Nytt styre hos TrAP!

New board elected at the annual meeting on May 8

The annual meeting was held on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at TrAP’s offices in Kabelgata 51 in Hovinbyen. A total of 14 representatives from the member organizations participated either in person, digitally, or by proxy, and the meeting had a valid quorum. The meeting was chaired by Margrethe Aaby with Namra Saleem as the recorder, and the minutes were signed by Annelise Bothner By and Per Odd Bakke.

The 2024 annual accounts and annual report were approved, and the 2025 budget was presented for information. The board provided an update on its work over the past year, and the new executive director as of October 1, Nasra Ali Omar, introduced herself to the meeting.

Election of the new board

The executive director asked the annual meeting to elect the board chair directly, and the proposal was approved. No alternative nominations were submitted, and the nominations committee’s recommendation was unanimously adopted.

Board 2025 to 2027

Board Chair
Hatem Ben Mansour elected for two years
Lawyer and founder, Deaddog Management
Ben Mansour works at the intersection of art, entrepreneurship and social development, and has served as TrAP’s board chair since 2023.

Board members elected for two years

Rana Issa
Artistic Director, Masahat
Issa is a writer, historian, translator and curator based in Oslo. She is the co-founder of Masahat, which received the Oslo City Artist Award in 2024, and she has built international networks for over a decade. She holds a PhD from the University of Oslo and published the novel Tung tids tale in 2025.

Ifrah Osman
Curator and Program Developer, Kunsthall Oslo
Osman works research-based with new methods of mediation that explore language, identity and audience engagement. She has a background from LEV Lift Every Voice and holds a bachelor’s degree in peace and conflict studies.

Continuing board members

Nishi Asdal
Special Advisor, Department of Culture, Arendal Municipality
Asdal has a background in cultural administration and project development in the public sector, working with culture as a societal resource with a focus on participation and inclusion.

Malin Barth
Director, 3.14
Barth leads the art hall 3.14 in Bergen and has extensive experience with international collaborations and exhibitions, with a particular emphasis on global contemporary art and critical perspectives.

Annelise Bothner By
Curator, Oslo Museum IKM
Bothner By works with cultural history and contemporary documentation and has extensive experience from interdisciplinary projects and collaborations across different art and cultural communities.

Deputy members elected for two years

Patrick Habiyambere
Public debater
Habiyambere has experience from youth councils, queer organizations and work with social sustainability. He has a background from JM Norway’s leadership program Taktskifte and serves on several boards and councils.

Mikkhal Hætta
Filmmaker, artist and activist
Hætta is known from the Fosen actions and works with film, sound and performative expressions, with a strong focus on Sámi culture and Indigenous rights. He was named Young Artist of the Year at Riddu Riddu in 2022.

Thanks to the outgoing board

Margrethe Aaby stepped down as board chair after twelve years in the role and was thanked for her contribution. Refka Kovac completed her term as a board member, and Ashley Shiri concluded her role as deputy member. TrAP extends its gratitude for their many years of dedication and significant contributions.

Nominations Committee 2025

Asha Abdullahi is a poet, author and speaker with a strong presence in advancing new voices in Norwegian literature and public life.

Håkon Lillegraven is a curator and educator at the National Museum, with experience in audience development and interdisciplinary mediation processes.

Tone Cecilie Karlgård is a diversity curator at the Museum of Cultural History, working with institutional change and strategies for inclusion.

The committee has emphasized professional breadth, representation and international perspective in its recommendations.

Further proceedings

The new board term begins immediately, and the board will constitute itself at its first meeting. TrAP looks forward to continued collaboration with the member organizations and to developing programs and projects together with the new board.