Førdehuset – a grandstand for the future
Photo: Andreas Eikeseth Nygjerd
By Per Idar Almås, Director, Førdefestivalen
The comment was published in Firda on Tuesday, April 6.
There has been a debate here in Firda in recent weeks about how Førdehuset can and should be developed into the future, and what role the building should fill. The debate is relevant now that Teater Vestland has decided to move into the new Nynorskhuset together with Firda and NRK (Towards a very exciting venture!).
Me in Førdefestivalen have taken the opportunity to record some suggestions for the municipality to take this work forward. In our eyes, the goal must be to once again make Førdehuset to the best and most exciting cultural and sports building between Bergen and Ålesund. The fact that culture and sports have coexisted in this building for so many years is a great foundation to build on.
As a tenant in Førdehuset with office space in the house and with Førdehuset As the main venue for the annual festival since its inception in 1990, we have gained a lot of experience with the use of the house and ideas about how Førdehuset can be developed.
With all its different arenas, cafes, and indoor and outdoor mingling areas, Førdehuset was an important success factor for Førdefestivalen , which in 2019 was named one of Europe's five best festivals regardless of genre by the European Festival Association.
For the festival - and other organizers - it is important that there is no sound transmission between different halls, so that concerts, cinema and other events can run in parallel without disturbing each other. The new cultural school next door is a valuable addition, with access to new arenas and rehearsal rooms.
When Førdehuset Now we must prepare for the future, I think. Førdefestivalen The municipality has the opportunity to strengthen the house's position with regard to large events - and small ones:
The public and mingling area must be redesigned so that traffic between the different parts flows better.
The café needs to be modernized so that it becomes an inviting meeting place for people of all ages. Café culture has really come to town, and now maybe it's time for a real library café?
Prioritize the library! Let the library get the space it needs to become a modern library with room for all the activities it will eventually offer - and of course with reading spaces for students and pupils
The theatre hall will be 'vacant'. How about converting it into a black box, with greater flexibility for concerts, dance, cinema, guest theatre?
Create studios for local artists and those engaged in various types of crafts.
Facilitate local organizers to take on national sports and cultural events, such as landscape plays and national festivals. Such events have been carried out in Førdehuset in the past, and it must be possible to happen in the future as well.
There are many different tenants visiting the building throughout the year. In my opinion, it is great that you can have top-level national sports events, world-class concerts, a cinema and a library under one roof. By taking the right steps, Førdehuset continue to be a meeting place for all generations. Where we go to exhibitions, the cinema, take the family swimming, follow the handball team's training, read a book in the library café, and simply meet each other.
There are a lot of exciting things happening in the host city. Førde no, with the Nynorsk House, a new main hall at Scandic Sunnfjord Hotel & Spa, a permanent outdoor stage outside Elvetorget and the roof canvas at Festplassen. And then we need Førdehuset as a unifying beacon in addition to this. The combination of sports and culture has never been a problem in Førdehuset , and never will be. Førdehuset is part of our identity, and should be Førde "The great room will also be in the future. We must arrange the house so that it becomes a place where something happens, and where it is good to be - for everyone."
Per Idar Almås