About last week’s press reports

Entirely needed social changes are underway. Many centuries of injustices are to be rectified – injustices that throughout history have hindered development and deprived both groups and individuals of the chance to find their own paths and their true selves. It is therefore a good thing that we have students and staff who both discuss and strive to transform structures and mindsets that may lead to alienation and racism. At KHiO, I see there is a deep social commitment that may spur such change, something that makes me proud as the school’s rector. Despite several measures that have been implemented here at the Academy, however, we see that there is still some distance to go.

Last week, students from the Academy of Theatre bravely shared their experiences in public and criticised the school. As the dean of the Academy of Theatre, Victoria Meirik, says, we listen to and take such experiences seriously. It is not always easy to receive criticism – I think this is something we all feel. The same can be said of the act of giving criticism. But the criticism that has now been given means that the good work on equality and diversity will continue with renewed vigour and broader perspectives.

I encourage everyone here at KHiO to engage in conversations about how we, as a community and through art, can improve this work. If students and staff take part in a positive dialogue, as the theatre students have requested, the dialogue will make the school even stronger. Because “together we stand, divided we fall”. Why, you might ask? It is simple: our experience here at KHiO has been that a diversity of students and staff enhances the learning environment and makes our students better artists.

The benefit of this type of criticism being aired in public is that it involves all of society, and not just the Academy of Theatre, or just KHiO for that matter. Our students help raise awareness in society in general. If the Academy of Theatre and KHiO can take the lead and show a path towards a society that truly opens up for diversity, then we have made a major contribution to society. If we thereby also raise the quality of our art educations even higher, we also strengthen our own core mission.

Aftenposten 24.11: De går på prestisjetunge Teaterhøgskolen – Blir enten eksotifisert eller undervurdert