Our supporters

Grieg Foundation supports numerous charitable projects worldwide, with an emphasis on projects that involve children and youth, music and culture, health and research and climate action. Since 2002, the Grieg Foundation has presented many gifts to the city's population through the Bergen International Festival.

One of them was in 2022, when the foundation turned 20 years old, its  founder Per Grieg sr. turned 90, and the Festspillene had its 70th anniversary. Grieg Foundation celebrated this by, among other things, giving a gift to everyone in the city in the form of a free outdoor programme at the Festival square during the Festival. In 2023, the Bergen International Festival and the Grieg Foundation entered into a new, three-year collaboration agreement which makes it possible to continue this free arena in the middle of the city center. This makes the Grieg Foundation the Festivals largest project partner.

In a colourful, green costume, with seating and a stage, Torgallmenningen will be dressed up, and will offer daily events, playgrounds for the children, as well as concerts with talented musicians in many different genres. The entire city's favorite square will be filled for eleven days with free events, and the series will be opened by the navy's eminent music band on Thursday 23 May.

The Bergen International Festival would like to thank the Grieg Foundation for their long-term support.

www.griegfoundation.com

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.

The foundation Abraham Odfjells Stiftelse contributes to projects that promote culture, art and the general well-being of society.

The Bergen International Festival is a central and important actor on the national and international cultural scene. The foundation wishes to contribute to the further development of Bergen International Festival.

The Bergen International Festival is grateful for the contribution from Abraham Odfjells Stiftelse.

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.

Iwona and Bjarne Rieber have always had a strong interest and hearts that beat for art and culture. They have contributed significant amounts to the Bergen International Festival throughout the years, with the desire that the festival continues to be an important cultural event for the people of Bergen and a boost for the cultural life both nationally and internationally.

The support is crucial as the Festival, through ambitious projects, connects tradition and renewal, challenges and delights the audience. In 2025, The Iwona and Bjarne Rieber Charitable Foundation will support William Kentridge's two productions: The Great Yes, The Great No and Oh To Believe in Another World.

The Bergen International Festival is grateful for the long-standing support.

Aud Jebsen is a valued festival ambassador through her commitment to world-class art.
The Bergen International Festival aims to attract the world’s leading artists and relies on dedicated and ambitious supporters in order to continue presenting cultural highlights to our quality-conscious audience.

The Bergen International Festival extends its gratitude to Aud Jebsen.

Louise & Øystein Storebø have been festival consuls since 2020. Their interest in culture, in combination with a great commitment to Bergen city, resulted in a desire to contribute to the city's and the nation's annual cultural highlight and celebration.

They are delighted to join the team of various supporters, as well as the opportunity to experience the festival up close.

The Bergen International Festival thanks Louise & Øystein Storebø for their contribution.

The DNB Savings Bank Foundation is an independent foundation that has as one of its main goals to increase the interest and understanding of art and culture, especially among children and young people. They do this by supporting projects that ensure good dissemination and invite participation. Dextra Musica is a subsidiary of Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, which since 2006 has bought valuable string instruments with the purpose of loaning them to Norwegian musicians.

With support from The DNB Savings Bank Foundation, the festival offers performances from young world-class musicians and outstanding international artists in the Troldsalen and composer homes of Grieg and Sæverud at Troldhaugen and Siljustøl, and in Håkonshallen.

In addition, the DNB Savings Bank Foundation supports Bergen International Festival's new talent development programme for young composers, Festival Academy of Bergen (FAB), through funding and collaboration.

The Bergen International Festival thanks The DNB Savings Bank Foundation for the support.

www.sparebankstiftelsen.no

H. Westfal-Larsen og Hustru Anna Westfal-Larsens Almennyttige Fond has the purpose of providing support for the promotion of matters that are in the best interest of Bergen's general well-being and cultural life.

The fund supports the opening performance The Great Yes, The Great No, Elements of Freestyle and the closing concert of Bergen International Fesival 2025. 

The Bergen International Festival thanks H. Westfal-Larsen og Hustru Anna Westfal-Larsens Almennyttige Fond for the contributions that bring new perspectives and stories to Bergen.

