Norwegian Actors' Equity Association

The Norwegian Actors' Equity Association (Norwegian: Norsk Skuespillerforbund) is an association of Norwegian actors.^[1] Its main purpose is to improve actors' working conditions and to protect the artistic, judicial and financial interests of actors in Norway.^[2] The association was established in 1898, after an initiative from actor Sigurd Asmundsen at a birthday party in 1897, followed by a preparatory meeting in April 1898, and a constituent meeting 27 October 1898.^[3] The first chairman was Sigvard Gundersen, with Johanne Dybwad as vice chairman, and Christian Sandal as first secretary.^[3] Important issues during the early years were contractual conditions, pensions, and regulation of foreign ensembles.^[3] The association's first Honorary member was actor and later theatrical director Bjørn Bjørnson, nominated in May 1900.^[4]

The Association currently has 1250 members, of whom approximately 155 are permanently employed and 150 temporarily employed in institutional theatres.^[5] NAEA publishes Skuespillerkatalogen – the Actors' Catalogue. As the leading national casting resource, it is used by most Norwegian TV, Film, Radio and Theatre companies.^[6]

List of leaders

• 1898–1899 Sigvard Gundersen
• 1899–1901 Olav Voss
• 1901–1903 Ludvig Müller
• 1903–1904 Ludvig Bergh
• 1904–1905 Halfdan Christensen
• 1905–1907 Theodor Blich
• 1907–1913 Ludvig Müller
• 1913–1915 Harald Stormoen
• 1915–1918 Thomas Thomassen
• 1918–1920 Egil Eide
• 1920–1921 Thorleif Klausen
• 1921–1924 Harald Stormoen
• 1924–1925 Thomas Thomassen
• 1925–1928 Harald Stormoen
• 1928–1932 Einar Sissener
• 1932–1940 Egil Hjorth-Jenssen
• 1940–1941 David Knudsen
• 1941– Harald Schwenzen
• 1942–1945 Einar Sissener (acting)
• 1945– Harald Schwenzen
• 1945– Georg Løkkeberg
• 1945–1946 Øyvind Øyen (acting)
• 1946–1950 Jens Gunderssen
• 2000–2011 Agnete G. Haaland
• 2011–2015 Hauk Heyerdahl
• 2015- Knut Alfsen

References