Scan Magazine, Issue 84, January 2016 by Scan Client Publishing

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SCAN MAGAZINE ISSUE 84 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

ISSUE 84

JANUARY 2016

ACE WILDER – BUSY BEIN’ DIFFERENT A NORDIC 2016 CULTURE CALENDAR BIG NORWEGIAN FESTIVAL SPECIAL OUR 2016 SWEDISH MUST-SEE DESTINATIONS

Enabling real

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Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents 22 46

COVER FEATURE 28

Ace Wilder – busy bein’ different

From returning to Sweden and learning to dress down not to stick out, to creating an alter ego in order to dare take up space on the Melodifestivalen stage, Alice Gernandt has always been shy but determined. Scan Magazine spoke to the singer, better known as Ace Wilder, about the terrifying experience of competing in music, the need for a hiatus, and her return to the Mello stage.

Out of all the creative and brilliant ways to discover the natural richness of Norway, perhaps the best is attending a festival of your choice. From challenging sports adventures and quieter nature explorations, to musical and cultural celebrations of all kinds, Norway boasts an incredible amount of top-class festivals. We have listed our favourites.

DESIGN 12

2016’s Nordic design gems From architecture, cleaning products and clever apps, to sneakers and affordable luxury jewellery, this month’s design section is jam-packed with the latest trends and inventions from the always impressive Scandinavian design scene.

FEATURES 32

Dining and conferencing in Norway Last month’s Scan Magazine presented one of our favourite restaurant finds of late: Oslo’s Aymara Cocina Latina. When we learnt that head chef and co-owner Kim Daniel Mikalsen is about to appear on a TV screen near you as part of Top Chef Norway, we decided to take a closer look. For the natureyearning conference planner, we threw in another Norwegian find.

SPECIAL THEMES

80 90

A Nordic Culture Calendar As we took a look at the Scandinavian cultural highlights around the corner in 2016, we picked up on some national trends: Iceland is all about art for the people this year, while Denmark adds to its reputation for being groundbreaking in every sense of the word and Finland has a great deal to offer lovers of classical music.

Norwegian Festival Special

Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations With a charming history and more than a few jubilees coming up this year, Sweden offers keen discoverers everything from charming town centres and vast landscapes, to old castles and modern museums – topped up, of course, with award-winning culinary treats and outstanding hotels. Read our guide to this year’s must-see places before planning your annual holiday in Sweden.

BUSINESS 100 Forget Silicon Valley… Start the year with some surprising predictions, as Annika Åman Goodwille uses her keynote to ponder the reason why London and Sweden are taking over from Silicon Valley as the new global tech hubs. We also find out more about the Icelandic food staple, Skyr, that has become a huge hit abroad.

CULTURE 110 Icelandic fiction and Norwegian reality While the storylines in Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson’s novels may be bleak, the mission set by Norwegian adventurer Petter Nyquist to spend 52 days, including Christmas, in the streets may have seemed even bleaker. Scan Magazine spoke to the film maker about the TV series Petter Uteligger and its surprisingly heart-warming message.

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 3

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, ‘New year, new you’ goes the mantra as time spills into a new calendar of empty pages full of potential improvements. Our first cover star this year may not be that keen on the craze of the festive season, but she does promise to present a renewed version of herself as she takes to the Melodifestivalen stage next month – at least if the version of Ace Wilder you thought you knew was that of an innocent, mindless youngster. Whether the real, mature carnation of the singer will manage to win over the hearts of the Swedish public to represent the country in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest remains to be seen, but we are certain that we will see a great deal of her in the coming year. As for Scan Magazine itself, we are refraining from making grand New Year’s resolutions about transforming facelifts and complete makeovers. As is often the case when it comes to Scandinavia, I am taking a more minimal approach and have decided to make 2016 the year of mindful consciousness. Yes, we will continue the constant work of improving the magazine to make it the best it can possibly be, but we will do so behind the scenes: fine-tuning the way we research future issues, streamlining our processes and taking the time to make those covers that little bit more perfect. It is tempting at a time of throw-away fashion and constantly improving innovations to change for the sake of changing,

opting for the latest and most advanced at the cost of the also reasonably recent and perfectly functioning, promising a new you just because you can. Yet it is equally understandable that the mindfulness revolution is gaining force as a backlash, hoping to bring you back to the present moment. Kickstarting the new year, therefore, we bring you an issue packed full of experiences that are more about your presence than material consumption: a culture calendar presenting groundbreaking venues, carefully organised concerts and community galleries; a festival special with enough musical, historical and sporty experiences to keep you going for the entire year; and a pick of travel destinations where nature, history, art and community abound. You will not meet a new, transformed me this year, nor will you face a complete redesign of the magazine. What you will find is a publication that tries to make connections, to be present in the moment of every conversation and mirror Scandinavia in all its purity and beauty, past and present. Here’s to a minimal and mindful 2016!

Linnea Dunne, Editor

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4 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Enough said.

www.greendog.no

Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this… There are so many colourful, fun and crazy things for children that it would almost be a shame not to play around with the arrangements in the children’s room. Having fun inside is essential, especially now that it is cold outside. We have found some ideas for you to get started. By Stephanie Brink Harck | Press photos

Karin Mannerstål has designed a comprehensive series of rugs for children. This rug, Time, is handmade from 100 per cent wool. It is not just playful, but educational as well. Designed by Karin Mannerstål, £152

www.confidentliving.se

The children’s room should inspire fun and creative games, which is also why bright, vivid colours tend to work so well. This Birdie from the Danish company Hoptimist meets all of the above requirements. It looks so cool you might even want one in your Everybody loves a good old beanbag, so of course every child should have

living room.

one in their room. FLEXA has designed a range of different ones with many

colours and prints. Here it is adorned with birds and a nice pink chequered

www.hoptimist.dk

cover that is even removable and washable, making it easy to clean. Designed by FLEXA, £56

www.flexaworld.dk

Carry On is a portable seating solution that works perfectly on its own but also as a complement to other products – in other words, your children can

It can be difficult to find the perfect bed, but we are pretty sure that we

use them however they like. They have a round but simple form and combine

have found one. Made of beech wood, it is simple, elegant and typically

traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design and functionality.

Scandinavian.

www.studiovision.se

www.flexaworld.dk

6 | Issue 84 | January 2016

New Royal Edition

Welcome to Live in a Work of Art! Introducing P책l Ross, award-winning architect from Scandinavia, whose designs are renowned as much for their curves as for their sustainability. With a deep understanding of function and form, and a process rooted in European tradition, P책l's cool, sophisticated design has entranced countless families and admirers for years. Visit us at www.ross.se and tell us which design you like the most! Contact: + 46 8 84 84 82 / info@ross.se Like us on Facebook: Ross arkitektur & design ab

Awarded Sweden's most beautiful villa of 2009 Awarded best newbuilding in J채mtland in 2010 Gold winner at European Property Award 2013 2015 Svanen Nordic Ecolabelling Licence

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Fashion Diary… January is a pretty cold month and you need to dress warm, but also be ready for cosy get-togethers with friends and colleagues. We found some stylish items for both occasions. By Sara Asoka Paulsen | Press photos

The Dempsey Coat is a real Nordic Noir piece. Wear it only in dimmed lights and with a crime riddle to solve. Jokes aside, we adore the mystic elegance of this one. Dempsey Coat, £599 www.tigerofsweden.com A sailor’s sweater is all you need to keep the cold at bay. The most stylish and beautiful ones make up the backbone of Danish Mads Nørgaard’s trademark. Sailor Kudis charcoal/ecru, approx. £112 www.madsnorgaard.dk

Norwegian Kaibosh makes affordable and stylish glasses with a Scandinavian twist. These are from the A/W15 collection and are called A Scandinavian in N.Y REMIX. These specs make a statement and go perfectly with the clean Scandinavian look. This model is inspired by Woody Allen, so it is a mustwear for all the cinema aficionados this winter. A Scandinavian in N.Y. REMIX, Mid Havana, from £85 depending on optical adjustments. www.kaibosh.com

From James Bond to singer Janelle Monáe, the bow tie is here to stay. Wear this version from Tiger of Sweden in either red or blue patterns as a smart way to up style your outfit. Ottavio print bow tie, £59 www.tigerofsweden.com

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary A furry little thing, this is. With this keyring, made of fake fur, you are guaranteed a colourful addition to your outfit every day. Attach it to your bag for a playful look. Keychain, approx. £4 www.hm.com

The Oak dress from Danish brand Won Hundred in pepper green will brighten up even the gloomiest winter days. Wear it with black jeggings and some fancy booties if you are going to an outside event. Oak dress, pepper green, £160 www.wonhundred.com

The Tiger of Sweden brand represents elegance and Scandinavian simplicity at its finest. This blazer is a fine example of that. Use it yearround over a dress or a thin silk blouse. Madina blazer, £369 www.tigerofsweden.com

Behold! A pair of skinny black pants to wear instead of tights on those really cold days. These work well with both dresses and tops. For an impression of longer legs, wear high heels and choose a length that ends right below your ankles. Approx. £36 www.hm.com

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 9

Scan Magazine | Design | Street Style

Nordic humans of London Scan Magazine’s brilliant Sanna Halmekoski has hit the streets of Paris to find out what the Scandinavian fashion fanatics are wearing. Cool, sleek and full of statements, this is a little piece of Scandiland in France. Text and photos by Sanna Halmekoski | Twitter: @suomigirl | www.suomigirl.com

Katariina Lamberg, Finnish art director and co-founder of design firm Ahonen & Lamberg (www.ahonenandlamberg.com)

“I like comfortable clothes and natural materials; quality beats quantity. My jacket is by our client, Japanese brand John Lawrence Sullivan. I own several pieces from their men’s collections. My shoes are by another of our clients, Finnish designer Achilles Ion Gabriel. I have various pairs of shoes by him and wear them daily.”

Katariina Lamberg

Lina Lagerström, Swedish architect and co-founder of architecture firm Septembre “I have to do a lot of practical things because of my job, so I like a simple and comfortable style. My jacket is by Acne Studios, and I made the dress with fabric from Paris.”

Lina Lagerström

Nathalie Kopylov, Swedish casting assistant at Alexandrasandberg (www.alexandrasandberg.com)

“My style is a mixture of masculine and feminine. I like comfortable clothes and wearing heels. My bag is by Prada, the coat is by J.W.Anderson and the hat is by Adam Kimmel.”

Nathalie Kopylov

10 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | PA Gulve and Wiking Gulve

A beautiful oak floor is not just a perfect match for a stylish living room; it can also be a statement of social, historic and environmental consciousness.

A floor with a story to tell It is not just because of aesthetic, environmental and social advantages that many Danes dream about a wooden floor that is sourced and produced in Denmark. It is also because a Danish oak floor has a story to tell. By Signe Hansen | Photos: PA Gulve and Wiking Gulve

A floor is innately one of the most prominent visual features in a living room, but it is also a practical necessity – two diverse roles that bring numerous requirements. Natural wood flooring meets them all: it can improve the room’s acoustics and indoor climate, and it can be a statement of not just style but also social, historic and environmental consciousness. It other words, a wooden floor is much more than a floor. By focusing on sustainably produced wood of the best quality and utmost beauty, Wiking Gulve and PA Gulve, who have worked with Danish timber since 12 | Issue 84 | January 2016

1885, provide all of the above. “A large part of the trees we work with are grown in Denmark and treated by Danish workers who are passionate about Danish wood. It is really easy to see the difference when you are, for instance, looking at Danish ash wood compared to imported ash. Danish wood is very beautiful; it always has been and I think that’s also one of the reasons why the Danish furniture industry has such a good reputation – we offer something special when it comes to wood,” says John Bojesen, who owns and runs Wiking Gulve, together with the owner of PA Gulve, Kim Axelsen. The two businesses specialise in engi-

neered wood flooring and solid wooden floors respectively.

A board of the Danish navy After the British army stole the entire Danish navy in 1807, thousands of new oak trees were planted to rebuild the war ships. While the trees grew, however, times changed; navy ships were no longer built using timber, and the oaks were left to simply grow. Today, two centuries later, the Danish navy that never was is becoming part of everyday life in a much more peaceful manner, namely in the shape of beautiful oak floors. “Most of the oak floors we produce come from the trees originally planted to rebuild the Danish navy in the beginning of the 19th century,” explains Bojesen. “Today the trees are about 200 years old, and the time has come to use the wood

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | PA Gulve and Wiking Gulve

Most of the stunning old oaks, which make the beautiful PA and Wiking floors, grow in state-owned, strictly governed Danish forests, which means that a new tree is planted every time one is cut down.

before the trees start deteriorating. They were always planted for timber and though it has been many years, they are finally meeting their purpose.”

are used, and that is, thankfully, something that people are becoming more and more aware of.”

As the oaks grow in state-owned Danish forests, forestation is strictly governed, meaning that a new tree is planted every time one is cut down.

The wood for PA Gulve and Wiking Gulve’s floors is processed at PA Gulve’s Funen-located sawmill, which has been delivering wood to the Danish furniture industry since 1885. Among the many famous design pieces created using its wood is Wegner’s classic Wishbone chair.

Stepping on CO2 As all trees absorb CO2 whilst growing, wood is a naturally CO2 negative material, meaning that wood flooring also functions as a CO2 storage of sorts. However, if the wood is, as often is the case, processed or sold far away from its origin, it naturally affects the CO2 footprint of the final product. “Producing and processing our wood in Denmark means that the CO2 impact of the final product is much smaller than if the timber has been shipped around the world and back,” says Bojesen. “It might be slightly more expensive to do it in Denmark but, on the other hand, you also know that the production is socially sustainable, that people are paid and treated decently, and that no harmful glues or similar

The final touch

The sawmill works with traditional handicraft methods to produce both the solid wood flooring delivered by PA Gulve and the engineered wooden floors from Wiking Gulve. The floors are individually tailored from start to finish and can be treated with natural oil, hard wax oil or lacquer to achieve different nuances and textures. “Common for all our floors is that they are of high quality and likely to last for a very long time,” Bojesen says. “I think it’s safe to say that if our wood is good enough for a beautiful Wegner chair, it will also make a floor that will make most people happy.”

About PA Gulve and Wiking Gulve: PA Gulve and Wiking Gulve produce solid and engineered floors in oak (Danish or American), ash (Danish), douglas (Danish or American), pine (Swedish/ Russian) and Siberian larch.

For more information, please visit: www.plankegulv.com and www.wikinggulve.dk

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 13

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | DRY Creative Projects

The store at Upplandsgatan in Stockholm.

Handled with care, made to last With a passion for beautiful and sustainable objects, and inspired by our present way of living, DRY Creative Projects has crafted its line of timeless pieces to bring into the next generation. By Malin Norman | Photos: DRY Creative Projects

Stockholm-based DRY Creative Projects is a well-established studio focused on creative direction, art direction and design. The team develops concepts, brand identities and marketing campaigns for high-profile fashion and lifestyle clients such as Adidas, GANT, Stadium and Tretorn. The passion for graphic design, product design and packaging of ideas has also led to the creation of its own brands DRY Things and DRY Costume. The idea behind DRY Things, established in 2012, is to use ecological processes and sustainable materials to make functional designs that will last for many years. The collection includes graphic prints, items for the kitchen, office and bathroom, and smaller pieces of furniture. “We like small-scale and exclusive products that make a difference, created with soul and passion. DRY Things is genuine handicraft, all 14 | Issue 84 | January 2016

packaged by hand,” explains co-founder Johan Fredlund.

Healthy, natural and timeless The very first product was a poster called Lentil Soup, with a recipe from London restaurant The Owl & Pussycat. “We went there and tried the soup, and it was so tasty we had to ask the chef for the recipe,” says partner and creative director Jenny Kästel. Similarly, popular line Apothecary with typography posters demonstrates the passion for healthy and nutritious food. It was created in cooperation with Green Kitchen Stories, a duo behind a number of vegetarian cookbooks and an award-winning blog. Also on demand is the Piece of Wood range of cutting boards, which is available in different sizes and types of wood. All are handcrafted in Sweden, including Reclaimed, which is made of Swedish

oak from the archipelago. News in the line-up include a series of black and white images by Swedish photographer Ewa Marie Rundquist, poster series Archipelago with compositions of rocks, and the Calendar of Weeks, developed in collaboration with Brandstationen. The team also launched fashion brand DRY Costume a few months ago, with a collection of premium, non-seasonal essentials made of natural materials. “We create garments with a sustainability focus; both the design and the quality of the fabrics should last over time,” says Kästel. “It’s all about slow fashion, quality over quantity.” DRY Things and DRY Costume are available in the online shop and at select retailers in Sweden and the UK, and curious visitors are also welcome to pop by the combined studio and store on Upplandsgatan in Stockholm.

For more information, please visit: www.drycreativeprojects.com

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Arkitektfirmaet Give Huset

With you from start to finish Building a house from scratch is a daunting task for most. The endless hours on the phone to various contractors can be both intimidating and demoralising. However, at Give Huset®, one of the oldest Danish architecture firms, the architects are with you from start to finish – and even provide their own qualified contractors. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Give Huset A/S

“We’re very focused on quality,” owner Rasmus Piihl says. Piihl took over the running of the company in 2011, after it had been family owned for two generations. Give Huset® was established in the 1960s by Jens Sandgaard Pedersen. “Clients from the ‘70s still call us up today to let us know how good the houses are!” At the start, the company produced high-quality flat-pack houses, which were easy and cheap to erect. Pedersen, the founder, wanted people to be able to own their own affordable houses. This became hugely popular, with 300 to 400 houses being built per year in the late

‘60s, and the popularity spread through word-of-mouth recommendations.

Unique and environmentally friendly Nowadays the process is slightly different, although the quality levels remain the same. “I’m with the client from A to Z; I’m their point of contact and help them to complete their dream,” Piihl says. Each house is individually designed and the dreams finalised, but it does not stop there. Once the plans are drawn up, Give Huset® uses companies and contractors they have worked with for many years to transform the plans into reality. Piihl actually used to be one of the

contractors used, so he knows all about the entire process. This means that from start to finish, you are guaranteed a quality product, good workmanship and complete freedom from worrying about project management. Give Huset® is also very focused on making the houses as environmentally friendly as possible. “We always use materials that can be recycled or reused – we basically only use natural materials. We also try to make the houses as self-sufficient as possible by using solar panels and geothermal heating,” Piihl explains. “We’re proud of putting our name to our houses – it’s quality through and through.” The company has stood the test of time, and even during the financial crisis there was a year-long waiting list. The service provided is exceptional and means that even the novice will end up with an amazing house and, more importantly, a real home.

For more information, please visit: www.givehuset.dk

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 15

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Nordic Stream

Microfibre magic – no need to hide it What do you get when you take a textile, dubbed the miracle cloth, and add decades of expertise in creating cleaning equipment for professionals? You get a mopping system so effective and enjoyable to use that it has now been brought to the consumer market due to popular demand. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Nordic Stream

Two completely unrelated coincidences are behind the much-loved ‘Scandinavian flat-mopping system’ produced by Nordic Stream. First, a German gentleman by the name of Rolf Altgenug, who fled the war and came to Sweden, started working as a window cleaner and was convinced that cleaning products could be far better than those he was given. Then, years later, one of the textile producers working with Nordic Stream, the company eventually founded by Altgenu g, had an epiphany when visiting the hair salon run by an acquaintance: the microfibre towels used to wrap around customers’ hair soaked up all the dye – so their absorption qualities must be out of this world. 16 | Issue 84 | January 2016

The microfibre cleaning cloth that was the result of the hair salon revelation quickly became known as the ‘miracle cloth’, and for good reason. “You didn’t need any chemicals, ingrained dirt came off with just some water, and tests showed that the result was far better when cleaning with just the miracle cloth and water than with traditional detergents,” says Per-Ove Rosenqvist, Nordic Stream’s marketing manager. “When added to floor mops, the microfibre cloths created endless possibilities.”

Professionals first From day one, in 1969, Nordic Stream produced private-label customised professional ranges for big industrial com-

panies, in the form of mop handles and other manual cleaning tools. But from the late ‘80s onwards, the microfibre textiles were added as a trump card. The result of the miracle cloth not being available to consumers in shops was a wave of home parties courtesy of big brands such as Yves Rocher in France, and with time the cloth reached an almost iconic status. Nordic Stream grew stronger by the day, among other things being the main supplier of private-label cleaning products for Lilleborg in Norway and Migros in Switzerland. Eventually the company could not ignore the questions any longer: why not produce an own-brand Nordic Stream range of customer products? A few years later, the Nordic Stream – Enjoy Cleaning brand was launched.

Light Weight System – for consumers The first consumer range launched by Nordic Stream has an exclusive design

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Nordic Stream

and is available at big wholesalers in Germany and Holland. A second, more affordable range, the Light Weight System, is now on its way and will be launched in February. Common for all Nordic Stream – Enjoy Cleaning products is that they are easy to use and have a well-designed look with handles of brushed stainless steel and a number of highly efficient textiles. “The cleaning itself might not be that much fun, but that doesn’t mean that the product can’t look nice,” says Rosenqvist. “You shouldn’t have to be embarassed if you leave the mop out when a neighbour pops over for a cup of coffee. Moreover, the fact that it’s lightweight obviously makes the whole thing so much easier, and not needing chemicals means that you don’t have to drag a big bucket around either.” Another of the big benefits of the flat-mopping method with microfibre is its environmentally friendly qualities, primarily as no chemicals are required but also because it uses less water too, reducing the use of natural resources. In hospital settings this is particularly important due to allergies, which is why such institutions tend to almost exclusively use microfibre cleaning products. Add to this the fact that the cleaning systems are incredibly durable, and you may well save both a bit of the environment and your finances over time.