Hilmar Rekstens Allmennyttige Fond (the Hilmar Reksten Charitable Foundation) provides support for social and cultural initiatives that serve the public good. The foundation is a key contributor to the Bergen International Festival, a festival that Hilmar Reksten himself played a central role in establishing.

Hilmar Reksten’s personal involvement with the Festival dates back to the early 1950s, when he was a key figure in the effort to establish the festival as a national cultural event. From its modest beginnings and in the years that followed, Reksten made a significant effort to secure essential funding from both public and private sources. His contributions were crucial to the realization of the first festival in 1953. As president and chairman of the Festival, he was later appointed Knight 1st Class of the Order of St. Olav for his work.

With support from Hilmar Rekstens Allmennyttige Fond, the Festival continues to thrive as an important cultural event that bridges tradition and innovation. This support makes it possible to carry out ambitious projects that challenge and inspire audiences, while also strengthening cultural life in both Bergen and on a national level.

The Bergen International Festival is deeply grateful for the vital support of Hilmar Rekstens Allmennyttige Fond.

The GC Rieber Foundations provide support for non-profit social and cultural purposes, mainly in Bergen. Contributions are also made to medical and other research. Among many good cultural initiatives, the Foundations have given priority to supporting local young talent, especially in music. This is to ensure the further development of a broad cultural life in the city for the future.

With support from the GC Rieber Foundations, the Festival can offer musical experiences to people who may not be able to come to our official venues. During the Festival, concerts are organised in nursing homes, where children from primary and secondary school are also invited to build bridges across generations.

The Bergen International Festival thanks GC Rieber Foundations for their support.

www.gcrieber.com

Talent Norge is a non-profit, joint-stock company founded in 2015 to provide outstanding artistic talents with opportunities to realise their full potential. They support environments that recruit top-level talent in music, dance, performing arts, literature and visual arts, and collaborate with institutions, organisations and cultural entities throughout the country.

Talent Norge supports Bergen International Festival's new talent development programme for young composers and musicians, Festival Academy of Bergen (FAB), through funding and collaboration.

The Bergen International Festival wishes to thank Talent Norge for their support.

www.talentnorge.no

The Fritt Ord Foundation is a non-profit private foundation whose paramount objective, is to protect and promote freedom of expression and the environment for freedom of expression in Norway, particularly by encouraging lively debate and the dauntless use of the free word.

With support from the Fritt Ord Foundation, Ordskifte is continued, a debate program that will help to mirror and highlight important tendencies and issues in the present time, based on the festival's widely branched program.

The Bergen International Festival thanks the Fritt Ord Foundation for the support.

www.frittord.no

Music Norway’s mission is to facilitate Norwegian music export by increasing the interest and use of Norwegian music of all genres internationally.

With support from Music Norway, the Bergen International Festival organise an extensive media delegate programme each year with selected journalists from around the world, facilitating export and international media coverage of Norwegian music and cultural life. The delegates have the opportunity to build their network, experience concerts and performances, and interview artists and artistic directors. The goal is to create an effective point of contact between Norwegian artists and international media outlets, and this is reflected in the international media coverage following each festival.

Statsbygg is the Norwegian government’s building commissioner, property manager and developer, responsible for many of Norway's most significant buildings. They ensure that state-owned properties are managed in a sustainable way, while also facilitating cultural and socially beneficial purposes.

In collaboration with Statsbygg, the Bergen International Festival invite the public to the performances Rex Lawson and The Big Picture at Gamlehaugen, connecting artistic experiences with historic surroundings.

Eiendomsspar is one of Norway’s leading real estate companies, with a history marked by value creation, long-term development, and a strong commitment to urban and cultural life. For decades, the company has invested in preserving and developing properties of historical and cultural significance, while also being an important supporter of Norwegian arts and culture.

As a project partner for the Bergen International Festival 2025, Eiendomsspar is helping make possible the performance Kirsten Flagstad —an innovative concert experience where new technology brings one of Norway’s most iconic sopranos back to the stage.

