Visual Bornholm
Published by Visual Media ApS
Designed by Miru Studio
Txt: Mads Westermann Photo: Anders Beier
As the newly appointed director of Folkemødet, Signe Saabye Ottosen will lead Denmark’s largest democracy festival – an event with countless stakeholders, countless opinions, and countless logistical challenges, especially due to its unique location on Bornholm. Despite all that, she considers it her dream job – because she’s passionate about democratic dialogue.
“The more I stay in the background, the more successful I’ve been,” says Signe Saabye Ottosen with a smile.
On January 1, she became the fourth director of Folkemødet since the festival moved out of the Bornholm municipal mayor’s office in 2016 and became an independent association with its own staff and structure.
As the new head of Denmark’s unequivocally largest democracy festival, it might sound paradoxical to define success as being invisible. But for Signe Saabye Ottosen, it’s not just a mindset – it’s a conviction.
It’s not false modesty or a stylized statement meant to impress. It’s a simple fact.
She measures her success by how little space she takes up. If her presence fades into the background, she’s done her job right.
“It’s the participants, organizers, and guests – not the director – who should be the focus at Folkemødet,” she emphasizes.
There’s a distinct rhythm to the way she speaks – precise but never abrupt, a balance between passion and thoughtfulness.
When she talks about Folkemødet and the democratic conversation, it’s with a seriousness that never feels heavy.
“Democracy isn’t something you have – it’s something you do,” she says, leaning forward slightly in her chair.
“If we think we can sit back and say we’ve reached the goal, then we’re already moving backward.”
Her understanding of democracy isn’t abstract or academic – it’s deeply practical.
There are no rigid doctrines in her view of democracy, only a firm belief in the necessity of conversation. In the need to talk, to listen, and to reaffirm.
It began early, she explains, with political discussions around the dinner table in a home without party affiliation, but with constant engagement in society.
Her understanding became real in South Africa, where as a young political science student, she witnessed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in action – a national attempt to heal a country wounded and torn by apartheid. Not through judgment, but through understanding and forgiveness.
“Seeing people confront the past together – it was powerful. It taught me that democracy is a process, not a state.”
Later, in India, she encountered a different reality. The rise of Hindu nationalism challenged the foundations and institutions of the world’s largest democracy.
There, too, it was the presence – or absence – of dialogue that stood out most.
Perhaps that’s why Signe Saabye Ottosen insists that Folkemødet is not just a festival – it must be a continuous renewal of the democratic conversation.
“We can’t just reproduce the same formula year after year. We have to keep challenging who gets space and who is heard.”
Initiatives like Wildcards and Ung Agenda are no coincidence. They are deliberate attempts to broaden the conversation and push against structures that might otherwise rest in self-assurance.
She wants Folkemødet to remain an open platform, while also being a well-organized gathering point for democratic dialogue.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone gets a voice, and that the conversation isn’t drowned out by those who shout the loudest. It’s a balance between free debate and structured facilitation.”
As the new director, each workday still brings fresh knowledge and new impressions for Signe Saabye Ottosen.
She’s getting to know the staff and Folkemødet’s many partners, while also absorbing a great deal of practical insight.
As a tea drinker, she’s still wrestling with mastering the coffee machine when journalists need to be served.
It’s often said that after 100 days, most people find their footing in a new role, and that will likely be the case for Signe Saabye Ottosen too – but she still won’t see herself as fully seasoned.
“You’re not truly part of Folkemødet until you’ve helped organize and run one,” she says with a laugh.
Although she’s attended Folkemødet nearly every year since it began, 2025 will be her first year behind the scenes – helping keep the wheels turning.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it from the inside,” she says.
Her predecessor gave her a good piece of advice:
“You’ll walk 20,000 steps a day – so wear good shoes.”
The shoes are ready, and although June will be hectic, Signe Saabye Ottosen looks ahead with excited anticipation as everything begins to unfold.