Nordic Stream was founded in and inspired by Småland, the creative part of Sweden.

Benefits of the Nordic Stream – Enjoy Cleaning system: – Lightweight – Environmentally friendly – Sleek design with brushed stainless steel – No chemicals needed

Go-to system from Småland

– Uses less water

Nordic Stream’s ‘Scandinavian flatmopping system’ is now more or less standard in the professional cleaning industry throughout the world and is quickly becoming widely accepted as the go-to system for domestic cleaning as well. Developed by an entrepreneur inspired by Småland, dubbed Sweden’s creative county, it is perhaps no surprise. “Everyone has to clean – we try to make it that bit more fun,” says Rosenqvist. “If our products stand out on the shelves in the shops, it’ll help more people buy them and discover how good they are. People buy design dish brushes because they look nicer – why not cleaning products?”

– Cleaner results than with traditional cleaning methods

How to use your flat-mopping system Dusting? Leave the microfibre mop dry and its electrostatic force will work like a magnet to attract the dust. Wet cleaning? Add a little bit of water and the microfibre’s capillary force will create friction to the surface of the floor, removing the dirt effectively.

For more information, please visit: nordicstream.se

Nordic Stream will be presenting their products at the following fairs in the spring: Ambiente, Frankfurt, 12-16 February – one of the largest consumer fairs in the world. ambiente.messefrankfurt.com PLMA, Amsterdam, 24-25 May – Europe’s largest private-label retail fair. www.plmainternational.com IHHS (International Home and Houseware Show), Chicago, 5-8 March – one of the largest American consumer fairs. www.housewares.org/show

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 17

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Darø

For more than 30 years Darø has created high-quality lamp designs based on durability, practicality and a timeless aesthetic expression.

Lighting the way The dark Nordic winter is the time to shine for Scandinavia’s many talented lighting designers. Good lighting not only enhances the ambiance of a room but also the beauty of the objects it contains, which affects our mood. Designing with that in mind, Danish lamp specialist Darø has created some of Denmark’s most outstanding lamp designs, including Arkiturbine, this year’s winner of the London Design Award. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Darø

In the Nordic countries, lighting is not just a serious business – it is an art form, and this is reflected in several of Darø’s designs. Throughout more than 30 years, the company has designed a range of Denmark’s most popular lamps for homes, workplaces and public venues. Whether new or old, all Darø’s designs reflect the company’s original ambition: to create high-quality products. But the latest designs, like the two award-winning pendants Arkiturbine and Bell+, also reveal something else, something slightly more daring. “Today, we have an uncompromising wish to infuse all of our products with innovative 18 | Issue 84 | January 2016

ideas; we want our products to surprise without shocking,” says director of sales and marketing, Niels Svolgaard, who owns and runs Darø together with Thomas Darø, the third generation of the family to be involved in the firm. “What we aim to create are the classics of the future, unique lamp designs with ideas and elements that will stand the test of time, both when it comes to aesthetics and design as well as durability.”

Danish design Darø’s collection of design lamps, which includes table lamps, floor lamps, pendants and wall lamps, are all 100 per

cent Danish design and the Danish design heritage plays a significant role in the design process. With that follows a strong focus on practicality and sustainability, but nothing is allowed to compromise the overall ambition of creating original, high-quality designs. “We cooperate with a string of highly specialised partners in Denmark and the rest of the world. We do this to ensure that we, in every part of the process, steer clear of practical limitations and narrowminded preconceptions,” explains Svolgaard. “We work with a lot of different materials, and we don’t want to be tied down in any way. But the final production takes place where it has always taken place, in Randers in Eastern Jutland.” All of Darø’s designs come in a range of colours and variations for individual purchase and can be adjusted further to accommodate needs in large-scale projects such as hotels and offices.

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Darø

Left: The elegant Arkiturbine designed by Hans Christian Asmussen has won the London Design Award in the Product Design category. Right: Bell+ was named winner of the German Design Award 2015 Special Mention in the Excellent Product Design category.

Award-winning design Designed by Danish designer Hans Christian Asmussen, Arkiturbine, a digitally fabricated, laser-cut pendant, has managed to combine sustainability and durability with a soft and open form that challenges the aesthetic expression often characterised by its production method. Every part has been laser cut to perfection, meaning that the pendant is assembled without the use of any screws or bolts. The lamp’s extraordinary features have been widely acknowledged and, recently, earned it the London Design Award in the Product Design category. The prize was awarded for the creative and inventive solutions in the development and production of the design as well as the choice of materials, durability and the sustainability of the production. “In production, which is held locally, we have only used environmentally friendly and recyclable materials, just like we

use recyclable material for the specially designed packaging,” says Svolgaard, adding: “It is increasingly important that we are aware of the environment when we create designs that are meant to last for many years, and our efforts have now been recognised.”

Elegantly functional, functionally elegant Another award-winning design from Darø is the Bell+ pendant, which was recently chosen for a major renovation project at the Art and Design department of the University of Lapland. As the project focused on functionality and Nordic design, Darø’s Bell+, which challenges the usual perception of light as something static by implementing a bar and a tilting function, perfectly fulfilled the designers’ criteria. In taking a simple and elegant design and tweaking it, the lamp embodies the philosophy of Darø perfectly: “Our vision has always been to design lamps that create value

and arouse enthusiasm. The design is determined by the light and the light is determined by its function. We want to create more than just a lamp,” says CEO Thomas Darø.

FACTS: Darø was founded in 1969. Darø’s lamps can be bought all over the world. Darø works with architects and interior designers on major lighting projects such as restaurants, hotels and universities all over the world.

For more information, please visit: www.daroe.eu

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 19

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Kidsy

Making time for what matters Are you running late to collect your daughter at nursery? Do you wish you had more updates about her diet while away from home? Perhaps you simply fear that the nursery staff are weighed down by all the paperwork and wish there was something you could do to help them focus on what really matters: caring for your child. For all these problems, Kidsy comes to the rescue.

colades and graduated from Speed UP! Europe, a nine-month business accelerator programme. Moreover, expansion to nursing homes and pet nurseries is in the pipeline.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Kidsy

A product of its time, Kidsy naturally offers a social aspect as well. While the platform complies with all the highest standards in terms of data protection, parents can still communicate with each other. If you are running late, request that a parent in the same area collects your child, and then approve it when the staff makes the connection. “Initially, some people feared that we’d remove the personal touch,” Dragojlovic says. “But we’re doing the opposite. We’re taking the boring, time-consuming admin off the carers’ backs while at the same time keeping parents informed – even those keen to rush off home for some quality family time.”

“We all want more and better communication, but the infrastructure of whiteboards, phone calls and pens and papers at nurseries and other childcare settings make reporting back to parents quite time consuming,” says entrepreneur Branislav Dragojlovic, the man behind cloud-based platform Kidsy. “Plus, parents are often tired and in a rush at collection time, so those catch-ups often keep getting postponed. Whether you look at it from the carer or parent point of view, they’re just two sides of the same coin. We want to erase these problems altogether.” Kidsy takes the existing communication needs and simplifies them, while also adding some clever add-on benefits. “In20 | Issue 84 | January 2016

stead of printing a form and filling it out, you just take a note in the app. Instead of charging a camera to take a photo, grab a snap with the phone, upload immediately and tag the relevant parent,” Dragojlovic explains. “The platform also uses planned activities and geo-location to sync to your calendar and give recommendations. If your kid has a day out with nursery, Kidsy checks the weather forecast and prompts you to pack the right clothes. If your child is sick, you can report it with one click – and if Kidsy sees a pattern, the nursery will be alerted that parents need to be notified of what’s going around.” It is early days still, but Kidsy has already won numerous awards and ac-

For more information, please visit: kidsy.eu

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | ENAMEL Copenhagen

Adding a splash of colour to your day Traditionally, Danish jewellery has kept itself to a greyscale, maintaining a strong connection with the rawness of the natural product. Marie Rantzau has continued this tradition, but she has added a splash of something a bit more colourful. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: ENAMEL Copenhagen

After a joint venture with a friend selling beads and other jewellery supplies, Marie Rantzau found herself creating her own collection of jewellery and ultimately establishing ENAMEL Copenhagen in 2012. “I just had beads and jewellery stuck in my head, and I needed to do something about it!” Rantzau says. “I wanted to create something that was simple and minimalistic, but also something that was a bit more colourful.” The enamel, used as a main component in all her designs, helps her achieve this effect. It is turned into various colours, making the simple and clean shapes of her rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces stand out. “I don’t actually wear a lot of jewellery, but when I do it’s the simple yet striking

shapes I’m drawn to. I always try to use a ‘less is more’ approach in the design, creating clean and simple lines and using the enamel for a splash of colour. It’s a challenging process and although it looks simple, it really isn’t,” Rantzau says with a smile.

Timeless statement pieces Rantzau is modest and unpretentious. She has seen a great deal of success in the past couple of years, but it was never set in stone that this was what she was meant to do. “I never knew what job I was going to do, but I’ve always been creative and full of ideas. I’ve completely fallen in love with the jewellery world. I’m always looking at what jewellery people are wearing and I adore the creativity that comes with trying to create new pieces,” she explains.

Rantzau’s jewellery speaks for itself. What she has produced at ENAMEL are timeless classics. She designs pieces that will make you subtly stand out from the crowd and which will perfectly complete any outfit. “I want the pieces to be accessible for everyone, both price and design-wise. They can be worn daily or be brought out for a special occasion,” says the designer. Her work can be found with over 190 leading design and jewellery retailers across Europe, demonstrating the success of Rantzau’s enthusiasm and drive and her enthralling and remarkable jewellery. There is something unexpectedly fun and different about her designs that makes these statement pieces nothing short of extraordinary.

For more information, please visit: www.enamel.dk

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 21

Finding tranquillity in chaos Sara Camre wanted to create an environment that was calming and comforting for her children. However, she soon realised that the products on the market would not satisfy this need, and so she sat down and started to sew. Starting with herself, then friends, then friends of friends, the popularity grew and she has since created Cam Cam, a company dedicated to soft and sophisticated furnishings and décor for children.

with new products being launched very soon. Cam Cam sells everything from duvet covers and pyjamas to hot air balloon lamps and bags. The emphasis is on young children, from newborns up to eight-year-olds, and the interior of their rooms.

By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Cam Cam

“I believe that our environment and our surroundings have a huge impact on how we feel and behave,” Camre explains. She worked as an architect before setting up Cam Cam with her husband, and is therefore accustomed to thinking about how our surroundings affect us. As such, it was enormously important to her to be able to create a space for her and her newborn child where they could relax and unwind, contrasting heavily to the otherwise extremely stimulating world of children’s toys and design.

Road to success The designs she created for herself became very popular with others, and she 22 | Issue 84 | January 2016

realised that she had found a niche in the market. “I wanted to create something that was timeless, rather than something that followed the trends or copied others,” she explains. It was a tough start as she was creating and making products while still working as an architect, but in August 2013 it all kicked off. “It was a steep learning curve, having to change fields – the design bit was the only thing I could do from the get-go, the rest I had to learn,” she says. However, only two and a half years later, Cam Cam now has 28 different product groups, each consisting of multiple products. And the portfolio is only expanding,

“It’s important that it all fits together. What we’ve tried to create is a wellthought-out concept, rather than just lots of little products. Everything works well together,” Camre explains. “We want products that embed a timeless and poetic expression, which helps to create the calming environment we are looking to achieve.”

Production and inspiration Cam Cam is a GOTS-certified company and their organic products come from producers in India and Turkey and have been verified to have very high standards, both when it comes to the end product and the human angle during production. “We wanted to make sure

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Cam Cam

that the people who produce our goods are being paid well and working in as good an environment as we could provide for them,” Camre explains. All of Cam Cam’s products are produced from cotton, rather than artificial textiles. It is clear from talking to Camre that she is very much inspired by her background as an architect, and that this experience has had a huge impact on her work. It is also apparent that there is not one definitive thing that inspires her, but instead a myriad of possibilities. “French design is something which has always inspired me, and one of the colours we use is actually derived from traditional French window shutters. However, I am also very passionate about Japanese design and architecture since I went on a field trip to Japan in 2008. Many of our textile designs are of Japanese origin.” Wherever the inspiration may come from, the end products are always beautiful, timeless and sophisticated. They all have a distinct calmness about them and use soft tones, which will inevitably create a relaxing and comforting environment.

Camre did not want bright and bold colours, because, as she puts it, “most things for children are really bright and stimulating, which is of course great as it engages them, however it’s not quite as brilliant when you want to get them to fall asleep or simply relax.”

Here to stay Since 2013, Cam Cam has gone from strength to strength and grown immensely. Its success has spread globally and the products are now available in 175 retailers in 16 countries across Europe, the US and Australia. “It’s unbelievable how much we’ve grown in the last couple of years. We’ve had a growth of 600 per cent just in 2015!” Camre’s passion for her products is imminent. She has created something not found anywhere else on the market, and something that is not just for the child to enjoy, but also the parent. Most importantly, the products are of a very high standard, will last and are practical and functional, while maintaining a tranquillity in their design that is rarely seen in this particular market.

For more information, please visit: www.camcam.dk

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 23

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Lily and Rose

Shining bright like a diamond New and upcoming jewellery brand Lily and Rose offers vintage-inspired, romantic Swarovski crystal gems for every occasion – made with a love of fashion, style and grace. By Malin Norman | Photos: Suzanne Elvi Emanuelsson

With a background in fashion design, Therese Zetterberg has created a successful concept with her two complementing brands. Under Zetterberg Couture, she has been designing exclusive couture and ready-to-wear clothes as well as bridal collections for nine years. Lily and Rose is the accompanying brand for standalone

or matching jewellery, started just over two years ago and already a big hit. “It was a natural next step to introduce jewellery to match the line of dresses, and Lily and Rose was up and running fairly quickly as I have worked with fashion production for so long. With an established network of contacts, I could easily find the right partners to help me create the best possible product,” Zetterberg explains.

Luxury for everyone With Lily and Rose, she has introduced a mix of craftsmanship quality and fashionable designs at an affordable price. 24 | Issue 84 | January 2016

The stylish collections include brass, silver and gold-plated rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and hair accessories, made with Swarovski crystals in a subtle Scandinavian colour palette and presented in luxurious packaging. The brand also includes a bridal collection with more standout, glamorous pieces such as crowns, hair combs, hairbands and other hair accessories. The design style falls somewhere between romantic feminine and elegant chic, but with a playful and flirty twist suitable for a broad range of customers. Zetterberg has found a special niche, as there is currently no other brand on the market offering these types of antique-inspired designs at the same price level. “It’s a bit of luxury in everyday life or for special occasions,” she says. “The designs are inspired by exclusive couture and they look and feel

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Lily and Rose

expensive, but everyone can afford to buy Lily and Rose jewellery.”

Sex and the City Zetterberg’s sparkly designs are inspired by what she finds beautiful, similar to the inspirations for her line of couture dresses: mainly fashion and architecture, and a mix of vintage and crown jewels from the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. Imagine the glamorous characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby or the elegant aristocrat family in British period drama Downton Abbey, with a trendy modern-day New York City backdrop. The name of the brand actually comes from the TV series Sex and the City, which is based on a book by Candace Bushnell about the lives of four fashionable women living in New York City. One of the main characters is wealthy Charlotte York Goldenblatt, who names her two daughters Lily and Rose. Other characters in the show also have pieces of jewellery named after them.

“Lily and Rose is a tribute to the best TV series ever made,” says Zetterberg. “I was 17 years old when Sex and the City started and it was my biggest source of inspiration at the time. For two or three years I was a Carrie Bradshaw lookalike every weekend, quite the success in my small town! Later on, the more current Zetterberg style came about.”

Beauty in a box Many celebrities wear Lily and Rose designs and Zetterberg Couture, including singers Petra Marklund and Charlotte Perrelli, artist Carolina Gynning and editor-in-chief and writer Martina Bonnier. Zetterberg has also designed couture for Princess Sofia, clothes for the Eurovision Song Contest and Swedish TV series Solsidan, where Zetterberg Couture is the main sponsor of fashion conscious character Mikaela ‘Mickan’ Schiller’s stylish wardrobe. So far, the Lily and Rose all-time bestseller is Sofia Silk, a pair of romantic

and elegant brass and crystal earrings, while other popular gems include Miss Miranda, Beatrice and Emmylou to name a few. Zetterberg’s own personal favourites are the Leona earrings. New this spring in the ever-growing range is another collection of hair accessories including decorations, hairbands, combs and crowns, as well as pearls in subtle pastel colours. Lily and Rose jewellery is available at department stores Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) and Åhléns. Zetterberg will also bring her dresses and gems to the fashion trade show Scoop International, which takes place during fashion week in London on 21-23 February.

For more information, please visit: www.lilyandrose.se and www.zetterbergcouture.se Also follow on Instagram @lilyandrosebyzetterberg

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 25

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Garment Project

The Scandinavian look

By Sara Asoka Paulsen | Photos: Garment Project

With a pair of shoes from Danish brand Garment Project, you can easily obtain the chic yet relaxed look that is so distinctly Scandinavian. The brand mostly designs sneakers but, with time, both classic shoes such as the Chelsea boot and accessories will acquire more space. Moreover, a whole new line of bags will be presented in 2016.

Take for instance the Off Court sneaker in off-white suede, the marble-coloured sole of 2015, or the Wmns Classic Lace in baby blue with patent toe caps. “We mix different materials to obtain a livelier expression in the shoe, but generally we go for the clean look to make shoe designs that last,” says founder Kent Rau Madsen. At the Garment Project the focus is on providing a pallet of both suede sneakers with rubber soles and leather shoes for leisure as well as business use. The colourways in white, black, grey and blue

nuances, with silver and burgundy also represented, are very much inspired by Scandinavian nature. The materials are carefully chosen to secure both comfort and style. “We aim to make a great-quality product and sell it for a reasonable price. It is important for us that people get value for their money,” Madsen says. “The Garment Project is a brand for both the young and hip and adults with a classic taste, as the design is truly Scandinavian.” The Garment Project is in a rapid international development phase and has

already achieved successful collaborations with brands such as the British sneaker boutique, Offspring. The shoes are designed in Denmark and produced using the finest materials in Portugal. They can be bought in shops from Norway to Japan and online. Next month a Danish flagship store will open on Gl. Kongevej 147 in Copenhagen. For more information, please visit: www.garmentproject.com

Photo: Kristin Smestad. Illustrations: Sandra Steffensen

NAMSSKOGAN FAMILIEPARK:

Contributes to the conservation of the arctic fox The arctic fox is the most endangered mammal in Scandinavia. An estimate for Norway is a population of 120 - 150 individuals, and the government is allocating many resources for the conservation of the species. Namsskogan Familiepark is located right beside the E6 – just between Trondheim and Mo i Rana. The park is the biggest in Norway when it comes to Nordic wild animals with approximately 30 different species. Namsskogan Familiepark also houses one of Norway’s three governmental predator centers with particular focus on bears, lynx, wolverines and wolves. A definite highlight is meeting the endangered arctic fox! Namsskogan Familiepark is placed at the foot of Børgefjell National Park, the second oldest national park in Norway. When research scientists were capturing wild animals for the Norwegian breeding program for the arctic fox, Børgefjell was one of the few areas that was still sufficiently populated by the species. Methods for breeding in captivity have been developed and on a yearly basis 40 – 60 fox cubs are being released into the Norwegian mountains from the breeding station in Oppdal. The breeding work contributes to re-establish and strengthen populations, and is an important measure against inbreeding, but also increases genetic exchange.

Namsskogan Familiepark help to fund NINA – Norwegian Institute for Nature Research – and their work for further conservation, along with spreading knowledge about the arctic fox to everyone, old and young. Visitors to the park can join the animal keepers into the fox pen where they can feed and study the trusting creature up close. Children get reminded about the conservation in the magical play shown at the park every Summer. Here reigns Rebella herself – the rock and roll witch from Børgefjell – paired up with her best friend, the gracious Mikkelita Arctic Fox. Namsskogan Familiepark is one of Trøndelag’s most important tourist attractions. Many will want to stay overnight in the park and maybe wake up from the wolves howling. Others have experienced the largest bear in Norway, Odin, standing outside your door and wanting to wish you a good morning. Interactions with animals will give you unforgettable memories. A engagement M I L –I and E conservation. P A R K Education is key – alongFwith

www.familieparken.no

Scan Magazine | Cover F eature | Ace Wilder

Next month, Ace Wilder returns to SVTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Melodifestivalen stage with her song Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Worry. Photos: SVT/Janne Danielsson

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Ace Wilder

Ace Wilder

Busy bein’ different When Ace Wilder tripped on the finishing line during Melodifestivalen in 2014, it was in a haze of fear and relief that it was over. Ahead of her return to the big SVT stage, Scan Magazine spoke to the singer about fitting in in Sweden, using an alter ego, and the coincidences that have brought her to where she is today. By Linnea Dunne

“It was a real culture clash when we moved back to Sweden,” says Alice Gernandt, better known as Ace Wilder. “My mother was like, ‘you’re going to school here now, so we need to buy you some new clothes – it’s not okay to be different in Sweden’. She just wanted me to make friends and not stick out too much, but I actually think she was spot on. It was funny, because I obviously wouldn’t just adapt like that,” she laughs. “I was all, ‘if everyone’s wearing black, I’m wearing purple’.” Having spent the majority of her childhood in Miami Beach in Florida, Wilder learnt early on to be independent and disciplined. “Miami Beach back then wasn’t what it is today – it was a melting pot full of different people from different backgrounds, all cultures in one place. One of my best friends’ dad, for example, was doing time for some big cocaine scandal,” she says. “In that kind of environment you learn quickly to figure out what you’re good at. You need to be disciplined, because there’s no other way.” At 17, Wilder and her family returned to Sweden, barely speaking Swedish at all. Everything was new and different. But she had herself and her determination, and before she turned 20 she was in a band with two others and had a publishing deal. “We were going to conquer the world!” Wilder laughs. “And it didn’t, well, go to plan.” Such was the coincidence, dubbed a ‘mistake’ by the singer

herself, that led to Wilder penning no less than three top-ten hits in Germany. “My publisher suggested that I’d try writing for others, and they had contacts in Germany so I just went for it. It went really well, which was completely just a fluke but really brilliant.”

