What does PAHN do?

PAHN is a national competence centre that elevates and promotes professional performing arts both nationally and internationally. We create and share knowledge, expertise, and networks to contribute to a vibrant Norwegian performing arts sector.

PAHN elevates and promotes Norwegian performing arts on the national and international stage

PAHN is one of the organisations in the Norwegian Arts Abroad (NAA) network, which is part of the government's framework for promoting art and culture from Norway internationally. The NAA organisations act as advisors to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within their respective fields and have a formal collaboration with the UD that includes international projects and export initiatives, as well as managing grant schemes on behalf of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both grant schemes and collaborations are part of strengthening the international opportunities for the performing arts sector, which will enhance the infrastructure nationally and contribute to a sustainable field. PAHN is financed by The Ministry of Culture and Equality.

PAHN preserves, conveys, and develops knowledge about the performing arts and the history and heritage of the Norwegian field

PAHN has initiated and operates Norway's only digital performing arts archive to collect, preserve, and inform about the entire history of Norwegian performing arts. Sceneweb consists of a database where digital material is coordinated, and the website sceneweb.no where the database can be found in both Norwegian and English.

PAHN builds strong professional fields through development of competence

PAHN aims to strengthen the professionalisation of the field, and to increase knowledge and understanding of the performing arts sector by conveying and developing knowledge and enhancing competence about Norwegian performing arts. We do this by continuously promoting Norwegian performing arts, conducting courses and lectures on international promotion and support schemes, initiating projects that create development opportunities and competence building for the performing arts industry, and not least by participating in public discourse.

PAHN makes the field visible in society

The foundation elevates knowledge and experience from the performing arts field to a political level to contribute to structural development, increased knowledge, and understanding of the performing arts sector. Our vision is to create a vibrant environment for and with performing arts. To achieve this goal, which involves a lively, dynamic, forward-looking, and active performing arts scene, we work continuously to strengthen weak structures and contribute to the development and strengthening of the sector. This is achieved, among other things, through the organisation of professional gatherings and competence-enhancing initiatives. We write several reports and consultation inputs, and regularly communicate with authorities. Read some of our consultation inputs and political documents here.

Ownership

PAHN owns the The National Touring Network for the Performing Arts (Norwegian: Norsk Scenekunstbruk) and Black Box Teater, and has partial ownership of the online performing arts publication scenekunst.no.

Foto: Oddbjørn Erland Aarstad, Donkey, Findlay//Sandsmark