Girl in Red awarded the Telenor Culture Prize 2022

Marie Ulven’s music has brought the young artist into the global charts and created a worldwide fan base. The talented Norwegian, known by her stage name, Girl in Red, received the culture award for her artistic distinctiveness and explicit messages of boundless love.

“I am very proud to receive this recognition from a talented group of people who I consider having produced artistic value themselves. I will continue to push on as always, and hopefully, I will be able to do so for many years to come. Thanks to Telenor and the jury for the award and thanks to all my friends and fans who have been there with me on this journey,” says Marie Ulven.

Unique communicator

The prize winner, who started her journey from her childhood room in the small town of Horten to become a meteoric star in record time, is praised by the jury for her ability to convey a clear message through distinctive music in combination with an energetic expression.

“Girl in Red’s music has a solid signature that is easily recognisable and resonates with a large and global audience. She mixes a direct communication style with classic pop melodies, which, when combined, become extremely powerful for the listener. We believe the immediate response from fans worldwide is evidence that her music carries a boundless message and form, which is at the core of what Telenor's culture prize honours," says Martin Eia-Revheim, Head of the Jury.

In its justification, the Telenor Culture Prize Jury also emphasises Girl in Red's unique communication style.

“Her way of communicating with fans around the world is extraordinary. Most artists have a huge barrier between their artistic and private life, but Girl in Red challenges this distinction through her open and honest appearance and direct communication with fans through communication technology. Her expression is also perceived as refreshing in an artistic world that is very polished and arranged, and she has quickly become an important face and voice for many people,” says Eia-Revheim.

Reflects vision

The Telenor Culture Prize – “Boundless Communication” has since 1995 honoured Scandinavian artists and institutions who break through boundaries in music, film, literature, visual arts, and performing arts. The annual prize of NOK 500,000 is awarded to established artists as well as upcoming talents. Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group, says this year’s winner both impresses and inspires.

“We congratulate Girl in Red on being awarded the Telenor Culture Prize 2022. The winner communicates her message through music that transcends boundaries and brings relatability across countries and cultures. In that sense, she reflects Telenor's vision of connecting people together in a unique way. We could not be more satisfied with the jury's decision,” says Brekke.

Girl in Red had her big breakthrough moment with the hit song "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend" in 2018. The following year, she won the Norwegian Urørt Award and was nominated for both the Spellemannsprisen - the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy Awards - and P3 Gull Award. In 2021, Ulven released her first album, "If I Could Make It Go Quiet," which entered the American Billboard Top 200 and positioned Girl in Red on Spotify's list of the 500 most streamed artists worldwide. For the album, she was also nominated in seven Spellemannspris categories, breaking the record for most nominations in one year. She won three awards, respectively for Musician of the Year, Release of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.

The Jury of 2022

The Telenor Culture Prize 2022 jury consists of Martin Eia-Revheim, Project Manager at Sparebankstiftelsen DNB and Head of the Jury; Lars Saabye Christensen, Author; Ingrid Lorentzen, Artistic Director of the National Ballet; Henrik Mestad, Actor; Alexandra Archetti Stølen, Festival Manager at Oslo World; and Randi Winnem Due, Vice President and Head of Group Event & Expo at Telenor Group.

About the Culture Prize

Telenor’s Culture Prize – “Boundless Communication” is a key element of the Telenor Culture Programme. The programme aims to bring together artists from different genres and cultures and to highlight exciting cultural expression that creates diversity, engagement, and unique meeting places.

You can read more about Telenor’s Culture Programme and previous recipients of Telenor’s Culture Prize at Telenor.com.