An alter ego is born Fast-forward to 2014 and Gernandt’s alter ego, Ace Wilder, was born as she took to SVT’s Melodifestivalen stage and, with 43,702 viewer votes, went straight through to the Swedish final. Again, this was somewhat of a coincidence if you ask the singer. “I didn’t watch Mello; no one I knew watched Mello – it didn’t exist in my universe. But then I wrote this song and my publisher swore I wouldn’t make it through as a performer,” she explains. So when she did, it was an unprepared and slightly shocked songwriter who received the news, and one who had, on top of that, just split up with her boyfriend. “If it wasn’t for the fact that I’d just gone through that break-up, I don’t know what I’d done,” she says. “But I was totally devastated, and I think I had a bit of that feeling of everything in life happening for a reason, so I just went for it. I had one goal: not to make a complete show of myself in front of three million viewers.” The idea of an alter ego, she explains, was a tool to allow her to be more and dare more, like stepping into a character that was allowed to take up more space. “I’ve always been a bit shy and reserved,

so I find it’s easier when I’m on stage to sort of be bigger if I think of it as not being Alice,” she says. “Ace dares to do things Alice perhaps wouldn’t… not that I’m walking around thinking ‘what would Ace do?’ or anything, but yeah, I think it helps. Plus, I just thought my name was so boring.” And her alter ego took up space indeed, in the charts as well as in the hearts of Swedish music fans. In terms of the Melodifestivalen final, she tripped on the finishing line as she came second with her song Busy Doin’ Nothin’ despite winning the jury vote, just two measly points behind winner Sanna Nielsen. But the overwhelming feeling, she insists, was relief that it was all over. “I just wasn’t prepared at all, and the whole circus of everything was so overwhelming. I went into hiding for the whole week before it started and was just shocked at the thought of being interviewed. Then I did well, and even though I’m extremely happy that it did happen and I got the chance to do it, I just remember being really scared all the time.” Wilder finds the idea of competing in music awkward at best. “The competition is pure hell! You’re sitting there in front of everyone as you’re given scores – it’s the worst thing that’s happened to me, ever,” she says. “Music is all taste, so competing in music is a bit odd – but I think everyone who gets up on that stage is totally awesome. The experience made Issue 84 | January 2016 | 29

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Ace Wilder

Photo: Daniel Stigefelt

me stronger, but I was really glad when it was over.”

Busy Doin’ Nothin’ went to number one in the Swedish singles chart and was certified three-times platinum but, as a result of the whole thing coming as somewhat of a surprise, Wilder faced a situation where she had to go on tour but did not have enough material. “I had no songs and I needed at least 40, so I wrote a bunch of tunes but it all felt quite thrown together,” says the singer. A muchneeded hiatus followed, during which she got the chance to, as she puts it, find herself and figure out who she was and what she wanted to be about. “I guess I should have done that before Mello in 2014, but we were always two steps behind then. This time, I’m going to be a step ahead.”

A mature comeback Wilder is referring to Melodifestivalen 2016, which will see her return to the

stage during the semi-final in Gothenburg on 6 February with the song Don’t Worry. And this time she knows what to expect and will not need to be scared. What the audience can expect is more of the up-tempo pop music she first became known for, but this time with an element of what she calls maturity. “I’m reluctant to refer to myself as a ‘mature woman’, but last time everyone kept saying to me that I was so young and everything and, you know, I’m not. I had a meeting with my agent the other day and very much just said that I need to show that I’m an adult and I have sex,” she laughs. “Seriously though, people kept thinking I was 17, but I’m 31 and I want to be 31 and talk about things you do when you’re 31.”

that makes a difference, something to be proud of. “I’d like to work with fashion and design as well, because I love that, but I can’t just work with the superficial all the time,” she explains. “I had a moment just before Christmas when I just felt like, you know what, I don’t want to think about presents, I don’t want any presents – it all just feels wrong. I did some songwriting and dancing workshops before, and you really get something back from that kind of work. It might be selfish, but doing things for others makes you feel really, really good.”

Whatever Melodifestivalen 2016 brings, Wilder’s biggest hope is to get to focus on music wholeheartedly and release music she loves, free from restrictions. But alongside this dream sits an urge to give something back and do something Photo: Jeremias Mielonen.

30 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Scan Magazine | Conference Feature | Solåsen Pilegrimsgård

A conference venue too good to share Sometimes the best places are those that hardly anyone knows about, those which you come across by chance or because a good friend confides in you, trusting you will keep it a secret. Solåsen Pilegrimsgård is exactly that: an events venue completely out of the ordinary, where the focus lies in finding inner peace and quiet in picturesque surroundings.

are only 45 minutes from Oslo, and even closer to the international airport, Rygge. However, while we are indeed ideally located in terms of travel, you would never think that coming here,” Holmås says.

By Helene Toftner | Photos: Ingeborg Thorsland

Words do not do the scenery justice, but it is perfectly understandable why this became part of the traditional pilgrimage to Nidaros, today’s Trondheim in central Norway. While the traditional pilgrims would often walk for weeks, if not months, to a holy place to seek redemption, the modern guest finds calmness in a rather more comfortable manner. “Our guests can take part in meditation sessions or prayers in the chapel, combined with walks in the surrounding forests,” says Holmås.

Solåsen Pilegrimsgård translates to Solåsen Pilgrimage Farm. This in itself alludes to the fact that this is much more than your bog standard conference centre. At its inception 17 years ago, it was an exclusively religious venue mainly

used by Christian organisations, priests and the like. Today, however, the centre greets a wider audience for conferences and social gatherings in exceptional settings inspired by a traditional farmyard. “We have had guests saying it’s so good they don’t want others to know about it,” Jorunn K. Holmås laughs. Together with her husband, Holmås runs Solåsen Pilegrimsgård, a place popular for events, meetings and conferences as well as family gatherings such as weddings and birthdays. Located on a hill in Son, it overlooks the entire Oslofjord. “We

For more information, please visit: www.pilegrimsgard.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 31

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Aymara Cocina Latina

Kim Daniel Mikalsen can be seen on Norwegian TV2 from the end of January, as he competes for the first prize in Top Chef.

Oslo’s top chef cooking up the works Having cooked up the works at some of Norway’s hottest restaurants, many of them adorned with Michelin stars and various other accolades, it was no great surprise that Kim Daniel Mikalsen would one day play part in the start-up of a highly successful restaurant. Now the head chef and co-owner at Aymara Cocina Latina is in for a new challenge in the first ever season of TV series Top Chef Norway. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Aymara Cocina Latina

“I’m a chef because I believe cooking is the coolest, most fun thing in the world,” says the chef, who is just as enthusiastic as he is outspoken about everything culinary. He is not fond of silence, and prefers lengthier depictions of his profession – without ever becoming boring. In fact, Mikalsen’s explanations of what constitutes a great meal will have you wondering why you never thought of the topic in such detail before. “Much is about texture – merging soft with crunchy, sleek with rough,” he says. 32 | Issue 84 | January 2016

“There’s a reason why chips and salsa is a hit with nearly everyone you ask. Nobody likes what I refer to as ‘restaurant baby food’: puréed components that add nothing to the plate besides mass. I like working with all senses when composing meals.”

From Peruvian streets to Oslo It was after an inspirational trip to Latin America that Mikalsen co-founded Aymara in Oslo. Owner and colleague Rodrigo Belda, Norwegian-Chilean

and noted restaurateur, seems like Mikalsen’s perfect business match. “Kim is very good at working with aspects of cooking that many forget – for instance that of the balance between tastes and textures, and remaining inventive in the kitchen,” he says. Mikalsen explains that it was because of Belda’s suggestion that the two visited Latin America, where he discovered a passion for a new cuisine. “I was completely taken aback by what the Latin world had to offer. We went to Peru to explore the culinary scene there – on a Michelin level as well as street food level – and I believe Aymara is the fruit of that trip in the most wholehearted way. Our dishes are not based on one ‘level’ of dining alone, but mix the best of urban, street-food type trends with the more established traditions. It’s a restaurant we’re proud to call ours,” he explains.

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Aymara Cocina Latina

Above: Ceviche Miraflores, the only item on Aymara’s menu that is never changed or replaced. Top right: Banana and honey cake with banana-crema agria sorbet and salted caramel. Below: Another dessert. Bottom right: Tiradito of halibut, kimchi, mango, purée of avocado, pomegranate and cucumber.

From night-time baker to prized chef Having started his training early (Mikalsen – the son of a chef – worked as a night-time baker as a teenager, before starting culinary school), the enthusiastic 34-year-old chef has quite an impressive résumé. Palace Grill and Oro Restaurant By Terje Ness (winner of Bocuse d’Or in 1999) are examples of the Norwegian restaurants listed, while additional sojourns outside Norway have provided more invaluable experience. Examples are Restaurang Viktor in Sweden’s Umeå, which has been crowned Best Swedish Restaurant north of Stockholm on several occasions, as well as a pit stop at Italy’s AntePrima Showroom & Cooking. “Back in Norway, it soon became obvious to me that my calling was to partake in something different and completely new to me,” explains Mikalsen. “That’s when I discovered Latin American cooking and opened Ayma-

ra together with Rodrigo. The restaurant has been open for little more than a year, and the success we’ve enjoyed has been like a fairy tale.”

Culinary excellence on new platforms With a proven track record of culinary curiosity and excellence, it may not come as a surprise that Mikalsen will soon be seen on a brand new platform. As a participant in Norway’s first season of the TV show Top Chef – the search for Norway’s very best chef – Mikalsen faces a slightly more competitive version of the culinary world he loves. “I’m very excited to have been asked to participate. It will be a whole new kind of challenge, and I’m ready to take it on,” he says. The show will air on Norwegian TV2 this spring, giving viewers more reasons to stop by Aymara when in Oslo.

Top Chef airs on Norwegian TV2 starting at the end of January.

For more information, please visit: aymara.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 33

Scan Magazine | A Nordic 2016 Culture Calendar | Denmark

The first thing that meets the eye when approaching Musikhuset Aarhus is the impressive 2,000-square-metre glass foyer.

A Nordic 2016 Culture Calendar

‘We don’t just want to be the biggest – we want to be the best’ As the largest concert hall complex of its kind in Scandinavia, it is not surprising that Musikhuset Aarhus has a great deal to offer. But quantity is not what defines the continuously developing concert hall – it is rather a desire to be the best in the eyes of those who matter the most: the audience. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Musikhuset

Within the last year, more than 500,000 guests visited Musikhuset Aarhus (the Concert Hall Aarhus) making it one of the most-visited cultural institutions in the region. What is more, according to a recent user survey, is that a total of 96 per cent of visitors left the house happy with their experience (only 0.5 per cent were actually unhappy). The broad popularity can, to a large extent, be attributed to the fact that the house has the facilities and expertise to present an extraordinarily diverse range of genres in optimal settings. From ballet performances to rock concerts and musicals 34 | Issue 84 | January 2016

for all ages – if there is music and quality in it, there is a stage for it at Musikhu set Aarhus. “What makes us stand out is not just our size. We present both talent and international stars when we host our more than 1,200 events a year. And, equally important is the fact that our complex is the home of many significant institutions related to music. That makes us unique,” explains director Jan Christensen. “Another thing that’s important is that we are a music venue with a capital M. We are not a concert hall for classical music – which there are a lot of in the Nordic countries – but neither are we a culture house. Almost everything that takes place here is centred on music.” Among the resident institutions at Musikhuset Aarhus are the Royal Acad-

Scan Magazine | A Nordic 2016 Culture Calendar | Denmark

that the complex may simultaneously house a classical string quintet, an international rock concert and a modern dance performance. “Having designated halls for each genre is a unique feature for our house. It has been a part of our strategy, which throughout the years has turned out to be very successful,” says Christensen.

The Symphonic Hall was designed specifically for Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and symphonic music.

emy of Music in Aarhus, the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, the Danish National Opera, Comedy Zoo Aarhus and the children’s theatre Filuren.

From rock to ballet in one day Musikhuset Aarhus was founded as a classical concert hall in 1982. However, in 2007, with the opening of a 17,000-square-metre extension, the concert hall got the facilities to house a significantly wider range of musical performances. Today, the buildings comprise no less than 35,000 square metres, six concert halls and nine stages (one outdoor and one café stage). This means

Among the halls at Musikhuset Aarhus are the Symphonic Hall, accommodating an audience of 1,200, a Rhythmic Hall and a Chamber Music Room as well as a flexible great hall, which seats up to 1,600 guests. On top of that there is also a small hall for rhythmic concerts, meetings and film screenings and, finally, there is Filuren, the home of the resident children’s theatre as well as Comedy Zoo Aarhus. The house is accessed through an impressive 2,000-square-metre glass foyer, which comprises its own stage, the Café stage, as well as the box office and the restaurant johan r.

A year of culture In 2017, Aarhus becomes the European Capital of Culture. To celebrate, Musikhuset Aarhus is putting together its most ambitious programme so far. Among the performances will be a reinterpretation of three of the most popular films of renowned Danish director, Susanne Bier. One will be performed through dance, one as musical theatre and one as an opera. “The theme for 2017 is ‘rethink’, and I think this project

fits that bill perfectly. We will take three very popular films and recreate them in the genres which our house represents,” says Christensen, adding: “2017 is an important milestone. But it doesn’t stop there. In order to keep attracting people, we have to do our utmost. We don’t just want to be the biggest concert hall complex of the north – we also want to be the best.” The best of 2016 at Musikhuset Aarhus: Shu-bi-dua – the Musical: 5-22 May Dirch, musical comedy: 19-23 October Nemanja Radulovic, international violinist: 2 May 7.30pm Patricia Petibon, French soprano: 13 May 7.30pm

Dickow/Brandt, concert with singer/ songwriters Steffen Brandt and Tina Dickow: 8-9 March Mads Langer, pop concert: 21 April 8pm Jimmy Carr, English stand-up comedian: 13 March 8pm

Skammerens Datter, musical theatre: 23 April 3pm and 7.30pm Wintergarten from Berlin, rock varieté show: 9 April 8pm

For more information, please visit: www.musikhusetaarhus.dk

Among Musikhuset Aarhus’ six concert halls is the Great Hall, which seats up to 1,600 guests.

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 35

Scan Magazine | A Nordic 2016 Culture Calendar | Denmark

The cosiest festival in Denmark Music, sun, beach and water. Those are the words to describe the festival of Samsø. For four days in July the little island located in Kattegat transforms itself into what the organisers believe is the cosiest festival in Denmark. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Samsø Festival

It was back in 1989 that a group of Samsø inhabitants decided to see if the island was ready to arrange a music festival.

The founders all enjoyed going to other festivals in Denmark, so they felt it was time for their island to have its own. They wanted to create a festival that was both welcoming and relaxing for its visitors, but most of all it had to be cosy. Just one year after their first meeting, the festival was ready for its opening, and 26 years later the same values still make up the very foundation of the festival. Two of the founders are even still on the committee. “We are a small festival where everything is nearby. The camping area is only a

36 | Issue 84 | January 2016

three-minute walk from the main stage, so you don’t waste a lot of time walking from one end of the festival area to another,” says Thomas Jakobsen, PR manager for Samsø Festival. “The short distances are particularly beneficial when you consider that some of Denmark’s best beaches are right next to the festival area. If the weather is good, guests can spend the morning on the beach and then go straight to the concerts in the afternoon.”

Supporting Danish musicians and the local community This year, Samsø festival will take place on 20-23 July, and just like last year the organisers expect all 6,000 tickets to go fast. With an audience of all ages, one of the biggest tasks is to find something

Scan Magazine | A Nordic 2016 Culture Calendar | Denmark

for everyone. In recent years huge Danish artists such as Michael Learns to Rock, Nik & Jay, Sort Sol, Medina and Rasmus Seebach have all played at Samsø. This year’s programme is still being prepared, but a few artists have already been announced and the audience can yet again expect to see some of the best and most well-known acts Denmark has to offer. “The last couple of years we’ve had exclusively Danish artists here, because we believe the Danish music market is very strong at the moment and this is our way to support Danish musicians. This year we have already made deals with Saybia, Duné, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy,

Kato, ukendt kunstner and Shaka Loveless,” says Jakobsen.

able to give 16 different associations a cheque.

Samsø festival has three stages in total, one of which is a so-called ‘talent stage’. Every year the festival receives up to 30 demo tapes from young, aspiring bands of which about ten get a chance to perform and possibly win the right to perform on one of the main stages, as well as some financial help to record an album.

“The last two years we have had a profit of 400,000 Danish kroner, and it is so enjoyable to be able to give that money to all these different kinds of associations here on the island,” says Jakobsen.

In addition to supporting Danish musicians, the festival also supports the local community. The profit of the festival is donated to local associations on the island, and last year Samsø Festival was

A luxurious experience Last year, the organisers decided to give the many bars in the festival area a makeover. It gave the entire festival a boost, so this year they are planning to create a luxury bar, where you can drink a first-rate glass of Champagne while enjoying the concert. “We want to create a different kind of concert experience for our guests. The bar will be in the festival area, but it will be placed a bit higher up and more exclusive with wine and Champagne,” explains Jakobsen. “We have guests of all age groups coming to the festival, so this is an attempt from our side to try to make something for those who would like a more extravagant experience.” For more information, please visit: www.samfest.dk or facebook.com/samso.festival

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 37

Scan Magazine | A Nordic 2016 Culture Calendar | Denmark / Finland

Danish history on a silver platter Georg Jensen is perhaps the most well-established design house in a long row of Danish designers. The silversmith, who set up the global company, started out in a humble little workshop in Copenhagen in 1904 and saw his wares become craved across the world over the following decades. To celebrate his 150th birthday, one of Denmark’s best-loved castles, Koldinghus, is hosting the world’s largest ever exhibition of Georg Jensen silverware. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Koldinghus

Koldinghus has had a long and dramatic history. Built in 1268 on the strategically important border between Denmark and Schleswig, now part of Denmark, Koldinghus has been the seat of monarchs and the backdrop to important international events, most famously as the makeshift home to a troop of freezing Spanish soldiers during the Napoleonic wars. In 1808, a massive fire broke out, ruining most of the old castle. It took the people of Kolding town most of two centuries to painstakingly rebuild the castle, but today, Koldinghus stands once again in a beautiful union between the old and the new. Koldinghus’ Georg Jensen: An Adventure in Silver exhibition features more

than 800 pieces of jewellery and silverware from 1904 to today. The ancient setting amplifies the sense of history evident in the Georg Jensen collection itself. The pieces provide a fascinating glimpse into Danish design through the ages, from Jensen’s own early, floral Art Deco pieces to mid-century experimentation with the clean lines, elegant curves and practicality that inspired Danish functionalism. In classic Georg Jensen spirit, individual designers are allowed to shine through, showing interesting contrasts and gradual developments from one epoch to another, with famous pieces such as Henning Koppel’s light, fluid ‘pregnant duck’ jug, juxtaposed with his contemporary Søren Georg Jensen’s masculine,

A walk of life – through music

angular post-war pieces. The jewellery section shows a parallel evolution from Victorian times to today in this unusually well-polished exhibition, which runs until 28 February. For more information, please visit: www.koldinghus.dk

By Linnea Dunne Photos: Korsholm Music Festival/Svenna Martens

Korsholm Music Festival in the Vaasa region of Finland takes its audience on a real journey on the theme ‘Walk of Life’.

“The thought behind the 2016 theme is twofold, referring not only to the journey the showcased composers have been on, but also the journey through the life of mankind,” says Monica Johnson, managing director of the festival. The geographical focal point will be Vienna, where the human soul has always been significant within both science and art. Mozart, who spent most of his childhood on the road, will have a big presence in the chamber music festival programme, as will later composers Schubert and Mahler, who wrote some of 38 | Issue 84 | January 2016

the most famous song cycles on the theme ‘walking through life’. Founded in 1983, Korsholm Music Festival boasts nine days of 30 concerts in venues spread out across the Vaasa region, including countryside wooden churches, the Vaasa town hall and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kvarken Archipelago. After last year’s celebration of Sibelius, the 2016 festival will put the spotlight on significant neo-classicist composer Einar Englund, whose 100-year jubilee will be marked by numerous concerts. There will also be performances by the Aron String Quartet from Vienna and jazz legends such as Iiro Rantala, Ulf Wakenius and Viktoria Tolstoy among others. “Our opening concert in the Trinity Church will be a real highlight this year, featuring the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, soloist Jonathan Roozeman on cello, and the fantastic conductor Sakari Oramo,” says Johnson. “Oramo is such a

special treat for the audience. Not many conductors manage to make the orchestra smile as they’re conducting, but he does!”

Korsholm Church, main concert venue.

FACTS: Korsholm Music Festival will take place 27 July to 4 August. Artistic director since 2013: concert pianist Henri Sigfridsson. Shuttle bus to concerts outside the town of Vaasa. Direct flights to Vaasa run from Stockholm and Helsinki, both taking approximately one hour.

