TrAP Talk 2025: Unge stemmer i samtale om kunst, arbeid og tilhørighet

TrAP Talk was hosted by Abdirahmaan Hasan, known as Abdi. He is 20 years old and studies Applied Data Technology at OsloMet, in addition to the Writing and Literary Mediation Programme at the Norwegian Institute for Children’s Books. Abdi has been active in the arts and cultural field since his teenage years, through youth councils, curatorial projects, and collaborations with institutions such as Fotogalleriet, Kunsthall Oslo, and Agenda X. He has also been published through Agenda X’s publications.

Critical Perspectives on the Cultural Sector

Naomi Medina is an activist and dancer, and a member of B16. She has previously served on youth councils at Deichman and the Norwegian Theatre, and currently works with Agenda X, Oslo World Ung, and Blikkåpner Oslo.

Amelia Nwani works at the National Theatre, focusing on engaging young audiences, and studies project management at Kristiania University College. She has a particular interest in dance and street dance.

The conversation explored what it is like to be young and working in Oslo’s cultural sector. Topics included what currently works in the field, the barriers young people encounter, and the structural changes being called for.

Young Curators

Esma Bouhaddouz studies Informatics and Design at the University of Oslo. She works at Fotogalleriet, where she has curated the exhibition 3rd Space and serves on selection juries for artworks. She also works at Norli.

Laiba Shafiq works as a gallery host at Nitja Centre for Contemporary Art and as a substitute teacher at Tokerud Secondary School. She has curated the exhibition All Eyes On and is part of Praksis Ung.

San San Dinh primarily works with photography and film. They have previously curated projects with TrAP and the 2024 Summer Exhibition at Kunsthall Oslo, and currently work as a creator and content producer in the youth editorial team Ildfluene.

The conversation focused on what it means to be a young curator, touching on responsibility, decision making, power, and uncertainty, as well as how to take space in a field where many are older and more established.

Sensible Studies vs Creative Passion

Rafid Islam is an actor who has appeared in productions such as Døden på Oslo S and the Hedda Award winning performance Sorte gutter gråter ikke. He is currently studying Applied Robotics at NMBU in Ås.

Sarah Zahid is a writer and jurist. She debuted in 2018 with the poetry collection La oss aldri glemme hvor godt det kan være å leve, has published several books, and currently writes as an Oslo columnist for Aftenposten.

Sarah Adekoya lives in Bergen and is in her fifth year of medical studies. She works as a literary critic at NRK and will debut as an author in 2026 with Oktober Forlag. She is an ambassador for Drømmestipendet and received a talent grant from Sparebanken Nord Norge in 2025.

The conversation addressed the tension between choosing a secure educational path and pursuing a creative interest. Topics included balance, expectations, pressure, and the possibility of holding multiple identities at once.

Why Don’t We Vote?

Zaheer Madad is 19 years old and studies in the teacher education programme in social studies at the University of Oslo. He works at Agenda X and has experience working with multicultural youth.

Fatha Ali is 21 years old and studies to become a lower secondary school teacher at OsloMet. She works at Deichman, volunteers in the Stovner district, and is the media manager for the Somali Student Association. She has previously received the Kuben Prize.

The conversation focused on low voter turnout among young people. Topics included distrust, lack of knowledge, political distance, and the role art, culture, and dialogue can play in building engagement.

Third Space

Neslihan Ramzi is a designer and founder of Shof.no, an art criticism platform that amplifies young critics. She works at Kunsthall Oslo and the Anti Racist Centre, and is a co founder of ASSATA.

Ali Asad is the managing director of Ung Bjørndal and works as a youth coordinator in the Conflict Council. Ung Bjørndal is a youth organisation founded by and for young people.

Maria Habiyambere is a multidisciplinary artist and project manager for Art Club. She studies sound and music production, DJs, and holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She is currently featured in the group exhibition Third Space at Fotogalleriet.

The conversation explored what happens when youth leisure programmes are cut, how alternative meeting spaces can be created, and the role art and culture can play as a third space in everyday life.

Studying Creatively

Mobeen Ahmed is 23 years old and works as an actor, activist, and comedian. He is educated at Nordic Black Xpress and has appeared in productions such as Sirkus Grønland, Oslospelet – Et sted å være, and Passer min beat?, which was nominated for a Hedda Award.

Mohamed Bashir is 25 years old and works as a multidisciplinary artist and curator. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Art and Mediation from OsloMet and is currently studying for a master’s degree in Art in Public Space at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. He has curated several exhibitions at Kunsthall Oslo.

The conversation addressed creative education, deadlines, and expectations, as well as whether creativity can be taught and how artistic freedom is shaped by institutional structures and assessment systems.

Young Writers

Zahra Al Shorayer works with poetry and slam and studies chemistry, biotechnology, and electronic engineering at OsloMet. She is the author of the poetry collection Fri tale, published by Assata Press.

Hodan Beegsi is a writer and poet, a member of the Munch Ung Collective, and a volunteer at Agenda X. She debuted as a writer in 2022 through Agenda teXt and is the winner of the 2025 Writing Competition by Forandringshuset Grønland.

The conversation explored how young people find their voice through writing, touching on identity, belonging, hope, and poetry as both expression and community.

Looking Ahead

TrAP Talk 2025 has served as a meeting place for young voices from across the arts and cultural sector, creating space for open conversations across disciplines and experiences.

TrAP looks forward to continuing TrAP Talk in 2026. More information will be shared on TrAP’s social media channels.