Do you know, that our Healthcare Clowns, bringing smiles in the different working fields within Healthcare in Europe, are truly professional artists? All clowns have received additional qualification for their very special art work, completing at least 600 hours over one year, in supplement to their artistic training. They are highly professional, today they are typically employed by our 21 member organizations. A prime illustration is the historic evolution at our Norwegian member since 01.01.2026:
Sykehusklovnene and the Norwegian Actors’ Union have entered into a collective agreement: 39 professional hospital clowns are now permanent employees of the Norwegian non-profit-organisation, all had been freelancers before. To quote, their General Manager Ellen Arnstad “This is a special collective agreement, and lays the foundation for the development of our work. Our #healthcare clowns work in close collaboration with health professionals in 20 hospitals across the country, and all places demand on professionalism and safety for the patients and their staff.”
It is also a milestone for the Norwegian Actors’ Association: “The hospital clowns do something very special. They bring glimmers of light and wellbeing into a situation, associated for children with fear. That work deserves both a fixed framework and permanent positions,” says union leader Per Emil Grimstad. It’s not every day that a cultural organization hires so many professional actors.”
(c) Photo: Sykehusklovnene, Norway
Save the date – HCIM 2026