For more information, please visit: www.korsholmmusicfestival.fi

Scan Magazine | 2016 Culture Calendar | Finland

Crazy natural challenge Looking for a new opportunity to really challenge yourself? How about biking around a lake, rowing a traditional church boat, running in a colourful forest and skiing through a naturally beautiful landscape, all in one year? Pirkan kierros, one of the oldest and biggest sporting events in Finland, offers all of these breathtaking experiences and more. By By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Pirkan kierros

Pirkan kierros – or Tour de Pirkka – is not for the weak. It requires both versatility and endurance. But every year, 10,000 people find pleasure in the pain. “At Tour de Pirkka, you can test your limits,” says Outi Kartano from the Pirkan kierros organisation. “You are much more motivated to go jogging every day when you have a clear goal.” Start your own Tour de Pirkka year in March with 90 kilometres of crosscountry skiing. The legendary trail in the forest has its ups and downs. In June it is time for cycling. Tampere, the largest inland city in the Nordic countries, is

situated by two large lakes, and Pirkka Cycling takes you around one of them. But Lake Näsijärvi is no small pond: the route around it means 134 kilometres of pedalling. July is all about rowing, a total of 35 kilometres across Lake Pyhäjärvi. But no need to worry about a boat; just reserve a seat in a traditional boat, used for church trips in the old days. The last part of Tour de Pirkka, jogging, is the polar opposite of a city marathon. Instead, you will run 33 kilometres in the lap of nature, the October au-

tumn colours adding to the enjoyment of the race.

Crazy Finns “These are long distances, and Pirkan kierros is definitely not everybody’s cup of tea. But with training anybody can do it,” Kartano insists. Each year, some 300 people complete all four races and get the prestigious Pirkankiertäjä title. 15 men have actually completed the Tour de Pirkka 37 times; some of the oldest iron men are already in their eighties and still going strong. “Arrangements at the Pirkan kierros events are always top-notch,” says Kartano. “Everybody involved with the event shares the same passion. Us Finns really are a bit crazy – and proud of it!” For more information, please visit: www.pirkankierros.fi

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 39

Scan Magazine | 2016 Culture Calendar | Finland

Treat yourself with art

By Taina Värri

In the spring and summer of 2016, the Tampere Region Festivals will yet again provide treats for art lovers, film freaks, culture vultures, passionate souls and occasional tourists. Here is a little sneak peek at some of the highlights.

Short is sweet Tampere Film Festival has gathered local audiences and film enthusiasts from around the world since 1970. The festival showcases the best short films from Finland and around the world, which means up to 480 films from 40 countries. The core of the Tampere Film Festival is the cluster of international and national competitions. Thematic special

programmes showcase old classics, new short films and feature-length documentaries and, between these, seminars, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions and club nights. Tampere Film Festival, 9-13 March 2016. www.tamperefilmfestival.fi

Photo: Tampere Film Festival

Tug at your heart strings

Stanley Jordan. Photo: Tampere Guitar Festival

The 12th Tampere Guitar Festival brings some of the finest international guitar stars on to the stage. Stanley Jordan (USA) has a habit of playing the electric guitar with his left hand while the right hand plays the Steinway grand piano. Genuine Argentinian Tango with guitar and bandoneon will come alive with Mirta Alvarez & Fabián Carbone (ARG).

Whistle while you work

Festival sing-along night. Photo: Pette Rissanen

The Workers’ Music Festival brings a cheerful festival crowd to the heart of Valkeakoski. The four-day event in July is well known for its great concerts, versatile programme and nostalgic singalong nights. The festival is organised by the non-profit Workers’ Music Festival Association and invites you to the unique

Art is all around you

Angela Hewitt performing in 2015. Photo: Mänttä Music Festival

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Mänttä Music Festival is one of Europe’s finest festivals, honoured with the EFFE Label 2015-2016. Being the only annual piano music festival in Finland, it hosts the brightest stars of the genre, including top pianist Boris Berman and the legendary Elisabeth Leonskaja. The main concert venue, Serlachius-museum Gösta, is well worth experiencing. The Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Sakari Oramo, opens the festival with rising talent Ossi

The highlights in classical music will be the concerts of lute player Hopkinson Smith (SUI) and guitar virtuoso Ricardo Gallén (ESP). All this, as well as interesting lectures and master classes, is included in one affordable weekend pass. 12th Tampere Guitar Festival, 4-12 June 2016. www.tgf.fi

encounter of past and present in the coexistence of new and old workers’ traditions. The programme also features popular Finnish artists.

Workers’ Music Festival, 28-31 July 2016 www.valmu.com

Tanner and the traditional Mänttä Club concert will be hosted by multi-skilled entertainer Iiro Rantala. XVIII Mänttä Music Festival, 3-7 August 2016. www.mantanmusiikkijuhlat.fi

For more information about festivals in the Tampere region, please visit: www.pirfest.fi

Scan Magazine | 2016 Culture Calendar | Iceland

Fine art for all In Iceland, the arts are for everyone, and at Gallerí Fold there is a work of art for everyone. Let the welcoming staff, who are all experts in Icelandic art, help you find the perfect piece to start or add to your collection. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Gallerí Fold

A leading figure on the Reykjavik art scene for over 20 years, Gallerí Fold serves as Iceland’s largest auction house and fine art gallery, showcasing the very best in Icelandic art, from old masters to up-and-coming contemporary artists. Located right in the city centre, the premises boasts five bright and spacious exhibition spaces where you are free to wander around and lose yourself in the work on display.

“What makes the arts particularly interesting in Iceland is their accessibility – everyone is welcome to enjoy and attend events, be it concerts or exhibition openings,” says Jóhann Ágúst Hansen, gallery manager. “The auctions we hold at Gallerí Fold are certainly not exclusively for the super-rich or seasoned art aficionados. The auction catalogue contains all the valuations of the work on sale, meaning you don’t have to be an expert to participate. It’s best to simply bid for something that intrigues you, something you find beautiful.” Auctions are held every month at the gallery during the winter and all year round online. Bidders compete for artwork and other exclusive items, such as silverware, antique books, ornaments, watches and jewellery.

In the new year, Gallerí Fold is looking forward to holding exhibitions of the popular Icelandic contemporary artists Pétur Gautur and Mýrmann (Víðir Ingólfur Þrastarson), as well as the Faroese painter Kári Sveinsson. “The culture scene in Iceland is really diverse, especially in the darkness of winter,” says Hansen. “Icelanders seek refuge in the arts when the days are short and the wind is howling.” For more information, please visit: www.myndlist.is

Scan Magazine | 2016 Culture Calendar | Iceland

A contemporary gallery with community spirit Listamenn Gallerí started out as a framing shop 15 years ago and has gradually evolved into one of Reykjavik’s most forward-thinking contemporary art galleries. Visitors will not only see the very latest in Icelandic art, but might also find themselves sipping coffee alongside the biggest names on the local art scene.

artists, and the gallery has become a place where they come to socialise – a bit like a community centre. They’ll often pop in for a cup of coffee and a little chat on their way to work.”

By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Pétur Thomsen

“At Listamenn Gallerí, we’re all about making art fun and interesting. You won’t find any snobbery here; anyone is welcome to stop by and see what’s going on in Icelandic art at the moment,” smiles Guðmundur Jónsson, the gallery’s owner. “Iceland may be an island of only 300,000 people, but Icelandic culture is incredibly dynamic. There are lots of young, talented artists producing some really fantastic work out there.” Listamenn Gallerí holds around eight exhibitions a year, mostly showcasing young Icelandic artists who are just starting to make a name for themselves. Such exhibitions often serve as the first 42 | Issue 84 | January 2016

step in their careers before they go on to have their work displayed in major museums. Winter exhibitions tend to focus on up-and-coming artists, while over the summer you are likely to see work depicting Iceland in all its splendour. This year kicks off with an exhibition of four photographers as part of the Icelandic Photography Festival to be held on 14-16 January. “We met so many artists back when we were just a framing shop, and eventually we decided to start inviting artists we admire to exhibit their work in our space,” explains Jónsson. “Over the years we’ve built such close relationships with those

If you like what you see on display, you can purchase the work directly in the gallery or order online via the website. The knowledgeable and friendly gallery staff are always ready to offer their advice and help you make a worthy investment. “High-quality Icelandic art is surprisingly inexpensive, which is why so many Icelanders have impressive art collections. You can buy work by the top artists for relatively little money,” says Jónsson. “Buying art always seems to put people in such a good mood. I definitely think it should be a fun experience.” For more information, please visit: listamenn.is

Scan Magazine | Feature | Scandinavian Festivals

Photo: Rodrigo Rivas Ruiz/Imagebank Sweden.

Photo: Henrik Trygg/Imagebank Sweden.

Scandinavian Festivals:

A mix of talent and celebration The word festival originates from the medieval Latin word ‘festivalis’, which derives from the Latin word ‘festum’, which means ‘feast’. In short, a festival is a place one can find an abundance of fun and merriment (and, yes, even food)! By Sara Paulsen

Seen from a Scandinavian historical perspective, a festival celebration revolved around either something religious or a royal figure. But festivals are not Christian events per se. Before Christianity conquered Scandinavia, the Nordic countries had their Viking gods such as Thor, Odin and Freja, and a big deal was made of celebrating the different seasons and wishing for a good harvest. Every May, an old farmer’s tradition comes to life in Sweden when the Summer Solstice, or Midsummer, is celebrated. Girls wearing traditional dress-

es and with flowers braided in their hair sing and dance around a leaf and flower-ornamented pole, traditionally with coloured bands attached to both the pole and the girls’ hands. People sing traditional songs and the whole event is very festive and family friendly indeed. The same of course goes for the Midsummer celebrations in Denmark, where traditionally big bonfires were lit near the coast all over the country and the Christian element of Saint Hans was eventually added. The medieval influences are still represented in the modern day cel-

ebration, whereby a witch-like scarecrow is set on fire. If that sounds scary to you, a tip is to watch the bonfires from the sea. From there, you will be amazed by the coastal fires lighting up all the whole country, with joyous Danes singing along to the traditional and new songs alike.

A patriotic party In Norway, 17 May is a significant and nationwide celebration. The Norwegian constitution was established on this day in Eidsvoll in 1814, and though it has been revised a couple of times since then, it is one of the oldest democratic constitutions in northern Europe and has played a crucial role in shaping modern Norway. There is a true sense of patriotism as Norwegian flags are seen all around during the national celebrations, where both young and old dress up in traIssue 84 | January 2016 | 43

Scan Magazine | Feature | Scandinavian Festivals

ditional national attire, especially in the capital of Oslo, which is worth visiting for a full-on experience of the celebrations. Parades with the Royal Family and guards are broadcasted on live television so that everybody can sing along and enjoy the fun. This day really brings the whole nation together and is a good way to experience a traditional festival that has its roots firmly planted in history.

A haven for enthusiasts But what exactly is a festival? The word covers many different event forms, but the newer definition finds its origin in Ancient Greece. There, celebrations were held over several days for the Greek God Dionysus with food stalls, dance and music, much like the festivals we have come to know and love today. Today, you can experience a ski marathon surrounded by snow and food stalls, go to a reading and buy signed copies of books, or hear everything from the softest popular music to the heaviest of metal riffs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all this under the umbrella of festivals. Every festival has its own identity in the form of traditions, regulars, music genres and more. The hosts and guests together create traditions at festivals. For a modern festival to really work, there has to be an element of a release and disconnection from peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s everyday life. Festivals are a welcome break from the stress of work and studies, and they make the perfect opportunities for people to take some quality time away with friends and family. Many new friendships are also made during festivals as shared interests often bring people together.

From local to global Traditionally, festivals were centred around a local community as people did not usually travel much further than the next village. Then once it got easier to travel and the rich began to attend festivals in other cities or even abroad. Now, technology has made it even easier and cheaper to travel, and there is a wide range of festivals specialised in certain music genres, fields of interest and sports disciplines. 44 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Photo: Wedigo Ferchland/VisitDenmark.

Photo: Ola Ericson/Imagebank Sweden.

Many festivals market a niche music profile, resulting in a loyal audience and subsequently also a creative, fruitful environment for top athletes and musicians to perform in. Festivals attract talent and are a fun way to see some of the biggest stars, often on their home turf, as both festivals and performers tend to be loyal when the audience is too. Finland, for instance, is known as quite the heavy metal mecca, while Norway has an unparalleled sports and wildlife profile and Sweden is one of the biggest pop music exporters per capita in the world. There can be no doubt that Scandinavia has a great deal to offer when it comes to festival traditions and experiences.

Photo: Lena Granefelt/Imagebank Sweden.

Photo: Rodrigo Rivas Ruiz/Imagebank Sweden.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special Photo: Bjoern Erik Olsen.

Photo: Johannes Lovund.

Photo: Henrik Trygg/Imagebank Sweden.

Norwegian Festival Special:

Festivals galore Planning on visiting Norway in 2016? Make sure to check out the festival calendar. With a wide range of themes and mind-blowing locations, you can be sure to have a once-in-a-lifetime festival experience. By Per-Arne Tuftin, Innovation Norway

If it is your first trip to Norway, you are probably going to head up the fjords, perhaps do some hiking, and chase the northern lights in the winter or the midnight sun in the summer. But what better way to get to know Norwegian culture than to go to a festival along the way? Norway has more than 500 local and international festivals throughout the year, so you are never short of options!

Photo: Andreas Kalvig Anderson

Summer is of course the high season for music festivals. For an experience that combines great music and spectacular nature, you have come to the right country. The Træna festival is perhaps the most remote music festival in Norway, and a not-so-well-kept secret anymore. And with good reason! If you go, you will be sharing plenty of photos on Instagram. The truly unique Sámi music festival Riddu Riddu celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and Vinjerock is a rock music festival in the middle of Jotunheimen, the mythological home of trolls and giants – a must for outdoorsy people. But these are just a tiny selection and you

will find festivals dotted all over Norway, some in the most surprising of places. Norway’s culinary scene has been through a creative explosion in recent years. Whether you want to taste some New Nordic cuisine or traditional regional delicacies, a festival visit will also be a feast for the palate – and, of course, there are many pure food festivals throughout the year. The biggest such festival is Matstreif in Oslo, where local food producers from all over the country come together for two days in September. Want to experience something out of the ordinary that you will not find anywhere else? How about a visit to Gullfest in Varanger, the world’s only arctic bird festival? No matter what your interest is, the following pages allow you to immerse yourself in the best festivals on offer during 2016. We wish you an extraordinary stay in Norway!

Per-Arne Tuftin, Director of tourism at Innovation Norway Issue 84 | January 2016 | 45

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Jugendfest is Momentium’s youthful festival, drawing more than 20,000 spectators every year.

A Moment(ium) of change

– on Sunnmøre’s music scene As inspired visionaries working to bring the best of music to the Norwegian people, the team behind Ålesund-based Momentium has re-defined the musical experience for thousands of festival goers. Proving that great, world-famous artists can be experienced outside the major cities, in intimate arenas and in tune with the surrounding nature, this company has helped change the cultural identity of its home town. In 2016, visitors to Ålesund will be able to experience everything from grand youth festivals to literature evenings – all under the banner of Momentium. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Johannes Lovund

“We wanted to give our town a new musical profile – a new cultural face, if you will,” says Ronny Stokke, general manager. “Essentially, that meant bringing new opportunities and arenas to the town, where people would be Photo: Momentium.

able to see big artists perform. It’s certainly been a journey, but today we can proudly say that we’ve come a long way towards completing that goal – or perhaps we could be so bold as to say we’ve reached it.”

Humble beginnings – and a little pot luck Like many journeys, it was no grand affair to begin with. Momentium, which today owns three festivals, a live arena and an events hall and is central to the operation of a recording studio, was founded in 2008. However, the first festival, Sommerfesten på Giske, was started

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around the turn of the millennium – and was first and foremost a gathering of people wanting to share good food and musical experiences. The concept was a successful one, and the following year hundreds showed up for a grand potluck including great music to top off a wonderful and informal evening. The Ålesund Live festival and youthful Jugendfest followed, and the rest is history – one that includes the newly refurbished arena, Terminalen Byscene, and the fully-booked recording studio, Ocean Sound Recordings, with Norwegian indie pop darlings HighasaKite and Scottish Travis on the extensive client list. “We’ve experienced incredible growth from day one,” says Stokke. “Today Momentium consists of 24 FTEs divided across 40 people. Beyond financial growth we’ve seen competence within the company skyrocket, and we’ve found a formula that works for the company as

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Ålesund Live will this year bring you Bo Kaspers Orkester among other acts.

a whole.” Stokke pauses, smiling. “And, we’ve learnt a lot along the way.”

Terminalen Byscene: a cultural meeting point Although the team behind Momentium comes across as both enthusiastic and humble, a description of their work would be futile without mentioning dreams and ambitions. Giving back to the community of Ålesund and the greater area of Sunnmøre has always been at the top of the list for the company – but doing so in style is, well, part of the package. “The thing is: Ålesund has lacked a live arena fit for big stars, so tours often exclude our town. Thus, people have to travel somewhere else to experience those truly memorable shows, and far from everyone can do that,” says Stokke about the beginnings of Momentium’s Terminalen Byscene, an old bus station refurbished into an activity centre, arena and culture house all in one. Inaugurated in April 2015 with a sold-out gig by the aforementioned HighasaKite, Terminalen has further established Momentium as a major player in the Norwegian cultural industries. “It’s the arena Ålesund’s people deserve. And

the best thing about it is how versatile it’s become. In addition to hosting concerts and gigs, it works as a meeting point in the name of culture, with literature talks, bingo nights and kids’ activity days,” says Stokke proudly.

Elton John to Ålesund While Sommerfesten, Ålesund Live and Jugendfest are still the showpieces of the Momentium music collection, drawing thousands and thousands of people from all over the country each year (45 per cent of whom are not local), the company is behind a number of events at all times. Recently, the team revealed some big news – namely that they are bringing Elton John to Ålesund on 30 June. “The interest has been out of this world,” says Stokke. “I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to give the people up here the chance to see such a huge star. It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time.” He says there are too many things he looks forward to in 2016 to choose a favourite. “Seeing Terminalen continue its development as an established cultural institution… Jugendfest with 23,000 people coming to celebrate with us in August… all of it. Just all of it,” he concludes.

Ålesund Live: See Bo Kaspers Orkester and many more. Takes place on 10-11 June at St. Olavs Plass, Ålesund.

Sommerfesten på Giske: Experience these artists and more on stage: – Karpe Diem – Marcus & Martinus – DeLillos – Astrid S – Sondre Justad – Marit Larsen – Band of Gold Sommerfesten takes place on 2 July at Øygardshamna, Giske.

Jugendfest: See Europe and many more. Takes place on 19-20 August at Color Line Stadion, Ålesund.

See momentium.no for more information about events, dates and artists.

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 47

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Where champions are caught Clusters upon clusters of fishing boats are patiently drifting just outside Svolvær in the north of Norway. No one is looking up at the dramatic mountains rising above them. Everyone’s attention is directed downwards, focusing on what they know to be lurking beneath the salty waves. By Stine Lise Wannebo | Photos: Magnar Jakobsen

Svolvær is located in the heart of Lofoten, an area that is not only known for its spectacular natural surroundings, but also for its remarkable history of fishing that goes back more than a thousand years. And the history continues. For two days every year, Svolvær is flooded with visitors from near and far as fishermen

from 14 nations travel to the idyllic fishing village to take part in the traditional Codfishing World Championships. This year will be the 26th, and all the 650 places have been booked for months. Locals from the entire region come to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement and watch as the eager fishers pull more than 40 tonnes of freshly caught cod ashore.

“The Championships are definitely the local highlight of the year,” coordinator Sten-Ståle Sortland says proudly. “Many people come to take part in the festivities even if they are not in the competition.” While the majority of fish caught during the event weigh between 15 and 30 kilogrammes, one lucky fisherman hauled a 32.2-kilogramme cod last year, the largest one to date. The Codfishing Championships 2016 take place on 1-2 April.

For more information, please visit: www.vmiskreifiske.no

Jazzing it up in Voss Vossa Jazz is the place to be for jazz lovers as well as those with an interest in music with a twist. Taking place 18-20 March, the programme is packed with top names including Jarle Bernhoft, Dave Holland, Susanne Sundfør and not least Nils Økland, the ground-breaking artist who is the commissioned musician for 2016. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Voss Jazz

The jazz festival is a yearly highlight in the small town of Voss, just an hour from Bergen. Beautifully situated between fjords and mountains it has the perfect surroundings for a music festival that is out of the ordinary. While topnotch jazz tunes are in focus, the festival heads take pride in an original take on the genre. “We like to say that everyone

may not like everything, but everyone will like something,” festival manager Trude Storheim says. So while good music sets the scene, Storheim has made it her mission to present it in an inventive way. She has clearly succeeded, mentioning ExtremeJazz as an excellent example of where she combines the surrounding nature with music

– whether on the roof of the town hall or in the ski slopes. Also worth mentioning is Badnajazz, which emphasises the role of children during the festival with music, dance and playfulness. “It is a festival for families, where children play an important role. We want to introduce them to the joys of music from the very start, and encourage them not only to listen, but to take part,” Storheim says. Tickets can be booked online now. For more information, please visit: www.vossajazz.no

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

All of TelemarkHelten’s sporting events have family-friendly options.

