We participate in the Hovinby conference: Kloden teater in the heart of urban development

April 19, 2024

- Art and culture are important. Or not just important, but vital. This is where we can make a difference.

On Thursday and Friday, Kloden teater participated in the Hovinby conference held at Kuben high school in Kabelgata. Here you can read theater director Ådne Sekkelsten's presentation at the conference:

It's nice to be referred to as the heart of "Skaperbyen" and Kabelgata. We love being located right here, in the middle of an area with traditions that many people have a strong relationship with. Hovinbyen and Kabelgata are changing with a lot of energy, new initiatives and determination. The old buildings of Standard Telefon- og Kabelfabrik represent a proud and important industrial history in Norway throughout much of the 20th century.

Norwegian art and culture also have a lot to be proud of, both historically and in the present day. I hope that - when we look back in 20 or 30 years' time - we can talk about how fantastic it was that public, private and other social actors came together in the 2020s to create a city and district with a focus on the whole society, the whole person, and that they realized - after having failed a number of times - that in addition to having a place to live and work, people need places to create, express themselves, experience and feel a sense of belonging.

Just imagine! That at the Hovinby conference in 2044, people from all over the world will come and learn how to use the development as a successful role model for good cities to live in! A little breathless - how did you manage that!

Ådne Sekkelsten

And this is exactly what Kloden teater wants to be a part of. For us, the focus on Skaperbyen and Kabelgata is a perfect fit. Literally, too:

A lot is created in a theater - and in addition, many cables for lighting and sound must be run at all times.

Unique collaboration

Kloden teater was established in 2015 and we started working with the architects at Transborder Studio quite immediately. In 2017, we were connected with Oxer Eiendom and were given the opportunity to draw ourselves into the building across the street. We moved here in 2020 and created a stage and production space. In 2023, 154 performances were performed for over 9,000 children and young people in our temporary premises here in Kabelgata. We collaborated with 42 performing arts companies from all over the country, who performed and/or produced their shows with us.

When this building is fully rebuilt, activity will multiply! And it will create a common arena and meeting place for people in the district.

I think the rather unique collaboration Kloden teater has with Oxer Eiendom needs more than our 13 minutes today. Here, the temporary nature of the use of premises has been combined with a clear desire for a long-term approach, resulting in us signing a 30-year contract. Not many other developers can boast that.

At the same time, it is important to emphasize that we have a long way to go to reach our financial goals. We are completely dependent on both the state and the municipality supporting the project in order for us to reach our goal. The theater is designed and ready to be built, but it will not happen without public support.

Children, youth and artists

Kloden teater is not in its own little bubble, not just a building. These are the people we're here for:

Children and young people. To be a place where they want to come, to be, to meet, to experience. Completely independent of their background and finances. We have Peter Pan tickets for NOK 20,- and Robin Hood tickets for NOK 300,- for those of you who would like to contribute a little extra to help more people experience the performing arts.

And a place for artists. Here, performing artists will both produce and show their performances, have their daily office space, workshops, rehearsal rooms, café and "hangout" space.

Photo: Maren Moen Blomstereng

And it's right at the heart of this beautiful - brutal - place where we are now, where Kloden teater will be a cultural engine.

Art and culture are important. Or not just important, but vital. We can make a difference.

We talk about urban development and what cultural institutions can mean.

Represented by two examples we know well: In the same way as the Opera in Bjørvika, the Tate Modern in London was crucial to the investment and development of this former industrial area - while in the Hovinby development we must be aware of the diversity we are part of, and develop places that equalize social differences, not reinforce them. We can do better here - we have every opportunity.

A social responsibility

It is not road junctions or office buildings that the population runs to protect in times of war and crisis, as pictures from Ukraine and other countries clearly show. Ukrainian musicians and performing artists travel around on tour in Norwegian cultural centers, gathering large audiences among refugees and locals alike. People gather around and in art, find community, find what they are afraid of losing - a sense of belonging.

And even though we can only hope that we will not experience war in Norway, we have a social responsibility to help ensure that children, young people and others do not fall out of society, to contribute to places where they can be instead of sitting at home or ending up in destructive environments - to give them an alternative - something to be proud of - something to protect - that also protects them.

Ådne Sekkelsten

That's why we do this.

That's why we want to be right here - in the middle of the city!

If we can realize this project to transform the Standard Telephone and Cable Factory into a permanent theatre in the heart of Europe's largest urban development project, this will be Kloden Teater's contribution to creating places and communities that matter in people's lives.

Hovinby Conference 2024