Lillehammer Municipality is a key partner for World Expression Forum and has now approved a grant of NOK 350,000 to WEXFO for 2025.
In the proposal, the municipality describes: “WEXFO has quickly become a powerhouse in the local cultural scene and has great ambitions for further growth. WEXFO can show strong results and significant growth since its inception in 2021, and through its annual conferences, it has attracted numerous international key figures in politics, research, media, and organizational life to Lillehammer. Additionally, WEXFO has proven to be an active and interested partner with a particular focus on youth, something that a large number of local school students have benefited from.”
The municipality also justifies the grant by stating that WEXFO’s ambitions to make Lillehammer one of the world’s most important arenas for democracy work, freedom of expression, and debate are fully in line with Lillehammer Municipality’s overarching goals.
“We are thankful to be based in a city that values freedom of expression and democracy so highly, providing WEXFO with the opportunity to grow further as a hub and advocate for free speech,” says Anne-Thea Haavind, Head of Administration at WEXFO.
Photo: During WEXFO 2024, over 1000 students from Lillehammer and the surrounding areas participated in a freedom of expression festival featuring workshops, activities, artistic performances, and discussions and debates.