Find your inner hero We all have a hero inside, and TelemarkHelten is a sporting event allowing everyone to discover their inner hero – be it by taking your family cross-country skiing for the first time or, if you are a dedicated athlete, running, biking and skiing your way to triple hero-status. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: TelemarkHelten

Rauland, a popular recreational destination among Norwegians, hosts HelteRennet on 12 March in spectacular natural surroundings. Aud Irene Kittelsen, the manager of the event, points out that making a long weekend out of participating is a great opportunity to experience a traditional Norwegian way of holidaying. It is a well-known saying that Norwegians are born with skis on their feet, and HelteRennet caters to cross-country skiers of all ages and abilities. “We have designed a route suitable for children and families with small obstacles and ski jumps, as well as having separate divisions for youths and exercisers who don’t want to be timed,” says Kittelsen. “It is important for us to make room for everyone, and we accept registrations as late as on the day of the race for those who make decisions based on the weather.” Still, if you are of a competitive nature and yearn to secure a prime starting point at the ever-popular Birkebeineren the following week, HelteRennet’s 42-kilometre

course enjoys status as a seeding race. However, if you are of the firm belief that we were not at all born with skis on our feet, HelteLøpet on 25 June gives you the chance to take in the grandeur of the Norwegian mountains and Rauland on your own two feet. Just like TelemarkHelten’s other events, the distances vary from a half marathon to more suitable lengths for families. If watching the Tour de France this summer inspired you, then TelemarkHelten’s third and final event, HelteRittet in Rjukan on 13 August, might be your cup of tea. With distances ranging from 13 to 100 kilometres, there should be something for you whether you aspire to become the next Chris Froome or just want to take in the majestic views of Gaustatoppen. The route has even been described by international riders as being among the top five most beautiful mountain bike courses in the world. But why take their word for it? Come see for yourself and find your own inner hero, be it on skis, by foot or on two wheels.

TelemarkHelten event dates: HelteRennet: 12 March 2016 HelteLøpet: 25 June 2016 HelteRittet: 13 August 2016

HelteRennet offers the following distances: HelteRennet: 42 kilometres HalvHelten: 26 kilometres TrimHelten: 26 kilometres FamilieHelten: 12 kilometres UngdomsHelten: 13 kilometres BarneHelten: Various shorter distances All TelemarkHelten events offer these categories with a variety of distances.

For more information, please visit: telemarkhelten.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 49

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

New music meets old beats Alluring tunes flow across the famous Bryggen in Bergen. The music swirls across the historic wooden houses and disappears into the early summer night. The spectacular music festival Bergenfest brings a lively atmosphere to Bergen’s medieval fortress, attracting everyone from small, up-and-coming bands to big international stars. By Stine Lise Wannebo | Photos: Jarle H. Moe/Bergenfest

June is always an exciting month for Bergenserne, the residents of Bergen. There are plenty of reasons to visit the charming city in the summer months, be it to stroll along the historic wharf, admire the sparkling blue fjord or taste the excellent seafood that is delivered fresh to the fish market every morning. Nothing symbolises the striking contrast between Bergen’s thousand-year-long history and the modern metropolis it has become, better than the medieval fortress. The fortress was once a royal castle and is conveniently placed at the heart of the city, surrounded by many other magnificent and historical buildings. While Håkonshallen dates back 750 years, Rosenkranztårnet has adorned 50 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Bergen’s skyline ever since the 16th century. It is in the midst of this majestic scenery that Bergenfest takes place. Last year, big Norwegian names such as Susanne Sundfør, Röyksopp and KYGO took to the stage at Bergenfest, and international stars such as John Mayer, First Aid Kit and Lana Del Rey have also performed on the luscious green grounds of Bergenhus fortress. Bergenfest is quickly becoming one of Norway’s most popular outdoor music festivals and has in recent years had more than 50 visiting artists in the course of just four summer days. “We have a fantastic mix of famous and less well-known artists across a broad

range of genres,” Frank Nes explains. He is the festival director and at the head of the immense production that is Bergenfest. “The variety means that there is something for everyone, and it also gives a perfect opportunity to discover something new.” While Bergenfest has only existed as an outdoor festival for the past five years, the name has been used for local music events for nearly 23 years. This year, Bergenfest is set to take place from Wednesday 15 June to Saturday 18 June, and the line-up is already beginning to take shape. “It’s not only audiences that are astonished by these incredible grounds; the artists also appreciate the truly unique surroundings,” Frank Nes says proudly.

For more information, please visit: www.bergenfest.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Songstress Mari Boine says performing at Riddu Riddu is like “coming home”.

A festival where diversity belongs In 25 years, the Riddu Riddu festival has gone from a small gathering of youths who wanted to meet and discuss matters of the heart, to a grand-scale festival celebrating pride, diversity and identity. Firmly rooted in Sámi tradition and a will to uncover and discuss imperative issues for indigenous peoples worldwide, Riddu Riddu has built bridges across borders, ethnicities and cultures. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Riddu Riddu

In 1991, a group of young people gathered for a barbecue party in the municipality of Kåfjord. They spoke about issues of identity, roots and why having a Sámi background was still closely connected with feelings of shame. By immersing themselves in the bountiful Sámi culture, the youths made a decision essential to their identities: to be proud of their ancestry. “Going into our 25th year, we feel much like those young people – we’re this energetic, inspired 25-year-old, hungry to learn more about ourselves and the world,” says Karoline Trollvik, festival director. Today Riddu Riddu is made up of 120 staff, plus 200 volunteers, who lay the groundwork for each inclusive festival

experience – events ranging from concerts, films, seminars and courses in traditional knowledge, to the children’s festival. Here, more than 100 children can learn the Sámi language, how to make a campfire or how to hoop dance. Numerous artists have performed on-site over the past quarter century, counting international names such as Angelique Kidjo and Buffy Saint Marie. Norwegian and Sámi songstress Mari Boine has contributed greatly to the festival’s Sámi foothold, saying that the festival “feels just like coming home”. This year, Norwegian pop comet Sondre Justad and Swedish/ Sámi Sofia Jannok will bring additional northern charm to the festival, both artists emphasising their sense of belonging in the northern regions of Scan-

dinavia. What is more, you will be able to experience these performances by the river, while breathing fresh mountain air under the midnight sun. “The meetings between people – especially indigenous peoples – top the list for me,” Trollvik says when pondering the greater purpose of the festival. She explains that one year saw Mayan youths use Riddu Riddu as a safe, informal setting to explore and explain their culture, something they had never experienced before. “They were used to having their heritage problematised, and their chins dropped once they realised participants at Riddu Riddu were genuinely interested in what they had to tell. That moment is what this festival is about.” Riddu Riddu 2016 is held on 13-17 July. Enjoy free camping at the family and main camps.

For more information, please visit: riddu.no

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Pure matchless metal A truly remarkable music event is taking place next month in the historic city of Bergen. Never before has this many of Norway’s greatest metal bands performed in the same place and in the course of just four days. Welcome to this year’s exclusive edition of Blastfest! By Stine Lise Wannebo | Photos: Roy Bjørge

Between seven steep mountain sisters and a dark blue fjord sits the thousandyear-old city of Bergen. The magnificent capital of western Norway has for decades had a significant role when it comes to the growth and expansion of the Norwegian metal scene. For the past three years, thousands of metal heads have travelled across the globe to take part in one particular music festival.

preneur and metal heart with a powerful urge to share his passion with the world. “I started out with nothing but my unfading dedication and determination to succeed,” he says. “But now, three years later, Blastfest has audiences flying in from over 40 countries, 52 bands playing and four days to celebrate the Norwegian metal scene.”

Unfading determination

2016 will be the first time Blastfest consists exclusively of Norwegian musicians. Yet, this year’s exclusive edition has proven to be just as popular with the blastheads as previous festivals.

Blastfest has quickly earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading music events within its field. Behind it all is Yngve Christiansen, a musician, entre52 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Norwegian metal abroad

When travelling to concerts and festivals across the world, Yngve Christiansen has experienced the immense popularity of Norwegian metal bands abroad first hand. “I just learnt that there are travel agencies in Colombia that every year organise fixed trips to Blastfest,” he says proudly. This year, he wants to celebrate the bands and musicians that made way for the array of bands that are making metal music today.

An inclusive atmosphere Despite its often dark and unnerving outlook, the relatively new music genre called metal is commonly known for its compassionate and friendly milieu. “All metal heads are part of such an inclusive, involved and remarkable group of people,” Christiansen explains. “Fans come to Blastfest to listen to music but also to meet new friends, explore the city and take part in the incredible atmos-

phere that exists around this event.” The wide variety of sub-genres on stage at the festival means that everyone will find something they like, in addition to discovering something entirely new.

Metal all over town The festivities will take place across the city, with bands taking to the stage at two different locations at the heart of Bergen. The music will go on from the early hours on Wednesday 17 February, to the dead of night on Saturday, 20 February. For those interested in the dark history of both Bergen and its metal scene, there will be sightseeing tours throughout the week along with a range of other related events. “We are extremely proud to be able to show off the Norwegian metal scene and to do so in this incredible city,” Christiansen says. “I can’t wait to start this one-time-only extraordinary celebration of these unbelievably talented musicians!” Blastfest facts: Location: Bergen, Norway Venues: USF Verftet and Garage Date: 17-20 February Minimum age: 18 Capacity: 1,200 Official hotel: Augustin Hotel

For more information, please visit: www.blastfest.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Photo: Sofia Mercadal

Photo: Gerardo Garza

Photo: Sissel Kroknes Giskegjerde

The marathon for adventurers Each year, thousands of runners participate in high-profile marathons around the world, including the famous London, Sydney and New York marathons. Meanwhile, runners seeking a proper adventure turn to Spitsbergen Marathon for the ultimate experience. By Maria Lanza Knudsen

In early June every year, the world’s northernmost marathon on solid ground is hosted on Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago, located in the Arctic Ocean halfway to the North Pole from mainland Norway. “On 4 June, we expect over 260 marathon runners from more than 20 countries to participate,” explains Silje M. Hagen, the manager of Spitsbergen Marathon. “That participants travel from around the world to participate really is a testament to the fact that Spitsbergen Marathon is an adventure out of the ordinary.” The 2016 marathon will see a new lineup, with famous Norwegian marathon 54 | Issue 84 | January 2016

runner Ingrid Kristiansen taking part. The multiple winner of the London, New York and Boston marathons will also host a talk about her experiences and running career for the Spitsbergen Marathon participants. Spitsbergen boasts breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife; few, if any, other marathons can offer a run among drastic mountain ranges and polar bears. The race begins and ends in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, and takes the runners on a trail among spectacular scenery combining town environments and wilderness running. At this time of year, the sun never sets, offer-

ing awe-inspiring midnight sun viewings for visitors. A most unique feature is the risk of spotting a polar bear on the trail. “Although polar bear incidents are unlikely, we take the safety of our runners very seriously, so there are armed polar bear guards on all-terrain vehicles spread out along the course,” Hagen reassures. “But I don’t think any other marathon offers such a wildlife experience!” Registration for the Spitsbergen Marathon opened on 1 January 2016.

For more information, please visit: www.spitsbergenmarathon.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Geir Gulliksen Photo: Oda Berby

Inger Bråtveit Photo: Pernille MarieGiskegjerde Walvik Photo: Sissel Kroknes

Jon Michelet

Gine Cornelia Pedersen

Photo: Hans Fredrik Asbjørnsen

Photo: Pernille Marie Walvik

Bø – where authors are made On 28 April 2016, the literature festival Bøker i Bø will kick off for the fifth time. Over the course of four days, you will be able to walk around the village of Bø and attend all kinds of literature-related events in the local bookstores, the culture house, the library and the local pubs and bars. By Vilde Holta Røssland

Bø is beautifully located in the middle of Telemark, Norway. The village is known for its rich cultural life and is especially popular amongst students. The University College of Southeast Norway has approximately 2,000 students on campus in Bø. What better place to arrange a literature festival than the village where authors have been educated for more than 30 years. “We wanted to highlight the fact that we train authors in Bø, and at the same time we wanted to reinforce the village’s literary identity and develop a new activity people could attend,” Hilde Pedersen, festival director, says.

and remarkable up-and-coming author and actor. Some other authors joining them are Amalie Kasin Lerstang, Inger Bråtveit and the festival’s artistic director Rune Christiansen, who is head of author studies at the University College of Southeast Norway.

Bøker i Bø is a small and compact festival that focuses on the best texts, books and authors. The individual authorship and books therefore have the full attention of all who attend. “We are very happy that Jon Michelet is coming this year,” Pedersen says. “Many people are excited to meet him in person.” Many of today’s established authors have a connection to Bø, among them Geir Gulliksen. He is a prominent literary icon who attended the author’s programme in 1985. This year he is returning as one of the participating authors. Also taking part at the festival is Gine Cornelia Pedersen, a young, relevant

Photo: Hilde Kari Skaftesmo/Bøker i Bø

You can get to Bø by travelling with Sørlandsbanen or Haukeliekspressen. For more information, please visit: www.bokeribo.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 55

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Photo: Mikhail Slavin

The festival that is breaking the boundaries This February, in one of the intriguingly coldest and darkest places in Norway, close to the Russian border in a town called Kirkenes, the festival Barents Spektakel will not only challenge our perceptions of our neighbourhood, affiliation and geographical location – it aims to blow it to pieces. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Pikene på Broen

Collaborating across borders, the cultural-political festival in Kirkenes aims to explore the core of the nature verses nurture discussion through contemporary art, performance art, literature, theatre, film, seminars and concerts, all blended together with topical societal issues related to Barents.

area in February, the festival brings the place to life.

Located 11 kilometres from the Russian border and 35 kilometres from the Finnish border, the town of Kirkenes is ideally located for cross-border collaboration and cultural exchange in the Arctic. Embracing the cold and darkness ruling the

“The unique thing about this year’s programme is that we are taking the festival to Russia as well as Kirkenes,” Michael Miller, media and public relations manager for the festival, says. “In previous years, Russian artists have performed

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A place with such significant history is yet again finding itself at the centre of cultural and political shifts, and Barents Spektakel’s vision is to explore these boundaries.

in Norway, but this year we will also be crossing the border ourselves.” The festival theme for the 2016 Barents Spektakel is ‘Rethinking Location’ – a theme that forms the basis for the programme of visual art exhibitions, public discussions and the Visual Art Seminar. “The artworks for the 2016 Barents Spektakel reflect and discuss the vulnerability of our sense of place, while simultaneously exploring whether our identity is a result of where we live, or if we instead make choices to migrate to places that suit us,” Miller explains.

Powerful exhibitions Two of the artists displaying their work during the festival are Swedes Michiel Brouwer and Anders Sunna. The duo, who previously made a name for themselves displaying both pho-

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

tos and paintings aimed to raise questions regarding the Sámi people’s rights and the problems with the local mining industry, has travelled across the Barents area, through Finland, Russia, Sweden and Norway, to gather material for this installation. “The installation exhibits insight into a different world. It captures a complete and honest portrait of the entire area,” Brouwer says. The artists are clearly committed and continue to talk about what they have seen and captured during their journey in the north. “Perhaps surprisingly, the difference between the Russian side and the Norwegian and Swedish sides is not as significant as one might think. On both sides, we can see how destruction of nature and society is a direct consequence of the mining industry,” Brouwer suggests. “It’s more blatant in Nikel in Russia – where even the sea is green from the nickel and waste – and the way we see it, that’s a sort of fast-forward button for the rest of the area.” Displaying both paintings and photos in their installation, which will be unveiled in Krikened during the festival, the artists want to provoke thoughts while sending a signal of the dangers ahead, should these “shameful acts” continue.

rich and highly mixed cultural heritage that is still alive in Barents – a heritage celebrated by the Barents festival, whose ambition is to develop a platform across borders, where art projects between different countries can help inspire and open up dialogues for people to discuss issues regarding the area. “We don’t have an agenda or message; we just want to start a dialogue,” says Miller. “In these times of economic uncertainty, new migration routes and increasingly cold ideological rhetoric between capitals, the perception of place requires continuous rethinking. Shifting cultural, political and economic factors all play a role in shaping our perception of our neighbourhood, city, nation, region and, most importantly, ourselves,” Miller says. “In the north, there are lessons to be learned from our past as well as the mistakes and triumphs of our neighbours across all borders. There are risks and opportunities, and both bright and destructive visions for the future.” For more information, please visit: www.barentsspektakel.no

“We want to make it powerful,” says Anders Sunna. “The dramatic consequences for the people living in the area are scary. In Russia, we saw that the life expectancy age has drastically decreased, while there is an increase of infertility among the women there. The thing about images is that they send a stronger message and prove so much more than rapports and academic essays. For many people, it’s a matter of ‘if it can’t be seen, it’s not happening’. Pictures, on the other hand, show everything so much more vividly.”

Rethinking location Barents, consisting of the northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland as well as northwest Russia, was until the early 19th century a geographical area without national borders, a premise for the Issue 84 | January 2016 | 57

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Nordsjørittet has been described as one of the most beautiful road cycling races in Norway.

Western Norway on two wheels Many people who imagine swishing past views of white sandy beaches, steep hills and cheering crowds by bike, see Italy or southern France before their mind’s eye. By joining forces, two of Norway’s biggest bicycle races – Nordsjørittet and Tour des Fjords – are on a mission to replace southern Europe with western Norway in the fantasies of both pro and amateur cyclists worldwide. “In my opinion, both Nordsjørittet and Tour des Fjords offer Norway’s most beautiful cycling routes, and encountering the spectacular nature up close like this is really a breathtaking experience,” says Siri Ommedal. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Rune Helliesen

Nordsjørittet – a spectacular experience of nature Ommedal is the race manager for Nordsjørittet, a bicycle race that aims to take the breath away from cyclists of all 58 | Issue 84 | January 2016

abilities. “We see that cycling is a huge and increasingly popular sport, and with the slogan ‘for most people’, we want

to lower the threshold many have to overcome before signing up for a race,” says Ommedal. About 500 teams, either private or company-led, as well as individual entries total roughly 12,500 cyclists excited to pedal the 91 kilometres along the western coast from Egersund to Sandnes every year. Whether the participants choose to race for the competitive aspect or the adventure, Ommedal points out that they are in for a breathtaking experience of nature. Running from the coastal town of Egersund, the cyclists will experience everything from hilly terrain to sandy white beaches, and a substrate of both

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

With the slogan ‘for most people’, Nordsjørittet caters to the young, the old, male, female, seasoned and beginner cyclists.

asphalt and gravel, before they reach their destination.

Something for everyone To make the race more accessible for beginners and fitness fans alike, Nordsjørittet this year offers both the regular distance and the shorter 45-kilometre route between Nærbø and Sandnes, along with the choice of not being timed. The shorter distance runs within the same route as the main race. “Many have the desire to challenge themselves and try to cycle a race, but lack the stepping stone to aim for in terms of training. We hope to be able to provide them with that goal,” says Ommedal. For youth aged 13 and up, Nordsjørittet also offers a 30-kilometre route between Orre and Sandnes, running within the same roads as both the 91 and 45kilometre routes.

While the race itself runs on 11 June, Nordsjørittet also arranges events throughout the year in preparation for the big day. These events include an evening with a professional cyclist offering technique advice as well as training sessions in Farsund, Nærbø, Sandnes and Dalane in western Norway. If you are about to make the excuse that bringing your own bike is going to be difficult, the team at Nordsjørittet has already thought about it and offers a variety of transportation packages for bikes as well as bikers. “We can also get participants good deals on accommodation in both Egersund and Sandnes,” Ommedal adds.

it is not just the promise of something tasty to line their stomachs that should tempt the cyclists to give an extra push towards the end. In Sandnes, the entire town is watching the race on wide TV screens, eagerly waiting to greet the cyclists with open arms when they arrive. “The atmosphere in Sandnes upon arrival is somewhat similar to the Tour de France: there is music, food and activities for children. The event really gets the entire town on its feet – it is definitely the cherry on top of an overall pretty spectacular experience,” Ommedal says. >

Greeted with open arms “Throughout the race we have four refreshment stations, but after reaching the finishing line we imagine the participants to be hungry, so a hearty meal will be waiting for them,” says Ommedal. But

For more information and registration, please visit: www.nordsjorittet.no

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Tour des Fjords – bringing the world to western Norway Photos: Szymon Gruchalski

For a century, the place to see and be seen as a pro cyclist or a pro cyclist supporter has been the Tour de France or other similar races in central Europe. However, for the past three years a group of passionate Norwegian cyclists have worked tirelessly to bring the cyclist circuit northwards, to the coast of western Norway. They have most certainly succeeded: a number of Norway’s most famous cyclists, including Alexander Kristoff and Edvald Boasson Hagen and their teams, have taken part in the Tour des Fjords. Last year, even Swiss star cyclist Fabian Cancellara and his team competed on the roads of Rogaland. 24 pro teams will be invited, five from Norway and 19 from abroad, and race director at the Tour des Fjords, Roy Hegreberg, anticipates the international interest to reach new heights this year. “Ahead of the World Championships held in Bergen in 2017, I expect that many international riders will want to try out western Norwegian roads,” he says.

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This year the race runs from 31 August to 4 September, starting in Bergen and continuing through Sunnhordland via Hardanger, Ryfylke and Sandnes before the riders reach the finishing line in Stavanger after 950 kilometres. “I am proud that we’re able to show off some of the highlights of Norwegian nature along the route, both to the international cyclists and to everyone watching from their living rooms around the world,” says Hegreberg. Tour des Fjords is televised on TV2, one of Norway’s largest TV channels, as well as being broadcast to 65 countries on Eurosport. Hegreberg is himself a former professional cyclist, and another aspect of the race which lies close to his heart is giving the Norwegian audience the chance to experience world-class cycling up close. “It is such a thrill to see how the race engages the locals,” he enthuses. “Everywhere along the route people have

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

dressed up in costumes and brought out their flags to cheer the cyclists on. There’s great enthusiasm, just like in the south of France!” Giving the people of western Norway a festive event is also an important aspect of the Tours des Fjords. “In all the towns we visit we arrange short and free children’s races for children aged two to 12 – that’s ten kid’s races in total,” Hegreberg says. “And at each finishing line there’s an entertainment area with food stalls, music, people wearing bunad, veteran cars or other fun activities. It’s a great way for us to showcase Norwegian culture and give the locals a party.”

