The Anderssen & Voll Grant / Anderssen & Voll-stipendet

Our ambition and sense of community as designers were at large forged through international activity at the turn of the millennium.

These early experiences of showcasing our work in Milano, Tokyo, London, Stockholm and New York, were absolutely crucial in terms of adjusting our practice, catching a glimpse of future possibilities as well as connecting to all layers across our industry.

International relations are as important to Norwegian designers today as they were 26 years ago. Decades have passed since designers anywhere could rely solely on local and regional partnerships, and Norwegian industry is sadly in decline.

Our own business rests almost fully outside of Norway. At the same time it is our international practice that makes us matter to our dear partners in Norwegian, design driven, exporting industry.

We have gained first-hand knowledge on how relatively modest financial support injected at the right moment could be cultivated through strong and motivated personal initiatives, and ultimately become life changing.

I this context it is our pleasure to launch ‘Anderssen og Voll-stipendet’ / ‘The Anderssen & Voll Grant’.

Every year we will grant a one-time support of NOK 300.000 to a young, Norwegian talent or a group of talents within the field of furniture and interior object design.

Young as in not yet a professional and Norwegian as in living and working out of Norway, the applicants should be well on their way in establishing their own practices. The funds will be earmarked for supporting international activity.

For the grant committee of 2026, Espen and I will be joined by Els van Hoorebeeck. Els is Belgian and is a prominent figure on the Nordic design scene, with broad experience from both design practice and management. We got to know her as Creative Director for &Tradition and currently she is Creative Director for Fritz Hansen.

«In order to succeed as a designer you have to win the lottery. But in order to win the lottery, you have to buy the tickets.» Alberto Meda in a lecture given at Oslo Academy of Arts and Design, sometime around 2010.

Image: Espen Voll, Torbjørn Anderssen & Els van Hoorebeeck
Photo: Lars Petter Pettersen