Hardanger Kunst Senter
Hardanger Kunst Senter is a central point in Hardanger for information about
art, art-institutions and artists in the region of Hardanger, Norway.
Like many rural areas in Norway Hardanger has seen a decline of the population
during recent years.
To counter this demographical movement there are plans to turn Hardanger into
a cultural center of Norway. Many projects are being put up;
a studiocomplex has just opened in Ålvik (Kunsthuset Messen) that will
also have residencies, there are plans for an artschool and
(foreign and Norwegian) artists are moving to the area and of course there are
already a lot of artists living and working in Hardanger.
We feel it is important to have a physical space where people can follow this
interesting process. Something tangible where everyone can see how many things
are going on. In doing so the ‘cultural revolution’ will become
a lot more visible to the people.
For this purpose Hardanger Kunst Senter will put up an informationcenter where
one can find information about art in Hardanger in one location, with:
- a calender with events going on in Hardanger
-a noticeboard with cultural information
-information about local artists and about (and for) artists that are moving
to Hardanger or working here (this could include having portfolio’s and
information about projects).
By doing this we want to stimulate contacts and cooperation between artists
(locally and internationally). The informationpoint will also provide information
to artists in the region.
-an archive (newspaperclippings, posters) of the cultural activities in Kvam
and Hardanger and reviews and articles about local artists. The changes are
happening fast and it is interesting to document things that are happening now
and for the future.
Apart from having a local function, we will also focus on promoting art from
Hardanger internationally by connecting to the artworld outside of Kvam and
Hardanger.
(Young) People interested in art can learn more about the different possibilities
(such as education) and residencies that exist in Norway and abroad.
*Gallery/Projectspace:
With the same purpose of connecting to the artworld (and to show experimental
international art), we want to put up a projectspace where we invite local (and
Norwegian) and international artists to exhibit. We want to set up a project
space for young contemporary art. In this space we want to organize lectures,
video-art screenings and have exhibitions by not yet established (but promising)
young artists. We will also show local artists in order to promote art from
Hardanger, and it will be exciting to have cooperation between artists from
Hardanger and international artists.
*Workshops:
The location in Norheimsund also functions as an office for our plans to have
workshops in Hardanger for art-students;
Solla took part in a workshop in Iceland in Seydisfjordur (organized by Bjorn
Roth) that takes place on a yearly basis. Art-students from Sweden, Norway and
Iceland attended this workshop. The students live and work for 10 days in the
town, talk to people and use the town and its work-facilities like a workshop.
The people in the town were very helpful and enthousiastic and during the course
there is a lot of interaction between the art-students and the community. After
the workshop an exhibition is held with introductions about the works by the
students. It is a great succes and most people of the community come to the
openings.
We want to organize a similar workshop in the area of Hardanger for art students
from Norway, the Nordic countries and Holland. In Hardanger the students could
work in the nature and use the facilities of the area (such as the Fartøyvernsenter,
the soundstudio in Ålvik and expertise/workshops of local artists (too
many to mention all here!). The communes in Hardanger could provide empty spaces
that will be used for housing and exhibitions during the workshops. Messen in
Ålvik for example could be a good place for that since all facilities
(cooking, sleeping) are already present there. This is a great way for people
in Hardanger to meet young artists and to be introduced to young art.