Sharing a track with the stars If participating in Nordsjørittet in June leaves you wanting even more of those western Norwegian roads, then do not slack off on the training over the summer. For those wanting more than joining the

finishing line party, the Tour des Fjords Classic is a race suitable for exercising cyclists along the same topographical landscape and routes as those cycled by the pros of the Tour des Fjords. The Tour des Fjords Classic racers have the choice between following the tracks of their role models in routes measuring 50 or 110 kilometres. “I am really happy that the team behind Nordsjørittet has taken it upon themselves to run and improve the Tour des Fjords Classic even further. They have a wealth of experience in arranging these kinds of races,” says Hegreberg.

tire event, rather than having it on the last day. It also gives the Classic riders the opportunity to join the festivities on the last day and celebrate their heroes. Because above all, cycling is a social sport!” Hegreberg concludes with a smile. For more information and registration, please visit: www.tourdesfjords.no

This year, the Tour des Fjords Classic will run on Saturday 3 September. Moving the race one day earlier is a measure both Hegreberg and Ommedal believe will boost the good atmosphere even further. “It makes the Classic more integrated into the en-

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 61

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Above: Valdres Sommersymfoni is a classical music festival hosted every summer in the heart of Norway. Photo: Cathrine Dokken. Top right: Iskandar Widjaja, Ernst Simon Glaser and Itamar Golan performing at Valdres Sommersymfoni 2015. Below right: Ukrainian violist Maxim Rysanov. Photo: Valdres Sommersymfoni. Bottom left: Artistic director Guro Kleven Hagen. Photo: Cathrine Dokken.

A unified symphony in the heart of Norway Every summer for the past 22 years, hundreds of budding classical musicians and international stars descend on Fagernes, the regional centre of Valdres, for the annual festival Valdres Sommersymfoni.

the professionals and experience a fully-fledged concert setting early on,” says artistic director Guro Kleven Hagen.

By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Tom Henning Bratlie

Classical music in a serene setting

The festival is a unique combination of a classical music festival and summer courses for roughly 300 students rang-

ing from beginners as young as six years old, all the way through to teenagers. And, as adults, many of the participants come back as instructors.

“Valdres as a whole and the centre of Fagernes are small, serene places in the heart of Norway – there is no hectic city life, so visitors get the chance to go back to the roots and really enjoy great classical music,” Kleven Hagen adds.

“Our motto is that only the best is good enough for the children,” says festival director Alf Richard Kraggerud, and explains that even the international stars booked to perform at the festival contribute as teachers. Classes are offered for wind and string instruments, as well as piano and percussion, and the participants are taught both in groups and one-to-one.

“I think Valdres symbolises different things for the musicians and the audience,” says Kraggerud. “As a festival goer it is somewhere you come to relax and enjoy top-notch classical music, while for the practitioners it has become a place you return to year after year to grow as a musician.”

“I believe it is very rewarding for the young musicians to be so close to 62 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Kleven Hagen continues: “My focus lately has been to create even more unity by introducing an overall theme for the

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

festival. For 2016 the festival theme is ‘Beyond Horizons’, and this theme will set the atmosphere of the concerts. Composers like Beethoven, Stravinsky and Messiaen, who were composing music ahead of their time, will be important composers in the 2016 edition of the festival. We are also happy to welcome some of the world’s most celebrated classical musicians, such as Ukrainian violist Maxim Rysanov, Armenian pianist Marianna Shirinyan and Hungarian cellist István Várdai.”

From park to gala The festival takes place over ten days, from 24 June to 4 July, and offers two or three concerts each day. Some are ticketed while others are free of charge. The concerts range from outdoor taster sessions to night concerts in the bar at Thon Hotel Fagernes, in addition to more conventional classical concerts in Valdres’ many beautiful churches. At the gala concert, accompanied by a three-course gourmet dinner with local food from the heart of Norway, the festival presents the Norwegian multiinstrumentalist Stian Carstensen, who always surprises and impresses his audiences with his banjo, accordion, harmonica and sense of humour. While each of the festival’s ten days offers classical music experiences of high international standards, Kleven Hagen points out that it is also possible to purchase festival packages for certain days and concerts, which also include transportation from Oslo to Valdres.

Concerts are being held in Valdres’ beautiful churches.

Young talents Many of the summer students also participate as festival musicians by giving small campus concerts, while the older and more experienced students participate in the larger concert venues. “We have brilliant festival musicians from all walks of life, from six years and upwards,” Kraggerud smiles. Applicants auditioned before Christmas, and acceptance letters are currently being sent out to those selected to play in the first edition of Valdres Sommersymfoni’s very own youth philharmonic orchestra. These future stars will hold their own concert at Fagernes culture house on 29 June.

The project enjoys support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as some of Norway’s most esteemed orchestras, such as the Oslo Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Through its many projects, Valdres Sommersymfoni has managed to turn one of Norway’s most picturesque regions into an international meeting place for classical music aficionados and musicians to teach and inspire each other. For more information, please visit: www.sommersymfoni.no

Playing for a future But it is not just the local community that benefits from Valdres Sommersymfoni’s work. Through its project ‘Playing for a Future’, youngsters from South Africa, Bolivia and the Middle East get the opportunity to come to Norway and participate in the festival’s summer school. Norwegian students and teachers also get to go abroad to learn and be inspired by other cultures.

Armenian pianist Marianna Shirinyan. Photo: Valdres Sommersymfoni

Moreover, Valdres Sommersymfoni makes sure to give back to the community by arranging school concerts for the local students ahead of the festival, as well as putting on shows at retirement homes in the area. “One of our new ideas is the home concert, where a Valdres inhabitant has applied for and won a concert held in their home,” Kleven Hagen says. “By playing at schools, retirement homes and even at people’s homes, the artists meet the audiences in their familiar surroundings and are able to create closer relationships to the local community.” Issue 84 | January 2016 | 63

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Norwegian Organ Festival expanding its horizons Having marked its 25th anniversary in 2015, the Norway Organ Festival is this year expanding its horizons. Through collaborations with other festivals and introducing a wider spectrum of events, this year’s festival can offer concerts, lectures and even a newly introduced day for children. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Kristofer Ryde

Themed on a landscape topic, this year the festival will again host some of the industry’s biggest names, including Norway’s most famous organists Nils Henrik Asheim and Kåre Nordstoga. The former, who is also a composer, will premiere his latest composition for orchestra and organ, Sudden Landscapes, during the festival. Aiming for a wider audience under new management, this year’s festival, which takes place in Stavanger this September, aspires to please both the artistic and the conservative crowd. “We’re hosting several concerts and performances this year. And through collaboration with various cultural organisers in the Stavanger and Sandnes area, there will also be events aimed particularly at children — with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as the protagonist — as well as concerts aimed more 64 | Issue 84 | January 2016

specifically at older people,” says Arnfinn Tobiassen, artistic director of Norwegian Organ Festival. “One of the events intended for children is a musical theatre piece, called The Fairytale of Mozart, written by Minken Fosheim.” Tobiassen continues: “We’re also planning to host lectures and performances. The opening concert will be Kåre Nordstoga with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, performing a spectacular Alexandre Guilmant symphony. Brit David Titterington, who is the festival leader for St Alban’s International Organ Festival, is booked along with Norwegian Espen Melbøe, performing Max Reger’s Inferno, which is a piece leaving as large an impression as it sounds.” The festival will also host classes, where the performing artists will teach and give lectures to the audience. And then there is of course the Sunday Mass, or Divine

Service, in Stavanger Cathedral on the final day. “That will undoubtedly be a highlight,” says Tobaissen. Described as a festival combining entertainment, art and a place to exchange knowledge, the Norwegian Organ Festival is utilising its characteristic qualities effectively. That, fused with its geographical location, has seen the festival develop into one of the most appreciated festivals for classical music in the country. “Stavanger and Sandnes are both tremendous cities, in terms of both location and activities and restaurants, however the region also has many churches and therefore also organs,” Tobiassen explains. “The organs in the area have over the past few years developed from quite ordinary to extraordinary.” And he has a point. Last year, Stavanger Cathedral’s organ was returned to the city following restoration work – a stunningly fitting symbol marking the festival’s 25th anniversary and beyond. For more information, please visit: www.orgelfestival.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Photo: Geir Olsen

Photo: Mosetertoppen

Photo: Morten Nordlie

Norway’s most beautiful winter challenge If you are after an active encounter and the ultimate winter wonderland experience, look no further. Join like-minded people in the Hafjell Ski Marathon, and enjoy the incredible Norwegian landscape while swooshing through kilometre after kilometre of perfect cross-country trails. By Celine Normann

“The Hafjell Ski Marathon is a cross-country skiing event suitable for everyone, regardless of age, level or style. We offer a range of distances starting with two 13-kilometre youth and family classes, progressing to 22 kilometres and 44 kilometres for people who really want a challenge,” says marketing manager at Hafjell Ski Marathon, Espen Harald Bjerke. “Whether you are an elite skier or just recently started out, we want you to have an extraordinary experience and aim to promote a general joy for skiing through a race with top quality in every detail.”

perfectly facilitated. Going strong in its third year, the race already stands out. “We realised last year that there is a demand on the market for a race with more options in regards to skiing style, as 95 per cent of all non-elite races limits the contestants to one particular style. Seeing how skating is growing in popularity, with even children learning this at a very young age, we decided that Hafjell Ski Marathon should lead the way by following the market trend and allowing people to choose their preferred style prior to the race,” explains Bjerke.

Perfectly facilitated

After hosting downhill disciplines during the 1994 Olympics, Hafjell has an established position as a ski resort. However, the resort’s key strengths remain unknown to many. “While our down-

The race stretches through a beautiful, varied landscape, starting and finishing at the resort’s cross-country centre, Mosetertoppen, where everything is

The x-factor

hill slopes are among Norway’s best, our cross-country trails are of worldleading, international standards, stretching 600 kilometres in total. Hafjell’s x-factor really lies in the cross-country opportunities,” says Bjerke. When you combine the two, the resort offers what you might refer to as ‘the full package’. Still, the Ski Marathon’s management team is not leaning back. “We are always looking for opportunities to take things one step further, and aim to be one of Norway’s leading ski races within six or seven years,” says Bjerke. “We are already one step closer as we are now a seeding race for the famous Birkebeinerrennet and Sweden’s Vasaloppet in 2016. But whether your reason for racing is getting seeded, having fun or a personal challenge, we can guarantee a great experience with perfect conditions.”

For more information, please visit: hafjellskimarathon.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 65

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

Jazzing up classical music in architectonical gems Oslo Chamber Music Festival attracts top classical artists from around the world for a celebration of the genre with a twist. Whether jazzing it up or performing the originals, the concerts take place in truly architectonical gems all over the Norwegian capital.

Oslo Chamber Music Festival was initiated in 1989 by renowned Norwegian violinist Arve Tellefsen, who was inspired by the intimate chamber music festivals in Europe and the US. Being the first of its kind in Norway, he wanted the festival to showcase the diversity of the genre by bringing music from the traditional small rooms to large-scale venues, mixed with modern music and jazz. “There is something for every taste and age,” managing director Kristin Slørdahl says, while emphasising that they also put on chamber music in its traditional form. The festival is so special that H. R. H. Queen Sonja of Norway is its patron, which has granted access to some unique concert venues including the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace. Remarkable venues lie at the heart of the

By Helene Toftner | Photos: Kristin Bolgård

festival, which calls Akershus Fortress its home, while also frequently using the Opera House and Oslo Cathedral. Another treasured spot includes the University Ceremonial Hall, which houses several original Edvard Munch paintings. “Many of our venues are normally not open to the public, which makes it extra special,” Slørdahl notes. This year’s festival kicks off with a concert by world-renowned pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, followed by 24 concerts over nine days, performed by big international names alongside young artists at the start of their careers. The full programme is announced on 1 March. Please see: www.oslokammermusikkfestival.no

Jazz all over Norway A nationwide celebration of jazz music will take place in Norway from 29 January to 7 February 2016. From Vadsø in the north to Mandal in the south, clubs around the country will offer an exciting music experience along with beautiful sceneries and experiences. By Vilde Holta Røssland

Over the course of ten days, the entire jazz community in Norway will gather for Vinterjazz. Both national and international artists are on the programme when Norsk Jazzforum and its 38 member clubs put together over 70 different shows across the country. “We want to make sure that people know that things are happening in the music community in periods where you may not expect that much to be going on,” Aleksander Haugen, project manager of Vinterjazz, says. Through an event like Vinterjazz, you will experience firsthand the activity and enthusiasm music brings out in people. A mustering such as this acts as a joint effort for all the participating clubs. They 66 | Issue 84 | January 2016

get to put on a show under a common name and logo, and this way the music will reach more people. “Vinterjazz covers the whole spectrum of jazz, from improvisation and local jamming sessions to trad jazz,” Haugen says. There are many exciting artists on the programme this year, among them Eldbjørg Raknes and Oscar Grönberg, Arild Andersen, Guro von Germeten, Ytre Suløens Jass-Ensemble and Live Foyn Friis quartet. Moreover, Tord Gustavsen with Simin Tander and Jarle Vespestad will also be taking to the stage. If you are in the southern part of Norway during Vinterjazz, you will be lucky enough to get the chance to enjoy the trio SAH, who will be playing at several of the clubs. No matter what flavour of jazz you fancy, Vinterjazz has it all.

Press photo

Photo: Hans Fredrik Asbjørnsen

For more information, please visit: www.vinterjazz.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special

A sporty party for the entire city Did you always think that one has to be a prime runner to take part in a marathon? Think again. Oslo Marathon offers sporting challenges for all levels, but perhaps the most striking element is the roar from the public as more than 25,000 people meet across the streets of the capital to soak up the cultural performances and cheer on their loved ones as they approach the finishing line. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Oslo Marathon

The Oslo Marathon is the biggest of its kind in Norway and caters to different fitness levels with distances of three, ten, 21, 42 and 73 kilometres, the latter named the Oslo Triple. “It is an inclusive event where most people will find a challenge to suit their abilities, and participants range from professionals to those recently rehabilitated from illness or injury,” says marketing and communications manager, Cathrine Stensaker. The 2016 marathon kicks off on 16 September with a three-kilometre run followed by a party in the evening, ahead of the big day on 17 September. New for

along the route. “Ballet dancers from the National Opera, top DJs and cheerleaders join forces to create a fantastic buzz,” says Stensaker. “Last year we had 40 different performances scattered across all of Oslo, and we are expecting nothing less this year.”

this year is the Triple Team, where organisations and friends can sign up together. Divided into teams of three, one runs the marathon, the second the half marathon and the third a ten-kilometre race before all times are added together. “It is a great alternative for runners at all levels to come together, while competing on their own terms,” Stensaker says. Exactly this inclusive approach makes the Oslo Marathon unique, and not only for the runners. While the different races attract thousands, even more come to take part in the joyous atmosphere with entertainment, singing and dancing

Dates: 16 and 17 September 2016 Registrations are now open at: www.oslomaraton.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 67

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Helsingborg

Borgholm

Photo: Mikael Tannus

Photo: Anna Schibli

Greeting from Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven

Countries at the forefront will be the winners Dear Reader, Last year, 2015, was a key year for global efforts. When we look back at what we have achieved since the Millennium Development Goals were adopted in 2000, we are reminded of what we are capable of doing. We have more than halved extreme poverty in the world. More children than ever before attend school. We have reduced maternal mortality, and millions of people have gained access to clean water. With these achievements in hand, world leaders gathered at the United Nations in September to adopt a new agenda for development. We have committed to 17 new global goals to achieve three extraordinary things in the next 15 years: end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and combat climate change. 68 | Issue 84 | January 2016

In December we reached a historic international agreement to keep global warming well below two degrees Celsius and endeavour to limit it even more, to 1.5 degrees Celsius. I have set an ambitious goal for Sweden: we will be one of the first fossil-free welfare nations in the world. This is not only a matter of climate altruism – it is also in our best economic interest. I want to see Swedish companies develop the new emission-reducing products and innovations that the world is asking for. This will create jobs and export revenues. I am convinced that the countries and companies at the forefront will be the winners. If 2015 was the year we set bold global goals, 2016 will be the year we take decisive action.

Stefan Löfven Prime Minister of Sweden

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

From northern lights festivals to a big ABBA party Visit Sweden in 2016 and you can look forward to everything from big music events and northern lights festivals to hiking in the south, historical jubilees and a great ABBA party in the capital. In Swedish Lapland, the year starts with the Aurora Festival, the first ever festival dedicated to the northern lights. Last year, Lonely Planet dubbed this part of Sweden the world’s most illuminating experience of 2015, and 2016 will hopefully offer the same chances to view nature’s amazing light show. For music fans, Sweden is the place to go in 2016. Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA is the executive producer of Mamma Mia! The Party, a dinner show that premieres this month. The ambition is that guests, staff, artists and musicians together create the party in a setting resembling the Greek tavern from the movie.

Photo: Hjalmar Andersson

In May, the great Eurovision party returns to Sweden yet again. Sweden has won the Eurovision six times, and last year Måns Zelmerlöw won with the song Heroes, which means that the Eurovision Song Contest final will be held in Sweden this year. For a cool city festival, head instead for the Way Out West festival on the west coast of Sweden in August. The immensely popular festival celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Summer in Sweden is all about Midsummer celebrations, cute cottages, swimming in the sea and lakes, the midnight sun up north and long summer holidays for the Swedes. If you are into hiking,

however, you might want to start training for Europe’s biggest walking event, Eurorando, which takes place every five years and will be coming to Skåne 10-17 September 2016. Around 5,000 to 7,000 ramblers from across Europe will be making their way to the very south of Sweden. Sweden’s cities are always great places to visit. Go for the shopping and awardwinning restaurants in the winter and spring, or have the whole city to yourself and enjoy swimming, cycling and walking in the summer. In the autumn and winter, when it gets darker and colder, head indoors to try a Swedish fika (coffee, cake and a chat), or dress up warm and go ice skating on the frozen waters. By Anna Hjerdin, communications manager at VisitSweden www.visitsweden.com

Photo: Sara Ingman

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 69

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Grand welcome A scenic view welcomes you to Karlskrona if you arrive with ferry or cruise ship; the two outstanding fortifications of Kungsholm Fortress and Drottningskär Citadel guarding each side of the entrance to the city. Both part of the World Heritage.

300 years of naval history Inside the guarded fences of Sweden`s main naval base lies the Old Naval Ship Yard, exhibiting 300 years of naval history. Join one of our guided tours available through the Tourist Office.

A World Heritage city In 1680, king Charles ordered the construction of the city as Sweden´s naval base, due to its location.The naval presence has ensured distinctive architectural qualities, and UNESCO has named Karlskrona a World Heritage city.

Naval Museum Our most visited attraction and a must see! The sensational new Submarine Hall opened June 2014. A perfect combination of Swedish Naval history and Cold War experience.

WORLD C

The city center of Karlskrona is located on the main island of Trossö, 6 km out in the archipelago much like Venice. Another Mediterranean touch is the hours of sunshine per year. Karlskrona was Sweden`sunniest city 2012 and 2013.

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HAPPIEND

Curious?

1650 islands

Scan the QR-code and enjoy our aerial movie!

and skerries make out SwedenÂ´s southernmost archipelago.

So swedish The island of BrĂ¤ndaholm is often marketed as an image of Sweden: small, red cottages with white window panes and swedish flags waving in the wind. A definite picture point!

KKnock yourself out In addition to world class cultural experiences, Karlskrona has plenty to offer if you seek adventure; some of the best fishing waters in the world, great places for kayaking and excellent trekking and bicycle opportunities.

C LASS

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARCHIPELAGO

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

The graffiti beehive.

Photo: Linus Hallgren

This is where Sweden begins Sigtuna is Sweden’s first town, founded in 970 by Erik Segersäll. His vision was to establish an international meeting place, a nation under one God and one King. It was unlike anything seen before, and both the town planning and the idea for a modern hub remain pretty much unchanged. By Malin Norman | Photos: Destination Sigtuna

Today, the town is Sweden’s fourthlargest hotel destination with around 800,000 overnight stays per year, and the municipality hosts the country’s largest international airport, Stockholm Arlanda. “You really shouldn’t miss where it all started,” says tourism director Camilla Zedendahl. “Sigtuna is where Sweden begins, historically and geographically if you fly to Arlanda. It’s fantastic to see and experience the historic sites and beautiful castles, which are all really easily accessible for visitors.” With a steadily growing tourism industry, Zedendahl emphasises the important ongoing environmental collaboration in the region. Since 2009, Destination 72 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Sigtuna has been working on a shared vision for sustainable development with partners such as the airport, airlines, hotels and conference centres. “We have a big responsibility in terms of environmental and social impact and we want to make a difference, together. Instead of competing, we need to be brave, dare to be different and remain visionaries for the future, a tradition and way of thinking that dates back to when Sigtuna was founded in 970.“

Electric cars, hens and bees As a result of the ecological collaboration, Sigtuna is now one of the most sustainable destinations in the world, having recently been named one of the

Global Top 100. Behind the initiative are major players TravelMole.com, Vision on Sustainable Tourism, Totem Tourism, and Green Destinations. The town has also been certified as a Fairtrade City and received the Ecologistic Award for its new and modern approach to protecting the environment. Visitors at the hotels and venues will certainly notice the efforts made to become a sustainable destination. For example, there is a growing number of electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles available, increasing demand for electric taxis from the airport and more public transport options. And this spring, one of the most important projects is waste reduction. According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, as much as 1.2 million tonnes of food waste is generated in the country and around one million hens are burnt every year instead of being used for food. In a new initiative, chefs at hotels around Sigtuna and

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Arlanda have been cooking hens in new ways and sharing their delicious recipes. Destination Sigtuna and hotels in the region have also established a partnership for bee keeping, with a total of around 750,000 bees in 11 locations. The bees are positively affecting the flora, fauna and people in the area, and of course honey has been harvested and also used for production of mead. Some of the beehives have even been pimped, with the hippest bees staying in the graffiti beehive at Hotel Kristina.

