When Music Creates Space for Belonging and Achievement

Music can be a gateway to community, creativity, and new opportunities. In Bergen, Norway, more and more young people are discovering how instruments, rehearsal spaces, and open meeting places can become venues for expression, belonging, and finding their own voice.

Kavli Trust is awarding NOK 3 million to the organisation Give Music a Chance to make music and culture accessible to all young people – regardless of their financial situation, background, or prior experience.

– By lowering the threshold for participation, we open the door to community, a sense of achievement, and belonging, says Christian Lund, Executive Director of Give Music a Chance.

Free Culture – Open to All

Based in Bergen, Give Music a Chance has, since 2019, collected, repaired, and loaned out second-hand instruments to young people. Everything is free. In addition, they offer rehearsal rooms, workshops, and open meeting spaces where young people can come as they are – with no requirements, no pressure, and no cost.

This new funding strengthens a three-year collaboration between several organisations in the city’s cultural scene, including AKKS, Forandringshuset V13 and Kom Nærmere. Together, they aim to give young people access to a wide range of cultural activities: open stages, band rehearsals, dance, concerts, creative workshops, and scholarships for those who would otherwise not have the opportunity to participate.

The common thread is a low threshold and a high degree of involvement. Young people are not just participants – they help shape the programmes themselves.

– It’s about being seen, heard, and taken seriously. When young people have ownership of what they take part in, it has a real impact on both their confidence and their outlook for the future, says Lund.

Music as a Preventive Tool

The project is founded on a clear understanding that music is more than just a leisure activity. For many young people, participation in culture can be a crucial protective factor, especially at a time when the cost of living is rising and public services are being cut.

Through safe spaces for creative expression, young people build relationships, skills, and networks that can last well beyond the project period. Sustainability is also an integral part of the work: instruments are repaired and reused, and young people learn the value of looking after resources rather than buying new ones.

– When an old instrument comes to life again in the hands of a young person, it’s not just about music. It’s about giving someone a place to belong, says Lund.

Investing in the Future

For Kavli Trust, the funding is part of a long-term goal to prevent social exclusion and strengthen the mental health of children and young people.

– Culture and music can be a lifeline for young people at risk of falling behind. Give Music a Chance creates safe, open spaces where young people can express themselves, build community, and experience success. It’s an investment in both individuals and society, says Ingrid Paasche, Executive Director of the Kavli Trust.

The aim is to use experiences gained from the project to establish lasting structures in the city’s cultural life, so that even more young people can find their voice.

Key Facts About the Funding

• Organisation: Give Music a Chance
• Established: 2019
• Based in: Bergen, Norway
• Activity: Collects, repairs, and loans out instruments free of charge. Offers rehearsal rooms, workshops, and inclusive cultural spaces for young people.
• Funding: NOK 3 million from Kavli Trust (2026–2028)
• Target group: Young people facing financial, social, or cultural barriers to participation
• Purpose: Prevent social exclusion, strengthen mental health, and promote sustainable cultural participation