Back

Norway supports member-driven organizations where people can simply show up and participate, often with some degree of anonymity.

For example, Amalie Skrams hus in Bergen is a member-led creative center for people with mental health challenges. It offers workshops in music, ceramics, sewing, and more. The organization is democratically governed by its members, who hold the majority on the board and actively participate in decision-making through regular house meetings and member assemblies.

Amalie Skrams hus allows individuals to come and go freely, often anonymously, and there is no membership fee. It operates as a safe, self-managed space where members have real influence over how the house is run, fostering community and empowerment outside traditional institutional settings.

- https://amalieskramshus.no/

This organization is going on my nice list-not just because it supports people who fall outside the traditional system in a very welcoming way, but because it is genuinely democratically run.

I recently had Γ…se Toskedal, the daily leader of Amalie Skrams hus, visit my workplace to give a talk about the organization. She explained that everything-from the furniture and tools to the very design of the building’s interior-is democratically managed by the members.

This is how an organization and workplace should be run, by the members, for the members!