She describes Folkemødet as a democracy festival that manages to bring together citizens on equal footing – something likely only possible because of the Danish culture’s low power distance and strong sense of equality.
“That’s exactly what makes it unique,” she says.
“You stand in line for a cup of coffee and suddenly find yourself debating with a minister or a mayor – that kind of thing doesn’t happen in many other places.”
That Folkemødet takes place in Allinge, and not in a conference center in Copenhagen, is, for Signe Saabye Ottosen, a defining quality. The local anchoring isn’t just a practical circumstance – it is the very soul of the festival.
“I dream of an even stronger sense of Bornholm hosting,” she says, pointing to collaborations with local associations, businesses, and schools.
As a concrete example of that engagement, she highlights Kongeskærskolen in Allinge, which sits right at the eye of the storm.
When Folkemødet kicks off, the school moves its teaching outside into the vibrant bustle of the festival. Students take part in the “Folkemøde Folkeskole,” where they learn about democracy by actively participating in it.
At the same time, the school opens its doors to volunteers in need of a place to stay.
“It’s an exceptional case,” she says enthusiastically.
“A great example of the deep local ownership I can only wish to see more of.”
For Signe Saabye Ottosen, it’s important that Bornholmers are not just hosts – they’re also participants.
“I hope to see even more people from Bornholm take part in the debates and help shape the agenda,” she says.
She has already been touring the island to meet local enthusiasts and businesses looking to get involved.
“We have so many amazing forces here on Bornholm – we just need to find the right way to activate them.”
Signe Saabye Ottosen comes from a background in leadership and strategic development and has worked for years to build bridges between local and national stakeholders.
She doesn’t feel the need to be on stage – in fact, she sees her most important task as creating the space for others to step forward.
“My role is to make sure everything works – not to be the main character,” she says.
If Folkemødet runs smoothly, if guests feel at home, and if the debates flourish – then she has done her job.
Although still new in the role, she already has a vision for where she wants Folkemødet to go.
She wants it to remain a festival centered on democratic dialogue – while continuing to evolve with the times.
“How do we make Folkemødet even more relevant to future generations?” she asks.
“How do we renew ourselves without losing what makes us unique?”
She points to digital outreach as an area for development. Not everyone can travel to Bornholm – but perhaps debates and discussions can become more accessible online?
As June approaches, Folkemødet’s backstage operations grow rapidly. It takes an overview and the ability to handle the unexpected.
“You can plan a lot – but not everything,” she says.
“The most important thing is having a strong team that can navigate when challenges arise.”
She’s looking forward to experiencing the festival from the inside – and to standing shoulder to shoulder with her colleagues once it’s all wrapped up.
“I think it will be a feeling of exhaustion and pride,” she says.
And hopefully, it’ll lead to a moment where everyone can sit together after a well-executed Folkemøde, look each other in the eye, and say:
“We did it.”
One of Signe Saabye Ottosen’s key focus areas is making Folkemødet more accessible.
She highlights initiatives such as Ung Agenda – a collaboration between Folkemødet and the Tuborg Foundation that makes it more affordable for young people to attend – as well as development projects with the BEVICA Foundation aimed at making participation easier for people with disabilities.
Still, some groups continue to face barriers to reaching Allinge – and that’s something she is determined to address.
One challenge she points to is the timing mismatch: decision-makers, who attend Folkemødet as part of their work, often leave before the weekend, while many ordinary citizens only have time to participate on Saturday, once the workweek is over.
“How do we make sure that Folkemødet isn’t just for professionals on Thursday and Friday, but truly for everyone the whole way through?” she asks rhetorically.
Signe Saabye Ottosen approaches her role as Folkemøde director with both humility and purpose.
She knows not everyone is thrilled about their small town being invaded by politicians and debaters each summer. But she is convinced that the conversations taking place in Allinge are crucial to democracy.
“What matters most is that we keep creating the framework for real dialogue,” she says.
“Even – and especially – when we disagree!”