The Bergen International Festival is grateful for the collaboration with Eiendomsspar and Christian Ringnes, whose commitment helps preserve and further develop Norway’s rich cultural heritage.

www.eiendomsspar.no

Krefting-stiftelsen (the Krefting Foundation) aims to contribute to the best possible living conditions for disadvantaged children and young people. The foundation can provide support for sports, culture, education, and other initiatives. In addition, the foundation supports cultural heritage projects and medical research. In connection with the 2025 Bergen International Festival, the Krefting Foundation is helping more people experience art and culture by contributing specifically to the project Spre gleden, where tickets to performances are distributed through humanitarian organisations.

Krefting-stiftelsen

The Queen Sonja Print Award (QSPA) is the world's leading award for graphic art. It is a celebration of the art of printmaking, and an international recognition of graphic artists. The award, established in 2011, aims to promote and elevate printmaking as an art form, as well as create opportunities for artists on the international art scene.

Bergen International Festival's 2024 artist in residence, William Kentridge, is a former award winner. With support from QSPA, the Festival presents the talk Meet William Kentridge, where the public will have the opportunity to hear the artist in conversation with Professor Maria Delgado, University of London.

www.qspa.no

Stiftelsen Kaare Berg (the Kaare Berg foundation) was established in 1991 by Inger and Kaare Berg and provides funding for charitable and cultural purposes. Today, the foundation collaborates with many projects focusing on children, youth, social exclusion, mental health, and low-threshold support services for substance abuse.

In 2025, Stiftelsen Kaare Berg is supporting the Bergen International Festival’s project Spre gleden, in which festival tickets are distributed through humanitarian organizations, allowing more people to experience the joy of art and culture.

SKB - Stiftelsen Kaare Berg

For the bank DNB, it is important to collaborate with Norway’s cultural community, sports and other socially beneficial initiatives that help create positive ripple effects for people, businesses, the environment, and society. The Bergen International Festival keeps the classical culture tradition alive while also having the courage to challenge conventions. As Norway’s largest financial group, DNB aims to play an active part in society, both at the local and national level.

www.dnb.no

Inner solid motivation, the ability to put in maximum effort, and a willingness to learn new things – these are the characteristics of Equinor's Heroes of tomorrow.

The world is constantly changing. That is why we need children and youth who dare to think differently and want to make a difference – either in the classroom, on the sports field, or in a concert hall. These are the talents we call Heroes of tomorrow!

Equinor is working with the best environments for talent development. In that way, together, we can lift boys and girls to be future role models for all of us. They will inspire us to understand that the impossible can become possible.

www.equinor.com

In DNV, we value safety, quality and integrity. More than 15 000 employees in 100 countries are committed to our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment. Often, our role also requires us to balance business needs with the needs of society – we call it the 'balancing act'.

Our partnership with the Bergen International Festival, one of Norway’s finest international cultural institutions, is part of DNV’s commitment to society. We believe that culture and society go hand in hand.

DNV is proud to be a sponsor of the Bergen International Festival.

Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

DNV.com - When trust matters - DNV

The history of DNV goes back to 1864

KPMG is best known as accountants, business consultants and lawyers, but we are so much more.

At KPMG, we dare to ask questions, challenge ourselves and our customers, show curiosity and speak plainly and in a straight-forward manner. Only by doing this can we fully understand our customers' challenges and opportunities. This enables us to give better advice. Advice that looks to the future.

www.kpmg.com

Bergens Tidende's overall mission is to keep people in Bergen and in Western Norway up to date on the important things happening in social life, culture, sport and business. Our journalism should inspire readers to stay informed, and BT should be a clear voice in the public debate, both locally and nationally.

We support the Bergen International Festival because the cultural scene in Bergen is of great importance to the people who live here. Culture is not just entertainment,
but important for understanding the society we live in and a potential trailblazer in debates. We want to contribute to that.

www.bt.no

Galleriet is proud to sponsor the Bergen International Festival.
Galleriet is one of Norway's best known shopping centres, and is located at Torgalmenningen in the centre of Bergen. At Galleriet, you will find the newest, most updated store concepts, with everything from the biggest brands to unique products you will not find elsewhere. Galleriet has 70 different stores and several restaurants and cafés.

www.galleriet.com