Festival Ambassadors

Per Grieg sr. has followed the Bergen International Festival since its inception in 1953, and has been strongly involved in cultural life in Bergen throughout his life.

In 2002, the Grieg Foundation was established. The foundation supports non-profit projects worldwide, with a focus on children and young people, music and culture, among other things. The foundation has supported the Festival since its establishment, including the Festival's rich family and outdoor programme. Since 2022, the Grieg Foundation has made the Festival square, the free arena for everyone right in the city centre, possible.

Per Grieg sr. says it is in the backbone of the Grieg family to support the city's cultural institutions. He believes that art and culture are an integral part of becoming a full human being.

The Bergen International Festival is grateful to Per Grieg sr. for his support.

Per Gunnar Strømberg Rasmussen/Strømberg Gruppen joined us as Festival Ambassador in 2017. Strømberg Gruppen, like the Festival, considers quality to be one of their core values. Furthermore the company is concerned with taking social responsibility, also through art and culture.

His reason for becoming Festival ambassador, states Rasmussen, is that he believes the Festival is currently experiencing an exciting development. He wishes to contribute to the Festival fulfilling their vision of lifting the programme locally, nationally, and across borders.

Bergen International Festival is grateful for the support from Per Gunnar Strømberg Rasmussen/Strømberg Gruppen.

Espen Galtung Døsvig/EGD became Festival ambassador in 2017. Like the Festival, EGD is a company with longstanding traditions in Bergen. Since its foundation in 1907, the company has ensured its growth by adjusting its strategy in accordance with the changes in the markets and society in general.

As Festival ambassador Espen Galtung Døsvig wants to contribute to carrying the Festival into the future. He is also engaged in developing Bergen as a city of art and culture – through contemporary art of the highest quality, among other things – and the Festival’s position in this project.

The Festival is grateful for the support from Espen Galtung Døsvig/EGD.

For many years, Yvonne & Bjarne Rieber/Rika AS have invested significant amounts in the Bergen International Festival, which is and should continue to be an important cultural event and a boost for the cultural scene in Bergen, Norway and abroad.

Their support is crucial to the festival’s ambitious projects that connect tradition and renewal, that challenge and entertain the audience and make culture accessible to a broader public.

Bergen International Festival would like to thank Yvonne & Bjarne Rieber/AS Rika for their contribution.

Kristin & Johan Odvar Odfjell/JO Odfjell are new festival ambassadors in 2019. They represent a Bergen family that has more than 100 years of history within shipping, real estate and capital markets.

After two years in Silicon Valley, Kristin & Johan Odvar Odfjell returned to Bergen in 2018 to invest in Nordic start-up companies. They are interested in both technology and diversity, and by supporting the Bergen International Festival wish to contribute to the advancement of these through art.

The Bergen International Festival wishes to thank Kristin & Johan Odvar Odfjell/JO Odfjell for their contribution.