Holberg Prize for 2019

Paul Gilroy is Professor of American and English Literature at King’s College London, and is one of the UK’s most prominent contemporary researchers and intellectuals. He has been awarded the Holberg Prize for his substantial contributions to a variety of fields, including cultural studies, critical race studies, sociology, history, anthropology and African-American studies.

Crown Prince Haakon presented the Holberg Prize 2019 to Professor Paul Gilroy. Photo: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen, The Royal Court

As both a cultural researcher and social critic, Professor Gilroy is known as a fearless opponent of all forms of racism. He has explored the political aspects of moving beyond racialised thinking and is highly critical of the way such thinking manifests itself among militant racist groups, white and black alike. At the same time, he highlights the possibilities of alternative models of living together that are not based on ethnicity or racial confines. 

Award ceremony

Crown Prince Haakon presented the prize to Professor Gilroy at a formal award ceremony in the University Aula of the University of Bergen. The Crown Prince Regent granted the Holberg Laureate an audience prior to ceremony.

Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education Iselin Nybø also took part in the ceremony, presenting the Nils Klim Prize for 2019 to Icelandic philosopher Finnur Dellsén. He received the prize for his work on theory acceptance and philosophy of science.

Minister of Research and Higher Education Iselin Nybø presented the Nils Klim Prize for 2019 to philosopher Finnur Dellsén, Photo: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen, The Royal Court

The Holberg Prize

The Holberg Prize is an international research award with a cash prize of NOK 6 million. It is awarded to scholars who have made an outstanding contribution to research in the arts and humanities, social science, law or theology. The prize was established by the Norwegian Storting in 2003, and the winner must have had a decisive influence on international research within the designated range of fields.

The Nils Klim Prize is awarded annually to a Nordic researcher under the age of 35 who has made an outstanding contribution to research in the same fields encompassed by the Holberg Prize. The prize amount is NOK 500 000.

Source: Holbergprisen.no