View source for Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression

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'''The Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression''' (''Det Norske Akademi for Litteratur og Ytringsfrihet'') is a Norwegian institution founded by the poet [[Knut Ødegård]] in 2003 and also called ''Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson-Akademiet''.  Its objective is to promote understanding of other cultures and literary free speech. The membership includes Norwegian and foreign scholars, authors, politicians, and journalists. The organization's 2016 President was [[Kristenn Einarsson]].

==The Bjørnson Prize==
The association annually awards the international (''Bjørnsonprisen'') which includes a cash award of 100,000 kroner (approximately €10,000).

Recipients of the award:
* 2004 – [[Vivian Fouad]] and [[Samir Morcos]] ([[Egypt]]), for promotion of relations between [[Muslim]]s and Christians.
* 2005 – [[Esma Redzepova]] ([[Republic of Macedonia]]), for championing the [[Romain people|Roma people]] (gypsies).
* 2006 – [[Hrant Dink]], Editor-in-Chief of the Armenian bi-lingual weekly paper ''[[Agos]]'' ([[Istanbul]]).
* 2007 – [[Adunis]] (pen name for [[Ali Ahmad Said Asbar]]), Syrian poet.
* 2008 – [[Ola Larsmo]], Swedish writer.
* 2009 – [[Grigory Pomerants]] and [[Zinaida Mirkina]], Russian philosophers and writers.
* 2010 – [[Milan Richter]] (Slovakia) and [[Einar Már Guðmundsson]] (Iceland), writers.
* 2011 – [[Ola Didrik Saugstad]] and [[Marte Wexelsen Goksøyr]].<ref>[http://www.nrk.no/mr/to-nordmenn-deler-bjornsonprisen-1.7840493 Bjørnsonprisen for første gong til to nordmenn] {{in lang|no}} [[NRK]]. Retrieved 11 March 2014</ref> 
* 2012 – Bishop [[Thomas of al-Qusiyya and Mair]], [[Wojoud Mejalli]] and [[David Zonsheine]], human rights activists from Egypt, Yemen and Israel.<ref>[http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/more_og_romsdal/1.8354718 «Disse tre deler Bjørnsonprisen»], ''NRK Møre og Romsdal'', 11 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.</ref>
* 2013 – [[Yaşar Kemal]], Turkish author.<ref>[http://www.rbnett.no/kultur/article8414959.ece Bjørnsonprisen til Yaşar Kemal], rbnett.no 9 October 2013</ref>
* 2014 – [[Kristin Solberg]], Norwegian journalist and author.<ref>[http://www.nrk.no/mr/solberg-far-bjornsonprisen-1.11948420 Bjørnsonprisen til journalist Kristin Solberg], nrk.no, 23 September 2014</ref> 
* 2015 – [[Edward Snowden]], whistleblower.<ref>[https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/r1Ow/edward-snowden-faar-bjoernson-prisen Edward Snowden får Bjørnson-prisen], aftenposten.no, 2 June 2015</ref>
* 2016 – [[Cecilia Dinardi]], Norwegian children's rights activist. <ref>[https://www.nrk.no/mr/bjornsonprisen-til-cecilia-dinardi-1.12976433 Bjørnsonprisen til Cecilia Dinardi], nrk.no, 31 May 2016</ref>
* 2017 – [[Bruce Springsteen]]<ref>[https://www.nrk.no/innlandet/bruce-springsteen-far-bjornson-prisen-1.13581430 Bruce Springsteen får Bjørnson-prisen], nrk.no, 29 June 2017</ref>
* 2018 – [[Johannes Anyuru]], Swedish poet and author.<ref>[https://www.smp.no/ntb/2018/06/27/Svensk-forfatter-hedres-med-Bj%C3%B8rnson-prisen-17011383.ece Svensk forfatter hedres med Bjørnson-prisen], Sunnmørsposten, 27 June 2018</ref>

The prize ceremony is held in the autumn in conjunction with the annual seminar held at the historic Bjørnson house in Molde.

==References==
{{Portal|Freedom of speech}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.bjornsonakademiet.no/ Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson-Akademiet], official website

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Free expression awards]]
[[Category:Norwegian literary awards]]
[[Category:Awards established in 2003]]
[[Category:Literary awards honouring human rights]]