Norwegian Literary Magazines Vagant and Vinduet Merge as Gyldendal Exits

Norwegian literary magazines Vagant and Vinduet are merging, with Gyldendal transferring Vinduet to Vagant. Vagant editor Audun Lindholm announced the deal, which includes Gyldendal providing financial support for five years, Vagant taking over Vinduet's archive, and adding two part-time editorial positions. Vinduet, founded nearly 80 years ago by Gyldendal, transitioned to digital-only in 2021 and struggled to maintain its profile under editor Priya Bains. Vagant, started in 1988 by literature students in Oslo, moved to Bergen in 2002 and has been independently run by Lindholm since 2016, relying on project grants and Kulturrådet production subsidies. The merger reduces two distinct publications to one, drawing criticism from Bains, who called it a loss for the public sphere. The decision reflects broader financial pressures on Norwegian literary magazines, with Kulturrådet's total annual subsidies for all magazines at about 29 million kroner in 2025, insufficient for the roughly 100 applicants. The merger is framed as a consolidation to prevent losing both titles, but critics argue that more cultural policy support could have saved both. Mariann Enge, editor of Kunstkritikk, comments on the need for increased public funding to secure independent magazines and cultural criticism.