— We open the doors in twenty minutes. Any last questions before we kick off?
Volunteer coordinator Tove Hardaway scans the black-and-red dressed group in front of her. The crew. In her hand: the task list for the next 12 hours.
“Let’s do this!” shouts Peter Esenwa, and nearly a hundred volunteers erupt in applause. Some have been here before; others are brand new.
At TEDxArendal, even the most seasoned crew members never quite know what they’re stepping into. And that’s where the magic happens. This isn’t the event for control freaks who need a meticulous schedule. Here, you dive in headfirst. From start to finish.
n 2024, TEDxArendal was invited to hold a “Legacy License” – a license granted to only a handful of TEDx events worldwide.
“It’s a great honor,” says Linn Juul-Petersen, head of TEDxArendal and holder of the personal license from TED. With the title comes responsibility: if any rules are broken, she’s the one who hears about it from the TED office in New York.
The Legacy License is awarded to long-standing TEDx events that have shown exceptional commitment to ideas worth spreading, community mentorship, and TED values. It offers greater flexibility in event duration, format, distribution, and community engagement – all designed to help exemplary TEDx events build their legacy for years to come.” She quickly adds with a smile: “Those are TED’s words, not mine.
At TEDxArendal, everything happens in English. Behind the scenes, you’ll find people from all over the world. Speakers, volunteers, partners, and guests bring different backgrounds, knowledge, and most importantly, ideas that change everything.
Take Franka Fleckenstein, for example. She moved to Arendal from Berlin with her husband a few years ago and embodies the kind of international talent TEDxArendal attracts. A licensed commercial pilot with a bachelor’s degree in economics and management, Franka now combines flying across the globe with volunteering at TEDxArendal. A way to build her network and gain valuable insight into Norwegian culture and the local work environment.
She represents just one of 32 nations that make up the TEDxArendal crew.
I love everything about TEDxArendal. The creativity beforehand, the excitement during the event, and most importantly, working with people who think outside the box.
And if dark clouds were ever to loom over the event, the crew has its very own meteorologist to forecast the scenario. Anton Matsuik moved to Arendal from Ukraine after the war with Russia broke out. Known as someone who is always ready to help, he brings both expertise and warmth to the team.
“Here, I can be useful, take part in local social and work life, and maybe new opportunities will arise,” he says.
Linn Juul-Petersen smiles at the crew as she welcomes even more into the fold. TED may stand for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, she explains, but we could easily add an “H” for Humans and a “C” for Community.
“For me, it’s about the small, magical moments between the people who create TEDxArendal. We invite people into our crew community, where they can see each other, talk to each other, and become each other’s cheering squad when things get intense. And we do the same with the speakers. After a few days together, they get to know one another, cheer for one another, and have each other’s back when it’s finally time to step onto the stage.”
By building this community, we also create an atmosphere where our guests feel truly welcome. In the span of 12 hours at TEDxArendal, we aim to take people through the full spectrum of emotions.
Linn describes the experience as a journey through everything from anger to joy, from laughter to tears, from taste to smell, and from hunger to satisfaction.
“We created the 12-hour concept so our guests could clear their mailbox, and their minds, before lunch, and then come to TEDxArendal ready to be inspired. From the moment they walk through the doors, they are our guests. And we take good care of our guests,” she adds with a smile.
When guests step through the doors of a TEDxArendal event, they see only the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes lie countless hours of creativity and joyful collaboration, all made possible by volunteers and partners.
What unites the partners is their love of fun, teamwork, and creativity. Among the 32 partners, Sparebanken Sør stands out as TEDxArendal’s main partner and a steady supporter from the very beginning.
“As a bank, we want to help put Arendal on the map,” says Didrik Rannekleiv, Assistant Bank Manager at Sparebanken Sør.
TEDxArendal is a fantastic event that perfectly aligns with Sparebanken Sør’s vision of fostering sustainable growth and development in the region. Together with the amazing TEDxArendal team, we want to be a partner in creating memorable experiences — for both organizers and audience alike. TEDxArendal truly puts Arendal on the map and contributes to the positive changes we see in the city and the region.
Another long-standing partner of TEDxArendal is DNB.
“DNB has been a partner for many years, and it has given both the bank and our employees valuable new connections. Our customers appreciate that we support local initiatives, and we enjoy being part of the event. As an innovative bank, we feel a strong connection with TED,” says Bjørnar Larssen, Bank Manager at DNB.
Companies that share TED’s focus on Technology, Entertainment, and Design — and want to help spread ideas worth spreading — are welcome to reach out to Linn.
At a TEDxArendal workshop, there are always crayons and paper on the tables. No idea is too small, and none too big.
“Maybe we should have acrobats dangling from a crane in the square?” one crew member suggests.
“Great idea! Or an opera singer sailing into Pollen, surrounded by kayaks with lights. Lots of lights!” another adds.
“And why not both?” someone chimes in.
“…plus a disco!” says a fourth, to laughter all around.
When Linn talks about creating an experience, she truly means it.
– TEDxArendal loves collaborating with local artists and talents of every kind and genre, she says. The most imaginative opportunities often come at dinnertime, when guests head out to enjoy meals at the many restaurants surrounding Pollen.
If you’re going to attend something for 12 hours straight, you’ll definitely need something to eat. And that’s made possible through – yes, you guessed it – collaboration.
– A fantastic partnership with restaurants in Arendal allows us to include dinner in the ticket, even though we’re a non-profit event with a modest ticket price.
– Oh wow.
The first guests enter Store Torungen on a rainy November day, walking backwards up the stairs to their seats. It’s hard not to be mesmerized by the universe that has been created. And yes — we’re literally talking about a piece of the universe.
Dag Tynes and the crew designed a stage where speakers could shine beneath a giant globe, specially ordered from England along with other planets. Dag is the kind of person who, even if the world were ending, would insist: “The show must go on.”
With experience from events like P3 Gull and state visits for the royal family, Dag knows how to turn ideas into reality. “Many stage visions come to me in the morning shower, at the store, or while working on other events,” he admits.
The universe we created for TEDxArendal in 2022 was sparked by a single Instagram post. TED in New York had shared a photo of an earlier TEDxArendal stage design, writing: “We are always excited to look into the universe of TEDxArendal’s stage design.”
“That comment was enough for the image to form in my head — and later come to life,” Dag says.
Last but not least, TEDxArendal talks hit the mark. Behind every speaker on stage lies a thorough selection process led by the program committee, involving several rounds of discussions and reviews.
“Each year we receive around 150 nominations. Many dream of doing a TEDx talk — some nominate themselves, while others are put forward by someone else. We also keep a list of more than 300 names from previous years. Even if they didn’t make it through the needle’s eye before, they may fit perfectly in a future program,” says Co-Organizer and Head of Program Erik Bøylestad Nilsen.
The goal is always the same: to curate a diverse program that resonates with the entire audience. Not everything will appeal to everyone, but everyone should be intrigued by something — ideally, by most of it.
Linn, Erik, Dag, Franka, Anton, Didrik, Bjørnar, and the rest of the TEDxArendal team are counting down to a new TEDxArendal event.
“We know we can achieve what we set out to do — and as long as everyone wants it, it will be amazing! We’re excited to open the doors to a unique venue and deliver a 12-hour program for 700 guests.”
