Culture Calendar 24th – 30th August

Oslo’s universities together with SIO, the student welfare society, organize multiple exciting events to welcome the new students. ‘Studentslippet’ translates freely to ‘release’ and students are invited to get to know the city of Oslo with its variety of museums, natural sights and music, film and comedy culture. The best argument to join comes at last; everything will be for free thanks to the financial contribution from the Oslo City Council! It is required however, to sign up in advance for each event. Due to Covid-19 the schedule is postponed but updates will be released online soon.

This week is the best week of the year to get to know student associations and various information meetings are being held on each campus. Tuesday the 25th Amnesty International’s Student group is following with a meeting in Frognerparken from 4.30 pm and greets anyone interested in human rights issues and volunteering. Signing up in advance is a requirement.

SAIH, the Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund, invites students to join their fight for everyone’s right to education and equality, non-discrimination and academic freedom. On Wednesday 26th from 5pm the local chapter in Blindern is holding an introductory event with free pizza open to everyone who wants to gain organizational experience or just wants to socialize with other activists.

Are you hungry for more? Why not join the Latin American Student Association (LAG) for a BBQ on Thursday 27th? The grills will be fired from 4pm behind the Physics building in Blindern and Latin America enthusiasts will mingle to some fun beats. Sign up is required and food will be free for members or for a fee for non-members.

If you feel more like discussing some serious topics, you can join the United Nations Student Association’s information meeting on Thursday 27th from 6pm in Torggata 15. International politics and the sustainable development goals are at the center of this association where students inform and debate about sociopolitical issues.

No plans for the weekend yet? Here is your chance to contribute for a good cause while actually going on a shopping tour. ‘Prosjekt barndom’ (Project childhood) hosts a secondhand clothing market at Kulturhuset on Saturday the 29th from 11am. Prices start at 10kr and the funds will contribute to constructing schools in rural areas in the Philippines. If that did not convince you yet, maybe the chance to win two tickets for the cinema will? You will have to come early and be one of the first 30 attendees.

Have you heard about effective altruism? At noon Saturday the 29th the EA123 group will tell you all about this philosophical evidence and reasoning method in the UiO auditorium 1 in Blindern in Vilhelm Bjerknes Hus. The group is providing food and explains about their current cause focus!

Later in the evening on Saturday the 30th Kulturhuset is organizing an open drag stage. A fabulous show will be carried out at 6.30 and 9 pm. Tickets must be pre-ordered for each timeslot, but the artists are ready to inspire you.

Finish off the week with a clearing experience on one of Oslo’s beautiful islands Sunday the 30th. Six of Norway’s environmental student groups join together to actively fight for sustainability by cleaning up Malmøya from trash. After meeting up at 12 pm with all nature enthusiasts at the Tiger statue in front of the central station, there will be a bus to the island and the chance to make activist friends and enjoy Oslo’s surrounding nature.

With so many events and meetings coming up in Oslo, do not let the Covid-19 measures restrict you to use these opportunities in making new friends or experiencing something new!