestBergen 2021 will present a broad literary programme for young people which allows them to encounter international and Norwegian authors.

During the festival, which runs from 10-14 February, school children in the Bergen area are invited to a number of activities related to three current issues:

Racism and identity

The Black Lives Matter movement has set its stamp on the debate over racism and identity during the past year. Several programme items raise the issue of racism in Norwegian and historical contexts, as well as the question of how people define their own identity and distinguish themselves in various ways

Nature and climate

We are yet again in the hottest year recorded since measurements began more than a century ago. How are we meeting the climate challenge, and how is this finding expression in literature?

Freedom of expression and polarization

What limits freedom of expression for young people today? How do the internet and social media affect this? Should it also apply to extreme views – and when does an opinion become extreme? Is it easier than before to be drawn into extremist networks when information becomes a flood and its sources may be unclear?

Essay competition

LitFestBergen has held an international essay competition for young adults on the subject of “My generation”. It received more than 500 entries from 90 countries, and the winners will be presented during the festival.