Castles, rune stones and Vikings Returning to the historic side of things, Sigtuna has the highest number of rune stones in Sweden with more than 150 inscriptions, some as old as from the 300s. In addition to discovering the unique rune stones, visitors can also learn how to write like the Vikings did. Moreover, the area has no less than five beautiful castles open for visitors: Wenngarn,

Skokloster, Rosersberg, Skånelaholm and Steninge. Wenngarn’s history, to give an example, dates all the way back to the year 1164, when Sweden’s oldest preserved letter mentioned the location, where the castle is now open all year round. For the more adventurous tourist, Vikingarännet is the world’s biggest annual ice skating event, taking place on Valentine’s Day. If the ice on Lake Mälaren is strong enough, the race runs all the way from Uppsala via Sigtuna to Stockholm, with around 3,000 participants skating along the almost 90-kilometre Viking route. Curious participants also have the chance to try 1,000-year-old skates made of animal bones, if they so wish. “This really is something extraordinary, something not to be missed!” says Zedendahl.

Festival, one of the biggest cultural happenings with visitors travelling from afar during the last weekend in August. The Harvest Market is also a popular event, offering family activities during the first weekend of September. Moreover, the area is of course ideal for conferences and other get-togethers, with its many hotel options and packages on offer and its close proximity to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Sigtuna is a true meeting place, just like in the olden days.

For more information, please visit: www.destinationsigtuna.se and www.hallbardestination.se

Another recommendation from the event calendar is the annual Sigtuna Literature

Photo: Linus Hallgren

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 73

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Wild waterways and peaceful lake lands “Every day at three o’clock in the summer months, the floodgates open and 300,000 litres of water per second is released. It’s quite spectacular – you just don’t understand how much water that is until you experience it,” says Maria Engström-Weber, CEO of Visit Trollhättan Vänersborg. “People come here to experience this alone.” By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Visit Trollhättan Vänersborg

The CEO also recalls, with fascination, the moment last summer when an old East India ship turned up to go through the sluice in Trollhättan. “It took some serious measuring to get this old, classic ship up the sluice,” EngströmWeber says. “Everyone was holding their breath!” Water has always been central to both Trollhättan and Vänersborg. In the case of the latter, an old marketplace, the waterway was key to the shipping and collection of iron found throughout the county, and the long beaches around Vänern – Sweden’s largest lake, technically an inland sea – made it a beneficial place to stay both out of agricultural and 74 | Issue 84 | January 2016

safety perspectives. The importance of the lake for the position of Vänersborg, which got its town privileges in 1644, as a meeting point and trading hub cannot be underestimated. In Trollhättan, it was the narrow water passages of river Göta Älv that eventually led to what was to become the town’s pride, also contributing to its name. These passages caused more than a headache as goods had to be reloaded to continue on land. But it was not until in 1800, after a range of different ideas and more than a few failed attempts, that the first sluice in Trollhättan was completed. The creation was dubbed the world’s eighth wonder and immediately became

a popular place to go for a combination of technical enlightenment and a romantic setting. And the name? People thought that there were trolls in the waterfalls, their bonnets (hättor) sticking out like mini islets.

A drink and a swim Many advancements later, both Trollhättan and Vänersborg still attract visitors thanks to its wild waterways and peaceful lake lands. “I always bring guests in Vänersborg down to the water with wooden cups, because you can actually drink the water and it tastes good!” Engström-Weber enthuses. “A lot of people come here mainly for the peace and quiet though. Vänern has 22,000 islands, so they come with their own boats and are amazed that they end up having an entire island to themselves for a week.” Vänersborg boasts 100 kilometres of Vänern coastline with everything from sandy beaches with shallow waters to

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Photo: Sören Lindqvist

secluded cliffs and flat rocks, but it is not just tourists who benefit from the generous nature. “There are bathing clubs at the Town Hall, so people meet and head down for a dip in the lake on their lunchbreaks,” says Engström-Weber.

A media-savvy 100-year-old Just ten minutes away, Trollhättan still centres around the falls and sluices, which attract visitors who sit down at the sluice café with an ice cream or shrimp sandwich or stand right by the sluice to watch the spectacle ensue. “It certainly can be dramatic,” says the CEO. “It’s a great laugh – let’s just say the communication is not always what it should be on board the boats!” But as the town prepares to celebrate its 100-year jubilee, it will be about more than just water. “It’s been important to make sure that it’s the people’s Trollhättan that is celebrated, that everyone gets to play a part,” EngströmWeber explains. As such, a film was commissioned with the aim of highlighting what Trollhättan’s inhabitants themselves love about their hometown,

and 100 people were asked to share their stories. Another poignant jubilee project is that of Trollhättan Street Art Festival, which will, among other things, see some local artists liven up a handful of houses by creating colourful murals – apt, one might say, for a town that has gone from industry-heavy home of Saab to creative hub and start-up central. There will also be an exhibition at Trollhättan’s art gallery called 100 år genom 100 bilder (100 years in 100 pictures), a recycling, redesign and upcycling fair called Xplodera Go Green, a week-long extension of the annual Blue Night walk around the fall and sluice area, a big birthday bash in the centre of the town, and much more. Trollhättan’s reputation as a media hub is partly down to Film i Väst, a film resource and production centre, being based here. As such, many of Sweden’s biggest productions are filmed here and you can spot a celebrity every now and again. Moreover, if you are lucky, you might be able to spot His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf in the autumn, when the

annual royal moose hunt takes place in the woods. The chances of seeing another king, namely the king of the forest, are even greater, as 93 per cent of participants at local elk safaris are in luck. “It’s a vibrant, innovative 100-year-old,” Engström-Weber laughs. With a mature, peaceful older sibling, one might add. Whether you fancy the excitement of Trollhättan or the harmony of Vänersborg, you will certainly have a great deal to thank the power of water for.

For more information, please visit: visittv.se

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 75

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

The gold and platinum jubilee ocarina. Photo: Anette Nilsson

Photo: Ateljé Lena Photography

A jubilee party where two worlds meet Ängelholm is a quaint but lively town with a seven-kilometre long sandy beach, plenty of cultural and community events, and a proud heritage starting with a charter dated 16 October 1516. Now the town is gearing up for its 500-year celebrations and an activity-packed year-long party, with the clay whistle ocarina orchestra that saw the light of day during the 450th anniversary at the ready. By Linnea Dunne | Photo: Ängelholm

“In the early 20th century, a lot of people here earned a living as clay artisans, selling their crafts in the town square,” says Lisbeth Holmåker, manager at Ängelholm Tourism Office. “But their kids had to be entertained – so the ocarina was born.” Ahead of the 500-year celebrations, one local artist decided to create a limited edition jubilee ocarina of gold and platinum, available in 500 signed copies, alongside a handful of other jubilee productions including ceramic bowls, Champagne and beer. “We’ll be celebrating pretty much all year, so there’s a lot going on: a new half marathon, a football tournament just for girls…” says Holmåker. “On 29 October we’re throwing a big jubilee party, and our usual annual festivals will be extra special this year.” The much-loved Light 76 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Fest, for instance, presents a dragon boat festival, a boat parade, live music and dancing, ending the evening with a spectacular fireworks display.

A county of contrasts Coinciding with the jubilee is Eurorando (10-17 September), a European hiking event with a programme of day hikes and social gatherings. Up to 7,000 European hikers are expected to take part in a week’s worth of tours, nature hikes and history walks throughout Skåne. “This is the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience Skåne’s rich natural surroundings with lush forests, picturesque villages, the sea and magnificent fields,” says Holmåker. “Nature has always been one of our real strengths, but there’s much more for the active traveller. Skåne boasts a 370-kilometre cycling trail, Kat-

tegattleden, following the coast along beaches and picturesque fishing spots.” While nature is often the draw, what amazes most visitors is the ease with which you can come and go and enjoy the good life. You are close to Malmö, Copenhagen and Gothenburg, yet just a stone’s throw from the Bjäre and Kulla peninsulas and the Hallandsåsen ridge. “You’re close to the pulse of the metropoles, yet there’s a startling silence – the contrasts are striking,” Holmåker explains. “It’s where two worlds meet.” Skåne is also known for its impressive amount of farm shops, giving it a reputation as a notable culinary destination. “You can’t blame visitors for talking about the easy, good life,” Holmåker insists. “Add the party spirit, and it looks like 2016 is going to be a good year.” For more information, please visit: engelholm.com

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Bottom left: Around 20 new restaurants have popped up in Umeå only in the last couple of years, here Juliette in the old town hall. Photo: Rex. Above: Umeå offers the culinary and cultural experiences of a big city alongside the friendliness and handy distances of a smaller place, all in pretty, snow-covered surroundings.

A little big city break “Umeå is not like other places where it takes 50 years for the locals to accept you,” says Erja Back, project manager at VisitUmeå, about the city’s reputation for being open and friendly. “In Umeå, you’re accepted straight away.” A small city with a big offering, Umeå makes for a different type of city break, boasting all the cultural and culinary experiences of a big metropolis, all within walking distance and topped off with shimmery winter hues. By Linnea Dunne | Photo: VisitUmeå

“We’re the biggest city of Norrland, which makes up half of Sweden,” says Back. “It’s almost hard to get your head around sometimes – while Umeå’s population is only around 120,000, we gained about 20 new restaurants only in the last couple of years, and the population increases with a steady 1,000 a year.” Foodies are spoilt for choice with a selection ranging from international trends to the finest of delicacies from the northern Swedish nature, including reindeer meat, whitefish roe, cloudberries, almond potatoes, fresh mushroom and, of course, Västerbotten cheese. Reasonably new additions to the culinary scene

include Gotthards krog, listed in the Nordic White Guide alongside more established haunts such as Bistro Le Garage and Köksbaren. “People want to eat out more and appreciate a bit of something special,” Back figures. “Umeå is just a really sociable place.” A youthful, vibrant university city, Umeå had the honour of being Sweden’s Capital of Culture in 2014, and a brand new culture centre, Väven, opened its doors on the riverbank that same year. Every February the city hosts an international folk music festival, Umefolk, followed by a metal festival, House of Metal, every March. May is the month of Brännboll-

syran, featuring the World Championships in brännboll (rounders) since 1974 and putting on one of Sweden’s biggest festivals, this year with Sebastian Ingrosso on the main stage. The standard of hotels in Umeå is really high, covering styles from nautique to modern Swedish design, making it a popular destination for conferences, particularly since Väven brought about a range of new high-tech conferencing suites. “In a lot of ways, Umeå is the perfect – but different – city break. In addition to museums, dining and shopping, we’ve got the northern hemisphere charm: the river is still covered in snow, the sunsets are stunning and the air is perfectly fresh. And let’s not forget the northern lights…”

For more information, please visit: www.visitumea.se

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 77

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

The plant Viper’s bugloss is just one of many beautiful species here.

The Swedish island where the sun always shines Head to the island of Öland in the southwest of Sweden, where the town of Borgholm celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2016. This gem had more than 460 hours of sunshine last summer and offers the perfect mix of small-town charm, vast landscapes and family-friendly events. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Press photos

“It’s a beautiful day! The sun always shines here,” says Stefan Ahlgren, acting destination developer, when we catch him over the phone on a December morning before Christmas.

tions in the country, according to the annual survey, Solligan. No wonder it is a popular holiday destination for Swedes. Even the Swedish Royal Family spend their summers here.

In summertime, Sweden’s second largest island is one of the sunniest destina-

“I’m always amazed by the open landscape. You can see the sea, horizon and sky meet. Öland offers a great sense of freedom,” says Ahlgren, adding: “The scenery is full of unique plants and nature. It’s calm and peaceful and, during the summer months, bustling with life.”

Borgholm celebrates 200 years The main town, Borgholm, celebrates 200 years in 2016 with a festive cele78 | Issue 84 | January 2016

bration, particularly around the jubilee weekend in August. This also coincides with the Swedish King’s vintage car race, Svenska Kungsrallyt, where you can spot H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf driving his Volvo PV 60 from 1946. Another good day for catching a glimpse of the Royal Family is around H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria’s birthday in July. The public celebration, Victoriadagen, starts at the family’s summer residence, Solliden, and ends in the afternoon in Borgholm, where live performances and music are broadcasted to a national audience. Solliden is an essential destination between May and September for anyone interested in gardens, handicraft and local produce. Jam, herbs and quirky brown-bean crisps are just some of the local artisan produce on the island. It is even sunny enough for vineyards, and

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Photo: Marlene Bergström

Bottom right: Crown Princess Victoria greets the audience at her birthday event, Victoriadagen.

one of the wineries is Wannborga Bränneri & Vingård where you can enjoy wine tastings and stay the night.

Small-town charm The town centre in Borgholm is compact and you can walk between the shops, cafés and acclaimed restaurants including Hotell Borgholm and Trädgårdsgatan 26, both mentioned in White Guide Nordic. “Everything is close by in Borgholm. You can choose from activities like bowls, tennis, swimming and shopping, all within walking distance. You can even walk to Borgholm castle ruins, the moorland Slottsalvaret and Solliden,” says Ahlgren and suggests rounding the day off with a cup of coffee or dinner at, for instance, Hotell Borgholm.

Family-friendly beaches and camping

Beach life is popular here, thanks a great deal to the sunny climate. Sandy beaches with shallow waters are found in Köpingsvik, close to Borgholm, and around the island. Without doubt one of the most well-known is the 20-kilometre long Böda Beach in the northeast.

Camping is also popular and Böda Camping, known from Swedish television, is Sweden’s largest camping ground, complete with restaurants, pubs, a grocery store, a bakery, a golf course and much more. It feels much like a small village, according to Ahlgren, and they even host concerts and plenty of activities, beach life aside.

Biking, hiking and fishing The entire island is flat, making it a perfect destination to explore by foot or bike – and there is plenty to see. “You can get from north to south by over 400 kilometres of cycle lanes. Biking or hiking through the entire province is just amazing, making stops along the way. The world heritage site on southern Öland is one example,” says Ahlgren. Fishing enthusiasts will be delighted to discover that the island has some of Sweden’s best spots for catching sea trout as well as pike. It is free and you will not need a fishing license. Although summer is the peak season, there are plenty of reasons to come in spring or autumn too. “If you’re interested in the bird watching, the last two

weeks of May and mid-October are perfect times to catch a glimpse of the migratory birds,” Ahlgren promises. The end of September sees the largest harvest festival in the country, with locally produced food and art, and the spring festival during the last weekend of May is the perfect occasion to see wild orchids in bloom. “We have several unique plants here, including orchids, thanks to the special limestone bedrock.” Dates for your calendar 2016 5 May: Open art studios, Majrundan. 27–29 May: The garden festival, Öland spirar. 14 July: Crown Princess Victoria’s birthday, Victoriadagen. 27–28 August: Borgholm’s 200th Jubilee weekend. 27 August: The vintage car rally, Svenska Kungsrallyt. 28 September–2 October: Öland’s harvest festival.

For more information, please visit: www.oland.se/en

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 79

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

Photo: Lisa Wikstrand

Photo: Studio-e

The friendly town where sea meets nature The southern Swedish town of Helsingborg is located in the greater Copenhagen area, offering the perfect mix of town buzz and nature. A royal castle, fantastic hike trails and a bustling town centre are just some of the attractions. By Ellinor Thunberg

“We have a lot of fun to look forward to this year. Our royal castle, Sofiero, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with festivities around town throughout the year,” says Emma Håkansson, tourism manager in Helsingborg. Sofiero is the main tourist attraction and the park was named the most beautiful in Europe in 2010. It is famed for the beautiful rhododendrons that you will find in full bloom here from May or June. The park is open from May to September and this year you will also be able to enjoy special exhibitions and a new Jubilee garden.

Hike by the sea The region has several great hiking trails, such as the beautiful 70-kilometre trail, Kullaleden, stretching from Helsingborg, around the Kullen peninsula, 80 | Issue 84 | January 2016

via Höganäs to Utvälinge. It is a certified Leading Quality Trail by the European Rambler’s Association and a part of the much longer Skåneleden trail. “Kullaleden is a coastal walk along the sea, and you can make two or three overnight stops along the way in hotels or bed and breakfasts,” Håkansson explains, adding that you can even combine hiking with shopping or exploring the local culture. With all this in mind, it is perhaps little surprise that Europe’s largest hiking event, Eurorando, is coming to Helsingborg in October 2016. “We welcome between 5,000 and 7,000 hikers, but you can also come here just to enjoy the party,” she says.

Explore the town Helsingborg has around 135,000 inhabitants and is the eighth-largest town

in Sweden, according to size. But the restaurant scene still offers some 450 restaurants, and celebrity chefs such as Tina Nordström and Niklas Ekstedt started their journeys here. In summer you can enjoy a swim at Tropical Beach, right in the town centre, and in winter three different open-air swimming baths provide perfect conditions for a hot sauna and dip in the sea. Håkansson says that the best thing about the town is the wide range of different activities and the fact that there is always something going on. She describes it as a ‘boutique holiday’ where you get town buzz and beautiful nature in one. “We are Sweden’s most friendly town, and many visitors say that they wish they could stay for longer.”

For more information, please visit: www.visithelsingborg.com

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations

White elk, royalties and vintage cars Arvika offers an attractive combination of stunning nature and a diverse cultural scene – all in the heart of Värmland.

“Most international visitors come to experience our fantastic surroundings, but are also surprised by the broad selection of cultural events, small shops and restaurants. The mix brings people back, year after year,” says tourism director Eva Aasum. Amongst the area’s popular destinations is Glaskogen Nature Reserve with 300 kilometres of hiking routes and great fishing opportunities. New this year is a 3.5-kilometre route located in the Byamossarna Nature Reserve, a gift for the royal wedding of Prince Carl

Philip and Princess Sofia, who are also its official guardians. Moreover, the region has a high number of elk – and not just the majestic, brown species, but also the rare, white elk with its dark eyes and beautiful white fur. In addition to offering scenic nature, Arvika is a hub for art lovers. Rackstad Museum is among the main attractions, presenting famous Swedish artists such as Björn Ahlgrensson, Fritz Lindström, Ture Ander and Bror Lindh. The vintage car museum is popular for its more than one hundred cars, motorcycles and all

things on wheels, and another recommendation is Klässbol Linen Weaving Mill which, as the only damask linen producer in Scandinavia, delivers its exclusive products to the royal court, embassies and the annual Nobel Banquet. This spring and summer have plenty of events on offer, including classical and chamber music festival Glafsfjorden on 20-23 January, with some of the best Swedish and international musicians performing. Gammelvala Folk Festival takes place on 23-30 July in Brunskog, showcasing traditional environments and handicraft techniques from 150 years ago. And Arvika Harbour Festival on 4-6 August hosts music and dance performances including The Hooters and Miriam Bryant. By Malin Norman | Photos: Arvika

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For more information, please visit: www.visitarvika.se

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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark

Attraction of the Month, Denmark

A new city district like no other Focused on art, culture and creativity, Musicon is not a traditional city development. Located in Roskilde, half an hour from Copenhagen, the new city district aims to be a national centre for everyone who needs untraditional settings to develop new projects and ideas.

oldest and biggest, transforms into Denmark’s fourth-largest city with residents from all over Europe.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Kim Wendt

‘Life before the city’ and ‘user-driven city development’ have been central terms at Musicon since the old factory workshops, office buildings and empty spaces were taken into use in 2008. Hence, skaters, artists, a dance theatre, Roskilde Festival, organisations and small creative firms who were the first to move in, set the course for the future city development. Now, Musicon has entered a phase that sees the permanent city beginning to take form alongside the temporary projects that continue to flourish.

Ever since Roskilde city bought the old concrete factory, Unicon, in 2003, the ambition has been to explore alternative approaches to city planning. For this reason, a typical masterplan for the 250,000-square-metre plot was never developed. Instead, the idea was to develop the city step by step in constant dialogue with potential and current users and residents as well as the architects capable of realising its physical structure. “It has always been a major drive to create a city district without any superfluous structures – a place where we would not have to fill a lot of empty new houses with content, but where we would base the buildings on the ideas which they 82 | Issue 84 | January 2016

were to house and further,” says Katrine Nyland Sørensen, who is head of Musicon, adding: “Match-making is an important part of the administration’s work. We are constantly contacted by people with good ideas, but not everyone has the financial resources needed to realise their plans. Whether they want to build an office facility, open a shop or set up an art exhibition in one of our halls, we try to match them up with someone who has the experience and resources to help them along.” The dynamic approach to city planning draws inspiration from Musicon’s closest neighbour, Roskilde Festival. Every year, the festival, which is one of Europe’s

A multifunctional city

“My co-workers and I are in contact with big and small participants daily – from small companies that want to set up a store in a 20-foot container, or build everything from individual homes to major cultural institutions and property de-

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark

velopers that want to develop six-storey apartment complexes. We try, and encourage our users, to rethink some of the elements that constitute a city, preferably in a way that makes them multifunctional,” says Sørensen. “The award-winning urban drainage system in the Rabalder Park also functions as a skate park and has been created in close cooperation with the skaters at Musicon; the future creative family homes are a reinterpretation of the town houses of past times with commercial residences on the ground floor and residential homes above; and Denmark’s Museum of Rock, which is opening in April, will function as both a unique museum and a city residence.” Denmark’s Museum of Rock, which has acted as a cultural catalyst for the development of Musicon, is a contemporary, cultural history museum. Focusing on youth culture and the way it has affected society through its music, the museum explores the year 1945 and onwards. At the same time, it will be Denmark’s first museum directed at young people, a museum that will be accessible 24/7 and in constant development and dialogue with its users. A ‘red carpet’ will lead visitors right to the museum’s overhang, which will act as an outdoor space for concerts and similar events.

