Culture Prize

The board created in 2014 a separate cultural award for the Bergen International Cultural Center. The culture prize must be an annual prize, and is intended to be a motivation for organizations and groups that contribute to creating a vibrant culture house and good community through cultural work. The award will also encourage member organizations to cooperate, and to create and arrange cultural events that contribute to inclusion and community at Bergen International Cultural Center.

Culture prize winner 2023 - Glesniel Pérez Montalvo

Culture Prize 2023 was assigned to Glesniel. Through his dance school and events, Glesniel has been highly visible at the Bergen International Cultural Center in recent years, and contributed with new and positive impulses. Through courses and workshops, he has delighted many dance-loving people in Bergen. He has also organized concerts with Cuban artists, both alone and in collaboration with the cultural centre. Glesniel is also behind the festival Bailando, which in recent years has had a base with us, and is a three-day festival with pure dancing pleasure.
Glesniel is an extremely energetic and positive person, and it is inspiring to see his great commitment to dance and music! Congratulations on a well-deserved award.

Culture prize winner 2022 - Chiku Ali

Chiku Ali was awarded the cultural award for 2022, for his passionate commitment and unique communication skills at FamileLørdag and Møt Verden in Bergen. Since the nineties, she has been one of the promoters of International Children's Games, she has a unique stage presence and ability to engage children and adults with her stories with song, dance and drums. Chiku has a big heart, large network and a long career as a cultural actor, and has for many years played an important role in the multicultural environment in Bergen.

I 2005 Chiku was also involved in starting the very first edition of World Music Festivals (VME) during International Week. The aim was to present artists with roots in the immigrant communities in Norway, and show how Norwegian music had become richer and more diverse through immigration. Today we know the festival as the Bergen International Music Festival. Chiku has been and still is an important role model for both children and adults. She is an important contributor to the multicultural field both in Bergen and at the Bergen International Cultural Center. For a number of years, she has been a natural bridge builder between different environments, different continents and across generations. Chiku and Cafè Sanaa also nurture a unique network of local musicians and artists, and gives them the opportunity to perform their music in a safe environment. In recent years, a good collaboration between the cultural center has developed, our festival, and Chiku with Café Sanaa. We are proud to be part of her network and congratulate her on this well-deserved award.

Culture prize winner 2021 - Tara Ali Twana

The Culture Prize 2021 was awarded to Tara Ali Twana for inclusive and engaging contributions as a theater director, and as a good ambassador for children's theater at the cultural center. Since 2017 Tara has regularly collaborated with the cultural center, and led our theater groups for children of all ages 6-12 year. Tara was also already from 2002 with at the old cultural center, where she worked on her own projects and put on performances.
Tara helps to sow small sprouts of artist joy in children, and parents are clearly proud when they get to join the show to see what the children have practiced.
Bergen International Cultural Center is proud to call her one of ours, and we hope she continues the good cooperation with us. Congratulations so much on the well deserved award Tara.

Culture Prize 2020 - Multinational Women's Community, MKF in Bergen

Multinational Women's Community in Bergen – MKF was awarded the culture prize 2020 for their engaging and highly inclusive work for
women with a minority background.
Since the start in 1998 They have focused on important topics that affect women of all ages, and holds regular theme meetings and "decoration parties" both at the cultural center and elsewhere.
MKF in Bergen is able in a warm and inclusive way to engage people across generations and cultural backgrounds, and to create safe meeting places and gatherings for their target groups. We are proud to have MKF Bergen as a member.

Culture Prize 2019 - Danitza Rogers Olea

The Culture Prize was awarded to Danitza for her extremely engaging and inclusive contribution, through his passion for dance. Flamenco Talento which is her own dance school was founded in 2006, and all teaching took place at the cultural center. She also had her first Flamenco performance at the cultural center in 2008 with packed hall. Danitza helps to create diversity and great dancing joy among the city's inhabitants. Danitza is an excellent communicator and educator, and Bergen International Cultural Center is proud to call her one of ours.

Culture Prize 2016 - Abu Adonaba

The Culture Prize was awarded to Abu Adonaba for his special commitment and inclusive contribution to making the Bergen International Cultural Center a living culture house. I over 10 years he has held weekly courses in African drumming, African dance for adults and not least Rhythm toys for children. Through his activities at the cultural center, both he and his family have been an excellent communicator of African cultural heritage and music . Abu is a good ambassador for the cultural center as a multicultural meeting place. Many people from Bergen, young and old have become acquainted with the cultural center through Abu and his inclusive cultural expression.

Culture Prize 2015 - The Joint Immigrant Council in Hordaland, DFIRH

The Culture Prize was awarded to the members of the Immigration Council's special commitment, they were the driving force behind the founding of the Bergen International Cultural Center. Since the beginning, they have fought for a separate cultural center for immigrants and their organizations in Bergen and in Hordaland. They fought for all these groups to have their own house for cultural exchange and diversity. A place where Bergen could meet the world. Without DFIRH, there would never have been a Cultural Center.

Culture Prize 2014 - The magic rainbow

The artist group The Magic Rainbow was awarded the culture prize for 2014. As co-organizer of BarneBIKS / family Saturday, they have excelled with their commitment to disseminating international art and culture.. They have helped to create a good and inclusive cultural offer for children and families with children that has been both educational, entertaining and creative. They have also motivated and inspired other cultures- and artist groups who want to contribute to a colorful and diverse cultural program at the cultural center.