A place for growth and joy

Text: Marianne Lystrup

– We need to take the tush back and use him for something sensible!

The artist Ole Hamre, who is known throughout Norway for his colorful performances, made the call in front of a room full of cultural bureaucrats and mayors during Førdekonferansen Thursday.

PHOTO: HEIDI HATTESTEIN

Hamre is known for his work with the cultural phenomenon Fargespill , which has created great joy around the country for several years. So he would be a good source when one wants to shed light on how to mobilize the power of culture in the change we as a society are currently experiencing, as this year's conference has seen.

 

We need it.

PHOTO: HEIDI HATTESTEIN

– Mathematics is our most precise language. That's why we need it. Art is our least precise language. That's why we need it. If we lose art, we lose an eye and become unable to cross-reflect and to experience depth. But that's exactly what's happening in schools in Norway, he said.

Some time ago, he was appointed head of an expert group that was to look at the aesthetic subjects in schools. It was a depressing experience. The teachers were dismayed at how these subjects have been downgraded in recent years. The reason they cited was that the principal did not want to prioritize it. But behind the principal are both school owners, politicians, and 'people'. So one can wonder why 'people' do not think art and culture are important, and Hamre took the blame on behalf of the cultural workers:

– People don't think art and culture are important because we haven't managed to make ourselves important. We haven't managed to connect art and culture to hardcore social development. Haven't managed to connect ourselves to money. It's demanding, because most of the value in art and culture is intangible. But it's incredible that we've let the technocrats get away with the property rights to the concept of innovation. Then we're asleep at the wheel.

PHOTO: DAVID BOWEN

What do you have?

PHOTO: DAVID BOWEN

Directly on the topic of art and integration, he pointed out that art always looks for what is possible. When we present Fargespill , it is always as an art project, not a social project. But it is an art project that has social consequences. Art always asks: What do you have? A social project always asks: What do you lack?

It is the question 'what do you have?' that brings out the power in our performances. It is the inherent resource of art that changes their lives, and our lives as an audience. The kids are not on stage because we are going to help them. They are there because we need them. No one else can do what they do, said Hamre.

He reminded us that much of the hostility towards refugees is rooted in emotions. But emotions are the arena of cultural workers.

– We manage the language of emotions. This is our arena that we must not leave to others. The boundary-breaking, the paradoxes, yes the absurdity – we must not leave such things to manipulative politicians and religious fundamentalists, declared Ole Hamre, and in good cultural spirit, he ended as he began, by getting the audience to join him in song. 

Yes, we will change.

Førdekonferansen continued throughout the day, with a series of engaging contributions from people with different backgrounds and expertise. From Nordic Black Theatre, Information Manager Dominic Wilson came and told about successful initiatives when you just venture outside the usual boxes. And who answered a resounding yes to the question of whether immigration will change Norwegian culture. With the reason that Norwegian culture is already colored by traditions based on other countries.

Eight years

PHOTO: DAVID BOWEN

Mahmoud Farahmand came from Iran at the age of eight. He is now a spokesperson for LIM – Equality, Integration, Diversity, and active politics in Porsgrunn. In his speech, he pointed out that all municipalities have activities that can be used in integration work, from football and dance to corps. By taking part in such activities, it becomes easier to learn the social codes and understand the core values of Norwegian culture.

Praise to Florø

One municipality that has received much praise for its integration work is Florø. They were represented by councilor Terje Heggheim, who willingly shared good advice with the assembly. He used a picture from Astruptunet, painted in 1924, which proclaims: 'A good tree bears good fruit'.

– It is a good picture of integration. If you are going to move a tree, you have to take some of the roots with you, otherwise it cannot bear fruit. But there must also be room for new, healthy branches. And as has been said, children must have both roots and branches. But many of the unaccompanied minor asylum seekers who come to Norway have never had the opportunity to try a single branch, he said, adding that in an ideal world no one would be an unaccompanied minor asylum seeker, but as it is, the world is not a good place to be for many children.

 

 

These are all the speakers: 
 

Ole Hamre , musician and composer. One of the founders of Fargespill. 

Hamzeh Alsheiko , research assistant at the Department of Sociology at the University of Bergen. Came to Norway as a Syrian refugee a year and a half ago. 

Mahmoud Farahmand , spokesperson for LIM (Equality, Integration and Diversity)

Dominic Wilson , Head of Information at Black Box Theatre.

Terje Heggheim , councilor of Flora municipality.

Silje Grastveit , chaos pilot and social entrepreneur. Was responsible for the workshop with the question "How can we mobilize the power of culture for the best possible integration and inclusion?"

Hallgeir Isdahl , Executive Vice President CSR Sparebanken Vest

Himanshu Gulati , Secretary of State in the Ministry of Culture.

Photo: Heidi Hattestein