Cities for Freedom: Stavanger and ICORN mark historic anniversaries
On 18-19 September, mayors, city representatives, writers, artists, journalists, and human rights defenders from across the world will gather in Stavanger to celebrate three milestones: Stavanger’s 900th anniversary, 30 years since the first edition of the Kapittel International Festival of Literature and Free Expression, and 20 years since cities in Europe and beyond gathered in Stavanger and decided to start ICORN.
It was at a meeting in Stavanger’s library and cultural centre Sølvberget in February 2005, that the first initiative to start ICORN was taken. The participating cities and regions agreed to continue the work to provide safe spaces for writers, persecuted due to their work. In the two decades since, more than 90 Cities of Refuge have joined the network, offering protective residencies to over 350 writers, artists, and journalists at risk. Stavanger itself has hosted 15 individuals who have been able to continue their work in safety. Among them Mansur Rajih, Islam Elsanov, Chenjerai Hove, Otba Fathalla, Selma M. Yonus, Mohammed Habeeb, Hayat Al-Sharif, and Mohammed El-Susi.
Through a series of events, we celebrate the importance of protecting and promoting free expression, democracy, human rights, and international solidarity in an increasingly fragile and polarised world.
‘Songs of Existence’ with Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
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On Thursday 18 September, the performance concert ‘Songs of Existence’ is organised and presented by Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, and will be staged at Stavanger Concert Hall 18 September, paying tribute to the power of art in responding to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
The performance features global voices, including Ghawgha from Afghanistan, Egyptian protest singer Ramy Essam, Sami yoiker Marja Mortensson, and Palestinian musicians Mohammed El-Susi and Abu Joury.
Accompanying them will be literature from writers such as Haile Bizen from Eritrea, Iranian feminist poet Fatemeh Ekhtesari, Azerbaijani author and war witness Günel Mövlud, Angolan poet and mixed-media artist Aaiún Nin, Mansur Rajih from Yemen, and Selma M. Yonus from Iraq.
The concert will be preceded by a celebratory reception with addresses by Stavanger’s Mayor Tormod Losnedal, alongside greetings from Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, State Secretary, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, Deputy Mayor of Paris, Dominika Kasprowicz, ICORN Board Member, Krakow), and Jørgen W. Frydnes, Secretary General, PEN Norway. The reception will gather mayors from the Cities of Refuge, over 90 participants in the Norwegian ICORN Network Meeting, which is taking place 17-19 September, and other guests.
The Kapittel festival presents a prelude to Songs of Existence, which includes the visual performance ‘Ana Ahwa/Inscriptions on the Skin’ by Yemeni artist Amira Al- Sharif, a performance by the ‘I Believe Choir”, featuring texts from 82 Norwegian writers, and the panel ‘Art in Times of Crisis’. The discussion will focus on the responsibility of artists in turbulent times, featuring writer Pedro Carmona-Alvarez and musician Mohammed El-Susi, and moderated by writer Marjam Idriss.
The event is organised and produced by Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with ICORN, Kapittel and Rogaland Theatre.
Tickets to Songs of Resistance are available here.
Democracy Trumped? Freedom of Expression under Attack: What can cities do?
On Friday 19 September at Folken, Staffan Lindberg, Director of the V-Dem Institute, will present the findings from the ‘Democracy Report 2025: 25 Years of Autocratisation – Democracy Trumped?’
The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion on how cities can resist democratic backsliding and autocratisation with Dag Mossige, Municipal Commissioner, City of Stavanger, Monika Chabior, Deputy Mayor of Gdansk, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, Deputy Mayor of Paris, and Carl Forsberg, Deputy Chairman of the Culture Committee of Västra Götaland. The discussion will be chaired by Helge Lunde, Executive Director of ICORN.
Tickets to ‘Democracy Trumped’ are available here.
The ICORN lecture: Jan Egeland
On Friday 19 September, Stavanger Cathedral will also host the annual ICORN lecture, delivered by Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. Drawing on decades of humanitarian experience, Egeland will address the pressing question: What are our responsibilities in a world closing its borders and cutting aid, even as crises multiply?
Following the lecture, a panel will further explore themes of justice, solidarity, and responsibility. The panellists include Marianne Borgen, former Mayor of Oslo & ICORN Board member, Ayesha Wolasmal, author, diplomat and journalist, and Zenia Chrysostomidis, Head of Section for Human Rights and Civil Society, Norad. The discussion will be moderated by Jørgen W. Frydnes, Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee and Secretary General of PEN Norway.
Tickets to the ICORN lecture are available here.
