Mari Torvik Heian

Areas of expertise Social inequality, inclusion, participation in leisure activities, culture for and with children and young people, artists’ careers, work, and income conditions.

Key qualifications Heian’s research has focused on artists’ careers, working lives, and income opportunities, as well as on children’s and young people’s participation in cultural and sports activities. In recent years, she has worked particularly on research into inclusion and participation among groups that are often underrepresented in various arenas of society. This work includes a dedicated initiative on knowledge development concerning everyday life and leisure among children and young people with disabilities. Heian works with both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Heian is sociologist with a PhD from the University of Bergen and has 20 years of experience as a commissioned researcher. She has participated in and led numerous research projects, evaluations, and studies in the fields of culture, labour, and welfare, and has authored and contributed to several peer-reviewed books and a wide range of scientific articles.