Anne-Britt Gran

Anne-Britt Gran is a Professor in Cultural Policy and Cultural Analysis at BI Norwegian Business School's Department of Communication and Culture. She established the BI Center for Creative Industries (BICCI) in 2014 and currently serves as its co-director. With an interdisciplinary doctorate in theater history from the University of Oslo, her academic journey includes positions at University of Oslo, NTNU in Trondheim, and University of Aarhus, Denmark.

Her educational background features an interdisciplinary doctorate (Dr. Philos.) from the University of Oslo completed in 2000, focusing on theater history in an idea historical perspective. This foundation has informed her cross-disciplinary approach to cultural research throughout her career.

Professor Gran's research spans multiple interconnected areas including theater history & performing arts, cultural policy, creative industries, cultural sponsorship, digitization of the cultural sector, cultural consumption, and diversity issues. Her work consistently examines how digital transformation affects cultural production, distribution, and consumption, with particular attention to diversity implications across various cultural sectors. She approaches these topics through a multidisciplinary lens that combines cultural studies, sociology, economics, and media studies.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory focusing on digital transformation across cultural sectors. Her work examines digitization effects on cinemas, museums, book industries, and social media platforms, consistently analyzing diversity impacts. Starting with broader cultural policy questions, her research has become increasingly focused on specific digital platforms and their societal implications, particularly regarding algorithmic systems and user behavior. The 2025 publications indicate continued evolution toward examining AI systems within cultural contexts.

As co-director of the BI Center for Creative Industries, Professor Gran leads research initiatives examining the creative economy in Norway. Her team has produced numerous reports on digital transformation in cultural sectors, including studies on the music industry during the pandemic, digital book consumption, and museum digitalization. These projects often involve collaborations with cultural institutions, government bodies like the Norwegian Cultural Council, and industry organizations.

Professor Gran has directed significant research projects including comprehensive studies of Norway's creative industries (2008-2014), digital transformation in cinemas, and the impact of the pandemic on cultural sectors. Her work with the Industrial Policy Council for Cultural and Creative Industries in Norway (2015-2017) demonstrates her influence on national cultural policy. She maintains active professional engagement through Twitter (@abgran) and LinkedIn, contributing to public discourse on cultural policy issues.