ABOUT
Women, non-binary and transgender people are still strongly underrepresented in the sound, light and AV engineering field. In 2022 it was reported* that 93% of all technicians in Norway are cis-male.
WE WANT TO CHANGE THIS!
GRIP is open to everyone over the age of 18 (with no upper age limit) and offers both introductory and in-depth courses in sound and light engineering. Since 2021, GRIP has trained more than 200 people in sound engineering, including new sound technicians as well as teachers, musicians, youth workers, producers and curators who want to gain more knowledge and confidence in sound technology. In 2025 we launched new introduction courses in technical lighting to train new light engineers for live events.
92% of GRIP participants are women, non-binary and transgender people. Many are now working as professional sound technicians in Bergen and Norway. We are proud of all of our trainees who are changing the field of sound and light engineering!
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*«Forestillingen er avlyst» Frafall av teknikere i sceneteknisk bransje og forslag til tiltak, Anne-Sofie Hjemdahl og Roy Aulie Jacobsen, Kulturrom, 2022. Read the full report HERE.
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AIMS
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STATISTICS
- Since 2021 GRIP has trained 230 people in sound engineering.
- 340 people have applied for GRIP.
- GRIP has organised 35 courses with 80 workshops.
- 92% of trainees are cis-women, non-binary, transgender. To put it simply: we are completely flipping the statistic of the "norm" which reports 93% of technicians in Norway are cis-men.
- In 2025 we launched new introduction courses in technical lighting to train new light engineers for live events.
- In 2025 we piloted a new series of workshops aimed at empowering trainees to maintain, repair, lift, handle and store gear.
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GRIP has now doubled the number of cis-women, non-binary, transgender sound technicians working in Bergen.
- Several of our former trainees now work professionally as sound technicians at:
Bergen Kjøtt
BIT Teatergarasjen
Creative Technology
Hallingdal lyd
Konsert Systemer
Kvarteret
Landmark / Bergen Kunsthall
Prøverommet
Østre
Wrap
Photo: Bergen Kjøtt
2025: 10 COURSES
Sound engineering:
In-depth stage 1 course (6 sessions)
Introductory course in Norwegian (1 day)
Introductory course in English (1 day)
GRIP x PKI & Skeiv Verden Vest: Introductory course (1 day)
Light engineering:
Introductory course in Norwegian (1 day)
Introductory course in English (1 day)
Maintenance and repair:
Soldering and cable-making (1 day)
Lifting and handling heavy gear (1 day)
Fixing speakers and sound gear (1 day)
Fixing lamps and light gear (1 day)
2024: 5 COURSES
In-depth stage 1 course (6 sessions)
Introductory course in Norwegian (1 day)
Introductory course in English (1 day)
GRIP x Papillon x Hop skole introduction course for under 18s
Stage 2 developmental course (5 sessions)
2023: 7 COURSES
In-depth stage 1 course (6 sessions)
Introductory course in Norwegian (1 day)
Introductory course in English (1 day)
In-depth stage 1 course (6 sessions)
Introductory course in Norwegian (1 day)
Introductory course in English (1 day)
GRIP x Forandringshuset Bergen: Introductory course to sound engineering for under 18s (4 sessions)
2022: 7 COURSES
In-depth stage 1 course (6 sessions)
Introductory course for music teachers (1 day)
Introductory course: sound engineering for studio and field recording (1 day)
Introductory course: sound engineering for musicians, stage performers and producers (1 day)
GRIP x ASTERISK: Introductory course for clubnight tech + creating inclusive environments (1 day)
GRIP x Transgender Awareness Week: Introductory course to sound engineering (1 day)
Stage 2 developmental course (5 sessions)
2021: 6 COURSES
In-depth stage 1 course (6 sessions)
Introductory course for producers and curators (1 day)
Introductory course in Norwegian (1 day)
Introductory course in English (1 day)
GRIP x Transgender Awareness Week: Introductory course to DJ tech and safer spaces (1 day)
GRIP x ASTERISK: Introductory course for clubnight tech + creating inclusive environments (1 day)
PRESS
FUNDERS & PARTNERS
APAP FEMINIST FUTURES
BALANSEKUNST
BERGEN KOMMUNE
CREATIVE EUROPE
EGD PROPERTY
KULTURROM
SPAREBANKEN VEST
GRIP is a collaborative project between Bergen Kjøtt, BIT Teatergarasjen, Carte Blanche, AKKS Bergen, Prøverommet and sound technician Irene Bjørke. GRIP is organised with partners in Bergen including Borealis – en festival for eksperimentell musikk and Vill Vill Vest and is supported by Sparebanken Vest, Bergen kommune, Kulturrom, Balansekunst, EGD Property.
GRIP 2021-24 was part of BIT Teatergarasjen´s project apap – FEMINIST FUTURES, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and aims to initiate powerful social changes and address inequality in the contemporary Performing Arts.
AKKS BERGEN
ASTERISK
BERGEN ENTO
BERGEN KJØTT
BERGEN KUNSTHALL / LANDMARK
BIT TEATERGARASJEN
BOREALIS - EN FESTIVAL FOR EKSPERIMENTELL MUSIKK
CARTE BLANCHE
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
FORANDRINGSHUSET BERGEN
HOP UNGDOMSSKOLE
KULTURHUSET I BERGEN
KVARTERET
PAPILLON BERGEN
PRØVEROMMET
TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK
USF VERFTET
VICTORIA CAFE + PUB
VILL VILL VEST
ØSTRE