Ten top candidates have been selected from hundreds of nominations across the country for the final round of the Compass Rose award, which is awarded to three to five young leaders who show courage, care, and initiative. The prize money is 50,000 kronor per person, and the award will be presented on May 26 at the Royal Palace, with recipients announced at the end of May. The specific criteria used to select the ten finalists from the hundreds of nominations have not been disclosed, and the identities of the other nine individuals remain unknown.
Jens Bergold Knabe started his first record label at age 12 after experiencing a lack of a place for young people in the punk scene, and he now runs the non-profit Cultural Association 019 (Music for Pennies) and Ung & Punk. Through concerts, networking, and collaborations with both the municipality and other actors, he has helped create a platform where hundreds of bands have had their first performances. According to SVT Örebro (official), Jens Bergold Knabe described his motivation as ensuring the scene that would otherwise disappear gets to live on. The activity has become a meeting place for young people, especially in areas where cultural offerings are limited, and according to SVT Örebro (official), he described the impact as feeling like something new is added to cultural heritage every time a band plays their first gig. The names and backgrounds of the other young leaders who might receive the scholarship are not yet public, and it is unclear who the other actors he has collaborated with are besides the municipality.
I do this so that the scene that would otherwise disappear gets to live on.
Every time a band plays their first gig with us and realizes they belong here, it feels like something new is added to our cultural heritage.