Maria Mediaas Jørstad, General Manager of Talent Norway will be the new Director of the Nordic Culture Fund from September 2023

The Fund’s board and chair Gunilla Carlsson expect Maria Mediaas Jørstad to build on the development of the Fund in recent years, which has led to a clearer cultural policy profile and new and more strategic ways of supporting art and culture.

“Maria Mediaas Jørstad is a visionary leader who can both build on the Fund’s development and ensure new opportunities for future initiatives within Nordic co-operation on art and culture. She brings solid experience from the world of art and culture and is the right person to head the Nordic Culture Fund, which works proactively to create new frameworks for the development of collaborations and initiatives“, says Gunilla Carlsson.

Maria Mediaas Jørstad is from Norway, where she is currently the General Manager of the organisation Talent Norway, which supports young artists on the road to a professional career. She has been involved in developing and building the organisation since its establishment in 2015, and under her leadership Talent Norway has grown to become a significant player in the Norwegian arts and cultural field. Maria Mediaas Jørstad has a background as a theatre producer and has previously worked for many years as chief producer at the National Theatre in Oslo. She says about the position:

“I am very happy and grateful to have been given the opportunity to lead the work of the Nordic Culture Fund. The importance of Nordic co-operation is clear and, above all, very topical. The role of art and culture as a bridge builder in the Nordic region is a crucial part of Nordic co-operation, and I really look forward to contributing to this.“

The Nordic Culture Fund’s current Director Benny Marcel will step down from his position at the Nordic Culture Fund from September 2023 as his employment contract expires after 8 years.