New board members appointed for the Artica Svalbard Foundation
From left: Ina Otzko (Photo: Martin Losvik); Moa Björnson (Photo: Kathrine Sørgård); Sveinung Lystrup Thesen
The Ministry of Culture and the Fritt Ord Foundation have appointed a new board for the Artica Svalbard Foundation.
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of a new board member, Ina Otzko and a new deputy member, Sveinung Lystrup Thesen. We are also pleased to announce that Moa Björnson, who has been a deputy member since Artica was founded in 2016 will move to a full board member this year.
The new members will play a crucial role in supporting Artica Svalbard to develop and thrive in 2021 and beyond, and to deliver upon our commitments to contribute to critical thinking and debate in a time of great environmental, social, cultural and political changes.
Full press release: https://www.regjeringen.no/.../nytt-styre-for.../id2834724/
Newly appointed Board Members 2021
Ina Otzko is a visual artist and independent curator based in Norway and Italy. She holds a dual Master’s from the Image and Communication and Fine Art programs at Goldsmiths College in London and an additional Master’s degree in Sound Studies from Berlin University of Arts, UdK. She is chairwoman for The Association of North Norwegian Visual Artists, board member for The Norwegian Association of Visual Artists and deputy board member for Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum. Past positions include amongst others ten years with the Artistic Advisory Board for LIAF / Lofoten International Art Festival.
Moa Björnson is Head of Development, Træna Municipality. She has been working with urban and rural development in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. She is founder of Træna Artist in Residence, Head of the board in Helgeland Museum and board member of the Norwegian Research Council portfolio board for innovation and democracy.
Sveinung Lystrup Thesen is head of the real estate department at Store Norske. Development of the future of the town’s cornerstone company and Longyearbyen as a community are his main concerns. He is also responsible for the management of the cultural heritage sites in Longyearbyen and the surrounding area. Thesen has been living in Longyearbyen for 15 years, and came here initially to work as a Russian translator for Sysselmannen. He is ingrained in the town’s culture scene and is a member of the Store Norske Male Choir, the bluegrass band Blåmyra amongst many other groups.
The board now consists of:
Anne Berit Figenschau - Chairman of the Board, Director of Tax North
Ina Otzko - new board member, visual artist and board member for Nord-Norske Bildende Kunstnere
Moa Björnson - new board member, development manager in Træna municipality in Nordland
Kjetil Trædal Thorsen - board member, architect, co-founder and partner in Snøhetta
Jan Martin Berg - board member, leader of Galleri Svalbard in Longyearbyen
Sveinung Lystrup Thesen - new deputy member, property manager in Store Norske in Longyearbyen