19 year old Agnes Fernanda Kierulf plays bass and trumpet in the band “Vepsestikk”. A newcomer band from the Bergen area consisting of four girls.
– We think it’s important to be an example for girls who want to play in bands, said Kierulf.
This year, “Vepsestikk” was booked for several Norwegian festivals, including the Bergenfest music festival, which took place in the western village in mid-June. As women, they are clearly a minority on the festival’s roster of performers.
Agnes Fernanda Kierulf (tv) finds it surprising that the imbalance between women and men at Norwegian festivals is so large.
Photo: Aleksandra Milanovic
surprised
NRK’s calculations show that of the 47 artists and bands that will perform at the festival, around a quarter are solo artists or female bands with the majority of members being female.
Frank Nes is the festival manager for Bergenfest. She acknowledged that they could do more to attract more women to the stage.
Photo: Bente Kjøllesdal
– It is surprising that there are more men, said Kierulf when NRK informed him of the count.
– But unfortunately, we are used to this kind of situation, he added.
Don’t order by gender
Because Bergenfest represents the average of all festivals in Norway last year, according to the paper Our country. Then there are 25 percent of women who stand on the festival stage.
Bergenfest festival manager Frank Nes said they were making a conscious effort to include more female artists in the program.
– But we do not structure our programs based on gender balance, he told NRK.
– There are several male artists and bands, the majority of whom are men. “So it’s also a matter of availability, apart from finances and several other factors,” he explained.
Culture Minister Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) wants to say something, but for now is doing nothing about the proportion of women at Norwegian music festivals.
Photo: Snorre Tønset / Snorre Tønset/NRK
The Minister of Culture wants to reverse this trend
Minister of Culture Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) believes that the number of female artists should not be used as a pillow for rest.
– There are more than enough women who can play at the festival. However, the festivals continue to receive the largest number of male visitors, he told NRK.
The Minister of Culture will now reverse this trend. Not with concrete measurements, but with a clear call.
– I asked the festival to think more about gender balance when they book artists in the future. Neither this year, nor in the coming years, said Trettebergstuen.
Siri Haugan Holden of concert organizers in Norway suggested that festivals set concrete goals to improve gender balance.
Photo: Jane Lool
Concrete goals
Frank Nes at Bergenfest agreed with the Minister of Culture.
– We must all accept this challenge and get better at recruiting more women in the coming years.
Siri Haugan Holden from concert organizer Norway believes the festival should set concrete goals going forward.
– If we want to change this, we must set concrete goals, he said.
– Should the festival prioritize gender balance over the best and newest performers?
– This is a discussion that does not take us any further. Women and quality are inseparable. The majority of famous Norwegian artists today are women, so there are lots of choices, she says.
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