A new landmark to be unveiled in Oslo

Two days before the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo City Hall, the capital of Norway gets a new, iconic landmark: A six meter long bench shaped to bring people closer together will be unveiled by Minister of Culture Anette Trettebergstuen on Wednesday December 8th at 4 PM. Also present at the unveiling are former Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and the Nobel Committee's newest and youngest member, Jørgen Watne Frydnes.

At the same time, the Nobel Peace Center is launching a new initiative for dialogue, inspired by the Peace Prize laureates.

– Many of the laureates have achieved the impossible – often through dialogue. We believe everyone can learn something from their methods, says Nobel Peace Center director Kjersti Fløgstad.

– Dialogue more important than ever

The peace bench has been named "The Best Weapon" after the Nelson Mandela quote engraved on the ground by the installation. "The best weapon is to sit down and talk," said Mandela - ten years after he was released from prison on Robben Island. In the same way that Mandela advocated sitting down and talking to the enemy, the bench will inspire peaceful conversation.

The bench is designed as a part of a circle, so that gravity draws those who sit on it closer together. Snøhetta has designed the bench for the Nobel Peace Center, and it is produced by Vestre in aluminium from Hydro. The bench will remind us how important it is to sit down and talk together.

– In today's society, with growing differences, polarization and virulent online debates, the ability to dialogue is more important than ever. We want to put dialogue on the agenda and contribute to a culture where there is room for a great diversity of statements, says Fløgstad.

Peace winning tips

Together with dialogue expert Chro Borhan, the Nobel Peace Center has compiled some of the Peace Prize laureates’ best tips for dialogue in the book "De som lytter, flytter verden". Students in upper secondary school and high school can come to the center and participate in teaching programs about dialogue, climate of expression and conflict resolution. The center also plans a number of events and courses in dialogue throughout the winter and spring.

The event on December 8 is part of the program for Oslo Peace Days. It is open to the press.

Press contact for interview appointments: Head of information Ingvill Bryn Rambøl can be reached on telephone +47 924 52 944 and e-mail ibr@nobelpeacecenter.org