Førdekonferansen 2015 - Culture, trust and volunteering

Last year's conference brought together hundreds of participants. Photo: Geir Birkeland.

In Norway, we have unusually strong trust in each other and society. But volunteering and participation in community life are changing. What is happening to our society as a consequence of this? Can the changes affect important foundations in our society, such as freedom of expression and the right to express oneself? And will new Norwegian citizens be part of this volunteer culture? The conference will also focus on the festival and cultural life as catalysts for local cultural and social development.

A number of interesting speakers and debaters have been secured for the conference program: Sturla Stålsett (leader of Frivillighet Norge), Knut Olav Åmås (director of Fritt Ord), Bjørgulv Vinje Borgundvaag (State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture), researchers Einar Eimhjellen (Centre for Research on Civil Society and the Voluntary Sector) and Bård Kleppe (Telemark Research), artist and social scientist Lavleen Kaur, and the leaders of Vinjerock, Bratt Moro and Vossajazz. 

Førdekonferansen 2015 will take place over one day, Thursday 2 July from 10:30 am - 4:30 pm , and will be held at Scandic Sunnfjord Hotel & Spa. Invitation to the official reception and ticket to the festival's opening concert, World ConneXions , is included in the conference. 

HERE you can see the full program and sign up. Registration is open, so all you have to do is secure a spot!