Karin Hansson reflects on her role as ICORN’s National Coordinator in Sweden: ‘Keep your head cool and your heart warm’

Looking ahead, the role of National ICORN Coordinator in Sweden will be taken on by Klas Grinell, with Gothenburg serving as the host city for the national coordination. An author, researcher, and development leader with a strong focus on global justice issues, Grinell assumed the position in early April 2026. You can find out more about him and his appointment here.

ICORN: After so many years as ICORN’s National Coordinator for Sweden, what experiences or insights will you take with you into your new role?

Karin Hansson: A brief—and admittedly somewhat cliché—answer is that collaboration and partnerships around shared goals are essential to everything.

ICORN: Which aspects of the job have you enjoyed the most, and which have been the most challenging?

Karin Hansson: It has been very inspiring to see how dedicated the coordinators are—how they go above and beyond to support artists, ultimately helping to protect freedom of expression on a global scale. There is, in fact, a meaningful connection between assembling IKEA furniture and defending human rights—who knew!

And of course, the artists themselves are a constant source of inspiration. When you truly understand what they have done—and continue to do in their practice—not just by reading about it, but by listening to them directly, it is incredibly powerful. It is difficult to fully put into words.

The challenging part is the feeling that you can never do enough. There is always one more call you could make to convince someone to offer support, one more outreach to follow up on a question, one more project you could initiate to support the artists and the cities. It never really ends.

This is further complicated by the rise of populism and increasingly sceptical, inward-looking perspectives on “the other” here in Sweden and globally, often driven by short-term thinking. I am very frustrated to see the drastic decline over the past ten years.

ICORN: Looking back over your ten years, first as the ICORN Coordinator in Växjö and then as the National Coordinator for Sweden, what would you say are the most important things you’ve learned?

Karin Hansson: From my dear co-workers at ICORN, I have learned two important things. The first is to know when a no is truly a no—and when a no is a maybe. The second is that in times of stress or crisis, you should keep your head cool and your heart warm. I will always remember that.

ICORN: What are you most looking forward to in your new position as Director of the Swedish Centre for Literary Translators?

Karin Hansson: The most important thing for me is to help ensure that the excellent work of the Swedish Centre for Literary Translators continues to create space for literary translators and for translation for many years to come.

During my years with ICORN, I have seen how a truly good translation can open doors in many ways—especially for artists who are continuing work they have risked their freedom for. But I have also learned that a poor translation can put that same freedom at risk.

So yes—translators are essential. And I am very grateful to have the opportunity to work with them.