MEET THE NEW TEAM

Photo: Even Finnsrud/Musikkultur
THE SAFEMUSE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM IS GROWING
Safemuse is entering the fall with some wonderful additions to our team. With one new full time employee, one new temp and one new residence coordinator, we will keep working to give artists at risk a safe place to work and develop their art. Kicking off the autumn with a two-day seminar, the administrative team got to work on some of our future projects. We are proud to introduce you to the newest members of our team, what their background is and what they think about artistic freedom.
Celina Jerman Bright-Taylor

Photo: Jon Lundell
Celina has a background in international relations and international law. She has worked with human rights issues in several countries, but has in the last years been working in civil society organizations in Norway like NOAS, FIVAS and the Norwegian Council for Africa. She has been especially involved in the work with corporate social responsibility. Celina is passionate about how we through art and creative expressions can shed light on important questions in our society, how art opens up new ways to meet people and allows us to understand how changes in the society affects people’s lives.
Q: What does artistic freedom mean to you?
– To me, artistic freedom means the right to self-expression on your own terms. Art, in all its shapes and forms, talks to our emotions, to something deeper within us than what is purely intellectual. That is why art is dangerous, provocative and an agent for change. There is a feeling of community when we chant the same song in a demonstration. A short poem can hold a world of questions and of answers and comprehension of complex issues. A theater can create a debate concerning both the personal and the political. But to me, most importantly, people should have the freedom to create their own space, to work with and express what it is that lives within themselves.
Celina Jerman Bright-Taylor enters a full time position as Program Officer.
Frøydis Bergheim Ruud

Photo: Even Finnsrud/Musikkultur
Frøydis has in the recent years worked as label manager at Grappa Musikkforlag AS, where she has been in charge of traditional music label Heilo, as well as jazz/experimental labels Hubro and Odin. She has also been the Grappa liaison for Safemuse’s own label LIDIO. She holds a master degree in traditional music from the University of South-East Norway. As a playing manager of ‘Myllargutens gammaldansorkester’ she released several albums and toured a variety of countries in Europe with the 15 piece band. Her optimistic world view drives her to work for what she truly believes in: that when a multitude of cultural expressions are made available to many, we as a society will be more open and understanding and progressive. She brings with her a great passion for facilitating collaborations and cultural meetings across genres and borders.
Q: What does artistic freedom mean to you?
– The role of art in our society is to describe, challenge and criticize. That is why artistic freedom is essential to maintain a well-functioning society that moves forward, and never is allowed to stagnate.
Frøydis Bergheim Ruud is entering a 50% temporary position as Project Coordinator.
Nicolai López

Photo: Even Finnsrud/Musikkultur
Nicolai comes from a background in hip hop and theatre. He has worked for over a decade as a professional dancer, before he started his present career as a creative producer and project manager within the arts field. He has a deep passion for and knowledge about the Northern Norwegian culture, as well as the Sámi culture and indigenous culture in various parts of the world. He has run an artist management for Northern Norwegian and Sámi artists, working amongst others with the successful band ISÁK. He has also worked with several theatre and dance projects – the most famous being ‘Vidas Extremas’ that earned a Hedda Award and the Theatre Critics Award in 2016.
Q: What does artistic freedom mean to you?
– Artistic freedom is an essential right. Through my work with indigenous culture I have come to understand that it is also completely necessary. For many people, the stage is the only place you can express yourself freely, even if that stage is hidden, and everywhere else is a dangerous place. Those who truly fight for artistic freedom are people who dare to risk something, risks that we in Norway will probably never really understand. We might think that we are willing to die for our art, but we will never have to make that choice. This is why I want to use all my effort and knowledge, to fight for those who know and have experienced what the price of artistic freedom can be.
Nicolai enters a 50% position as Residence Coordinator for our current residency with the dancer Gato.
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A NEW GENERAL MANAGER IN SAFEMUSE We are pleased to announce that Celina Jerman Bright-Taylor is set to become the new general manager of Safemuse – Safe Havens for Artists. Bright-Taylor has worked as an advisor in the organisation for the past two years and will take on her new role ...
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Letter to the 65th Grammy edition: Conditions of Iranian artist Mehdi Rajabian This letter was sent to CEO Harvey Mason Jr. on the 10th of October 2022. “There will need to be a change of regime for him to get out…That he actually managed to be creative and to work with
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About us Support us – We are doing this to support independent voices Artistic freedom of expression, solidarity and collaboration In an increasingly polarised world, with tensions between nations, cultures, political parties and cultural norms, a growing group of artists are encountering obstacles in the execution of their work. Artists are in many cases regarded
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– We are doing this to support independent voices Artistic freedom of expression, solidarity and collaboration In an increasingly polarised world, with tensions between nations, cultures, political parties and cultural norms, a growing group of artists are encountering obstacles in the execution of their work. Artists are in many cases regar...