Artica Resident Audun Aagre sets off to retrace a historic Svalbard Expedition
Current Artica Svalbard resident Audun Aagre has now set off to retrace parts of the historic 1906 scientific expedition to North-West Spitsbergen, led by Prince Albert I of Monaco and Norwegian polar scientist Gunnar Isachsen.
A journalist, documentary filmmaker, author and senior advisor at the Norwegian Media Authority, Aagre is spending his residency researching and beginning work on a new nonfiction book exploring how the expedition contributed to laying the groundwork for Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard.
Over the coming weeks, he will visit remote areas around Ny-Ålesund and Magdalenefjorden, following sections of the original route while reflecting on Arctic history, exploration, science and sovereignty.
You can follow Audun’s journey and field updates here:
https://spilletomspitsbergen.no/turen2026
God tur Audun, we look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Members of the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association (NFFO) still have time to apply for an Artica Svalbard residency in 2027.
The residency offers nonfiction writers the opportunity to spend time in Longyearbyen developing projects connected to the Arctic, environment, society, geopolitics and more.
Application deadline: 1 June 2026
Read more and apply:
https://www.nffo.no/aktuelt/sok-om-opphold-pa-svalbard