Agreement on Nordic award for children and young people

From the left: Halldor Ásgrimsson, Paavo Arhinmäki, Bjørn Kalsø, Anniken Huitfeldt, Katrin Jakobsdóttir, Uffe Elbæk and Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth. Photo: The Norwegian Ministry of Culture/Ketil Frøland 

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The Nordic Ministers of Culture are now taking the initiative for a new Nordic Prize for children and young people. The ministers have begun a dialogue with the Nordic Council about how the prize can be realized.

Ministers of Culture from the five Nordic countries will strengthen cooperation on child and youth culture. The ministers have given broad political support to create a brand new Nordic Prize for children and young people.

- We have a longstanding and great tradition of high quality children's literature in the Nordic countries. It is therefore very positive that my Nordic colleagues and I have agreed to take the initiative to create a Nordic award for precisely this literature, says the Norwegian Minister of Culture Anniken Huitfeldt.

- A Nordic children's book award will help to promote children's and youth literature in the Nordic countries. We have seen that the other Nordic cultural prizes are helping to create both Nordic and international attention to Nordic culture, and we will draw on this in the children and youth field as well, says Huitfeldt.

Huitfeldt met her Nordic colleagues in Oslo in April. During the meeting, the ministers also gave their support to the so-called ”fribyordningen” where persecuted writers can find shelter in selected Nordic cities.

- Fribyordningen is a fantastic local initiative. We give our full support to the cities that are involved in this important project for the freedom of speech. This shows a strong commitment to the rule of law, solidarity and a vibrant democracy, says Huitfeldt.

On the agenda of the ministers of culture was the digitization of cultural heritage in the Nordic countries. The ministers underlined the importance of making available material from the countries' archives, museums and libraries to as wide an audience as possible.