Kristian Hellesund writes about comics every week in the newspaper Sydvesten and is a regular contributor to the Norwegian Serienett comics web journal and the Swedish comics magazine Bild & Bubbla. His book on Norwegian comics history is now ready for publication. In his regular profession, he serves as a department head at a primary school in Bergen. Hellesund also chairs the Norwegian Arts Council’s evaluation committee for comics.

The lecture considers the broader comics market in Norway, including publishers, points of sale, and forms of publication, alongside Norwegian cultural policy supporting the sector. It focuses on production grants for the development of original comics. At the same time it also analyses the library acquisition scheme as a key instrument for market support. Furthermore, it addresses the scheme for translated literature and its role in cultural exchange and access to international comics.