All new buildings are created to facilitate specific ideas of Musicon’s potential users and residents.

unique city planning model. They are also very fascinated by the fact that Musicon is both an offspring of a festival, which every year rebuilds itself from nothing, and of a historical city with a global heritage and proud traditions,” says Sørensen. For more information, please visit: www.musicon.dk

Roskilde in Venice From May this year, architecture enthusiasts from all over the world will be able to experience a taste of Roskilde and Musicon – in Venice. The new city district has recently been selected to participate as a part of the exhibition in the Danish pavilion at the Architecture Biennale in Venice in 2016. With 60 participating countries, the biennale is the biggest architecture event in the world. This year, the theme for the biennale is quality of life through architecture, and the goal behind the Danish exhibition is to show how Danish architects are, right now, creating cities and districts centred around people. “Because we don’t just focus on roads and bricks but also prioritise citizen involvement and the development of a diverse urban environment, the curators behind the Danish exhibition see Musicon as a Issue 84 | January 2016 | 83

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland

Left: A viewer by the work Tägliche Einfalt by Jan Voss at his solo exhibition at the Akureyri Art Museum. Photo: Daníel Starrason /listak.is Top right: Listagilið (the Art Street) in Akureyri is vibrant and lively with the Akureyri Art Museum, an art school, artist studios, artist-run galleries, restaurants and cafés. Photo: Völundur Jónsson / listak.is Bottom right: Visitors at the opening of the autumn exhibition, sculpture works by Þórarinn Blöndal. Photo: Völundur Jónsson / listak.is

Attraction of the Month, Iceland

Big art in a small town In northern Iceland, in a small town famous for its rich culture and real Icelandic winters, is a museum dedicated to offering visitors and locals diverse art from across the globe. Creativity has birthed Akureyri Art Museum in a house where the manufacturing of dairy products used to take place. By Ingunn Huld Sævarsdótt

Akureyri, a town of around 18,000 people, is known for its vibrant arts, crafts and creativity and was chosen by Lonely Planet as the best place to visit in Europe for 2015. Downtown Akureyri, in a street that now goes by the name of Listagilið (or Art Street), are various galleries, studios and an art school as well as the Akureyri Art Museum. “The museum opened in 1993 when the dairy industry had left the buildings for more convenient premises. Various artists bought and moved into many of the houses on the other side of the street and set up their studios there. The dairy house with beautiful halls and a fascinating Bauhaus design was thought well-suited for an art gallery,” says museum director Hlynur Hallsson. 84 | Issue 84 | January 2016

The plan, when the museum first opened on the second floor of the building, was that the entire building would serve as a museum, and it now looks like that vision will be fulfilled in time for the museum’s 25th anniversary in 2018. “I expect it to become one of the more noteworthy exhibition halls in the country,” says Hallsson. Akureyri Art Museum offers exhibitions by both Icelandic artists and artists from around the globe. “The museum often collaborates with the other galleries and studios in the Art Street. When we launch an exhibition, it often goes hand in hand with what’s happening in the street – a win-win situation for everyone – with more variety and more action in general,” says the museum director.

Asked about the highlights of upcoming shows in 2016, he mentions that the museum is really proud to exhibit the work of Joan Jonas, who represented the United States at the Venice Biennale 2015. At the same time, local artists play a big role in the diverse exhibition programme for the year ahead. The Summer Arts Festival and the Performance Festival A!, which proved a massive hit last year, are also among the highlights. Hallsson goes on to highlight all the exciting upcoming exhibitions, and it seems unquestionable that a visit to the quaint town of Akureyri is a must in 2016 for any self-respecting art lover.

Hlynur Hallsson, the director of the Akureyri Art Museum, believes that the renovated museum will soon be one of the more noteworthy exhibition halls in Iceland. Photo: Völundur Jónsson / listak.is

For more information, please visit: www.listak.is

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Faroe Islands

Attraction of the Month, Faroe Islands

Koltur is one of the smallest of all the Faroe Islands, located to the west of Streymoy and north of Hestur.

A slice of traditional Faroese life Despite its small size, the island of Koltur carries a treasure of cultural history, beautiful nature and, most importantly, peacefulness. By Sanne Wass | Photos: Martin Sirkovsky

With its 2.3 square kilometres, Koltur is one of the smallest islands of the 18 Faroe Islands. Although not many people live there – only two, in fact – more and more visitors come to the island to get a taste of the quiet life. “When people visit Koltur, they experience peace,” says Andras Mortensen, director of Faroese National Heritage. “There’s no highway, no noise. It’s incredibly green, and there are lots of plants and birds. You really get close to nature. You feel how tough it can be to live on such an island – but at the same time how peaceful it is.” After just half an hour by boat, or a few minutes by helicopter, visitors arrive into a mix of Faroese cultural history, as-

tonishing nature and plenty of fresh air. It usually takes tourists a day to see the entire island: one can walk around the beautiful coastline, which is a significant breeding site for seabirds, or climb the island’s 478-metre ‘mountain’ to get an extraordinary view over the steep cliffs and the North Sea. But Koltur offers more than breathtaking nature; it is a unique opportunity to study traditional Faroese culture, lifestyle and adaptation to natural conditions. “What is special about the buildings on Koltur is that they reflect a thousand years of settlement history, going all the way back to the Viking Age. We know that the Vikings went ashore here more than a thousand years ago,” Mortensen explains.

The island’s two historic settlements are well preserved as a museum. The older settlement, in southern Koltur, is a quaint collection of small houses and outhouses with turf roofs, rebuilt several times on the same common since the Viking Age. At the younger settlement up north, the architecture reflects the fishing community that revolved around the Faroe Islands in the 1800s. “Koltur is a historical adventure. It tells the story of the Faroe Islands – the culture and lifestyle – in a miniature version,” says Mortensen. In 2013, the Faroese government declared Koltur to be preserved as a national historical site. It is now working to restore more of the island’s unique features and encourage more visitors who are curious to experience a slice of traditional Faroese life. For more information, please visit: www.savn.fo

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 85

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

Attraction of the Month, Norway

Opera to the people in exotic surroundings In scenic surroundings in the midst of fjords and mountains, you will find Kristiansund. The prosperous coastal city has attracted high culture, including opera, from southern Europe from its early days. About 200 years on, the Opera in Kristiansund is well established within the music world and hosts a magnificent opera festival every February: The Opera Festivities. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Ken A. Jensen

Words do not do this part of Norway justice but, while nature has gone overboard, one would perhaps not think of this as one of the first places in the Nordics where opera took a foothold. The locals have, however, enjoyed such classical pieces since the early 1800s, attracting national stars as well as cultivating local talents. With this in mind, it is no longer a surprise that the city is home to the annual Opera Festivities every February, boasting two weeks of great entertainment with concerts in the harbour, in cafés, on a boat and, not least, 86 | Issue 84 | January 2016

at the Opera House, hosting big productions including the always-enchanting Magic Flute by Mozart and the most performed Russian opera, Eugen Onegin by Tchaikovsky. “Whether you fancy a full evening at the Opera House dressed in your nicest suit, or prefer a little taster during lunch, there is something for you,” director of the Opera in Kristiansund, Line Lønning Andresen, says. This year’s festivities take place from 4 to 20 February, and visitors can look forward to dozens of performances. The

locals are known to be proud ambassadors, and most would go to see at least one performance, if not more. Special for the festival is its inclusion of artists who most certainly do not normally perform in opera houses, including the muchcelebrated rap duo Karpe Diem and rocker Åge Aleksandersen. “We always try to present opera in new ways and demonstrate the genre’s multi-faceted nature,” Lønning Andresen says and adds: “On this year’s programme we have operas and operettas as well as musicals and concerts with famous artists from other genres. Our mantra is ‘opera to the people’, and it really is.” The full 2016 programme will be available from late January. For more information and to view the programme, please visit: www.oik.no

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

Photo: Odd Inge Teige.

Photo: Morten M. Løberg

Top: Face-to-face talks with Morten Krogvold. Right: One of the images for which Audun Rikardsen was awarded Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015.

Photo: Audun Rikardsen

Setting the scene for a spectacular photography festival Is there an aspiring photographer inside you? Or do you simply like the look of beautiful images? Nordic Light International Festival of Photography is the place to be either way: a one-of-a-kind festival celebrating a passion for photography. By Helene Toftner

With its unique coastal surroundings in north-western Norway, Kristiansund has attracted many eager photographers from near and far to capture the perfect moment. Once a year, they return to the city to exhibit their works and talk to the visitors at the Nordic Light International Festival of Photography. The upcoming festival kicks off on 27 April and lasts for five days, packed with exhibitions and talks by some of the biggest names in the industry. Among them will be Morten Krogvold, who will offer face-to-face sessions. “It is such an intimate event, so visitors really have the opportunity to talk to the photographers. Whether they want advice

on how to snap the perfect holiday photo, or they want to know more about the story behind the photos on display, the photographers are around,” says Ingunn Strand, managing director at Nordic Light Events. One of the main Norwegian draws this year is Audun Rikardsen, the highly acclaimed winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 portfolio award. If you are into photography, you have almost certainly seen his award-winning snaps from the coastal life in Norway. “He has exhibited as part of the world-touring Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition 2015, so we are very happy to see

him here,” Strand says. Rikardsen is, however, not the only big name on the programme, with the festival having a strong tradition of attracting the biggest international photographers, while also showcasing national and regional talents. “The variation is massive, and the photographers are given complete artistic freedom to choose topics and themes for what they exhibit,” Strand says, adding: “Because the variety is so great, it really is a festival for everyone, whether you have a special interest in photography or simply enjoy beautiful pictures.”

The festival takes place 27 April – 1 May 2016. For more information, please visit: www.nle.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 87

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark

Hotel of the Month, Denmark

A small oasis of French charm With babbling fountains, lion-footed bathtubs and tall lime trees, Villa Provence is a world away from most other hotels in Aarhus. The French ambiance and unassuming luxury of the small, family-owned hotel have resulted in several top ratings; most recently, Trivago ranked it as Denmark’s second-best hotel.

ing sites such as TripAdvisor and Trivago. The latter listed the hotel as Denmark’s second best, only preceded by Nimb in Copenhagen, in 2015.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Villa Provence

Number one

Tucked away in a picturesque townhouse in the heart of Aarhus, Villa Provence has earned a loyal following. Whether they are visiting for business or pleasure, guests find the hotel’s charming details, personalised service and homey atmosphere addictive, explains Steen Stenstrup, who owns and runs Villa Provence with his wife, Annette Stenstrup. “At the weekend we have lots of romancing couples, but during the week most of our regular guests are people 88 | Issue 84 | January 2016

who work for large international corporations and travel a lot. They find it positively liberating to come here instead of the homogenous hotel chains they are used to. Some of our regulars even call in to ask if we have a free room and, if we do, move their meetings accordingly – I don’t think that happens at a lot of other hotels.” The high approval rate of guests is confirmed by continuous top rankings by rat-

When entering Villa Provence, guests are met by babbling fountains, cobblestones and lime trees in an enchanting Provençal courtyard created by the famous Danish flower artist Tage Andersen. The authentic French ambiance saturates every corner of the hotel. Everything from the homey lounge and breakfast room to the 39 rooms and suites has been individually decorated with furnishings such as cast iron beds, retro poster art and vintage mirrors. It is, stresses Stenstrup, his wife Annette who is the driving force

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark

All rooms at Villa Provence are individually decorated with furniture, art and décor from France.

in the creation of the hotel’s bewitching atmosphere. “In the everyday running, it’s Annette who is in charge of repainting the rooms, buying new interiors and pictures – most of it she brings home with her from France,” he says. As part of the continuous maintenance, Villa Provence has its own painter and decorator so that the hotel’s décor never appears worn. One thing the hotel does not have is a restaurant, as most guests prefer to explore the many nearby gourmet eateries. However, guests are treated to a freshly cooked breakfast, served at the table in the hotel’s breakfast room.

Quality of life and work When the Stenstrups decided to set up Villa Provence 12 years ago, the ambition was not only to create a first-class boutique hotel. Having previously owned and run a large and successful conference hotel, the couple also hoped that a small-

er, more intimate project would allow them a different lifestyle. “One of the main characteristics of our hotel is that we are always here ourselves, and we actually have the time to pay real attention to our guests and their wellbeing. We are probably some of the only hotel directors who meet up every morning at a quarter to seven to say good morning, check in guests and serve breakfast,” says Stenstrup. The personal presence and attention of the owners has become a significant part of the hotel’s identity and that is why, despite many requests, the couple has never been tempted to open more than one Villa Provence. “It’s impossible to have more than one hotel like ours – you can’t be in two places at the same time,” Stenstrup explains and adds: “When we set up this hotel, one of our aims was to be able to enjoy life. Before, we were running around like cra-

zy, and we thought it was time to slow down and have some time for our family as well.” It turned out to be the right decision as Villa Provence has indeed become an oasis for everyone to enjoy the good life. Villa provence in brief: Number of rooms: 35 standard, classic and superior rooms and four suites. Internet: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms. Facilities: Bar/lounge, breakfast room, private parking (125DKK) and electric vehicle charger (75DKK). Location: Fredens Torv 12, Aarhus, a six-minute walk from Aarhus central station. For more information, please visit: www.villaprovence.dk

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 89

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

Many have shed tears encountering the northern lights at Uløy.

Hotel of the Month, Norway

Warm encounters up north For a chance of an unforgettable date with the enigmatic aurora borealis, it is said that one should travel north. And if you travel all the way to 69 degrees north, to Arctic Panorama Lodge in Uløybukt by Lyngenfjorden in Troms, you get both a warm meeting with the locals and fellow travellers and an unforgettable encounter with the wild. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Arctic Panorama Lodge

The lodge is family owned and run by husband and wife Aud Sole Haugen and Svein Jakobsen, who focus on offering warm and personal service. “We want to give our guests ‘the lodge feeling’, a feeling of visiting old friends. Around the communal dinner table, guests, whether they come alone or in groups, engage in lively conversation, and many leave us with newfound friends,” Jakobsen says.

Northern Norwegian fare Sole Haugen is in charge in the kitchen, and at Arctic Panorama Lodge, 90 | Issue 84 | January 2016

traditional northern Norwegian food is central. Reindeer meat and arctic cod are frequently served, but the kitchen is flexible and used to cater to international guests who may not be used to such a heavy fare. Any allergies or intolerances are also taken into consideration. The lodge’s dining room and common area are decorated in a homely style, but the panoramic windows also provide guests with an extraordinary living room view. With Lyngenfjorden and the Lyngen Alps right outside, guests frequently have

the opportunity to witness the northern lights or a hawk diving for food from the comfort of the couch. However, to really experience the spectacular nature of Uløy, you have to venture outside. At Arctic Panorama they have made sure nobody is going to freeze, offering proper arctic attire such as snow boots, coats and gloves as part of their standard package. Once properly dressed, guests are guided by Arctic Panorama on a real adventure in the wilderness. The people at the lodge are just as focused on offering personal experiences in the great outdoors as within the four walls of the house, and offer a variety of outings by foot, snow shoes, horseback or boat for groups of about six people. “Of course, if people are travelling in groups of ten, we’re not

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

going to split them up,” says Jakobsen, “but we believe small tour groups have the best experiences. Walking up the mountains in a line of 50 people just isn’t the same.”

lodge has acquired a few. “To lie on a reindeer skin on the top of the mountain is truly breathtaking,” he says, pointing out that wherever they go it is important to leave nothing but footprints behind.

Perfect conditions for the northern lights

Another great way of hunting the northern lights is with man’s best friend by your side. If they like, guests can get a hands-on experience by preparing the dogs and driving the dogsled themselves. The boat can also be taken out for fishing, and in the winter the skrei (a type of cod) is particularly plentiful, with the kitchen happy to prepare and serve fish caught by guests.

With only 15 inhabitants, the light pollution in Uløybukt is minimal, making the conditions for viewing the northern lights optimal. From Uløy, the aurora borealis can be enjoyed both from the top of the mountain and by boat on Lyngenfjorden. A so-called ‘summit to sea’ destination, the landscape at Uløy provides avid photographers with a number of different ways to compose the perfect northern lights photo. With a strong focus on eco-tourism, Arctic Panorama ideally would not use snow mobiles at all, but Jakobsen explains that in a measure to make the Lyngen Alps accessible to everyone, the

In the footsteps of the Sámi Populated for the past 6,000 years, the landscape of Uløy is steeped in history. Even Scandinavia’s indigenous people, the nomadic Sámis, have used the island as summer pasture for their reindeer for generations. “It is the oldest known Sámi reindeer pasture in the

Nordics, which makes it the oldest in the world really,” Jakobsen explains. On Arctic Panorama’s Sámi evenings, guests get a taste of traditional Sámi cuisine, including Bidos – a soup made of reindeer meat – and enjoy stories about Sámi life around the bonfire in the lavvo tent. The evening is then rounded off with a yoik – the traditional Sámi singing – performance. Travel north and follow in the footsteps of the Sámi people to come close to nature and experience the unforgettable northern lights. Sole Haugen, Jakobsen and their team at Arctic Panorama Lodge are ready to welcome travellers with open arms and hearty meals. “My job and main focus is to make sure our guests are happy,” Jakobsen concludes. For more information please visit: arcticpanorama.com

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 91

Restaurant of the Month, Denmark

Letz eat and shop! French food exemplifies the definition of timeless classics. And though you would naturally go to France to try these out, Copenhagen provides you with an opportunity to taste classic and affordable French food, cooked and developed by a French chef. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Le Saint Jacques

Daniel Letz, the mastermind behind the restaurant Le Saint Jacques, has played a profound role in Danish culinary history. A few years after moving to the Danish capital, he earned Copenhagen its first Michelin star. Since then he has introduced the Danes to the wonders of the French kitchen both through his restaurant and by importing high-quality French products.

Le Saint Jacques Letz’s restaurant in the centre of Copenhagen is, in his own words, “a brasserie for everyone”. 92 | Issue 84 | January 2016

“There are parts of the menu that we simply cannot change, as our regulars would murder us!” Letz says with a smile. With timeless classics such as confit de canard and crème brûlée, it is completely understandable that the regulars call for consistency on the menu. Le Saint Jacques is a small, intimate restaurant in the winter, with just 40 covers. Once warmer weather hits, the restaurant opens its doors to the outside world and the bustling square it is in, allowing more people to try the French specialities. “It is almost like two different res-

taurants – a winter and a summer one,” Letz suggests.

Affordable yet excellent food There is good reason why up to 80 per cent of those who visit Le Saint Jacques are regulars. The atmosphere is relaxed, the food is excellent and the prices are extremely affordable. People keep coming back because it is a place where you can relax, let yourself unwind and indulge

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark

shops stock exquisite French produce including hams, wines and over 30 different cheeses. “It’s all about bringing the French specialities to Denmark.”

Great-quality French food

in superb food and drink. “It is accessible for everyone and we want people to feel welcome and relaxed as soon as they step through the door,” insists the owner. Last year, coinciding with its 20th anniversary, Le Saint Jacques mixed it up a bit and added an extremely reasonably priced Sunday menu, which became a huge hit. “Sunday evenings do require booking – we fill up very quickly, and it’s extremely popular,” says Letz. Copenhagen is not known for being the cheapest or most affordable city to visit, however at Le Saint Jacques on a Sunday, you get a three-course meal for 250 DKK. “It’s the perfect thing to do on a Sunday in Copenhagen. Everything is normally dead on a Sunday, but there’s plenty of life here in the evening.”

New cookbook In conjunction with the release of Daniel Letz’s new cookbook, Letz Fugl, which is all about poultry, Le Saint Jacques will have more poultry added to its menu in

the first half of 2016. “The book is for the home cook looking for a bit of inspiration,” Letz says. Not only has the book provided inspiration for the restaurant, but it has also led Letz to import some of the beautiful poultry from France, previously not very easily accessible in Denmark.

Bringing France to Denmark Importing French goods resulted in Letz opening a shop across from the restaurant, called Letz Shop. This provided an opportunity for people to buy authentic French food and wine, and some of the specialities from Le Saint Jacques can also be found there. Letz’s smoked salmon, which has taken years to perfect, is a staple both in the restaurant and in the shop. In 2015, Letz also opened another shop in Frederiksberg in Copenhagen. “This shop is bigger and offers a slightly bigger variety of goods, particularly when it comes to bread,” Letz explains. Both

“I want good quality everywhere,” Letz says, and that is the mindset with which he has created a restaurant where people can enjoy the exquisite produce associated with France, and two shops where people can go to try their hand at the French classics or simply make a superb cheese board. Letz’s infectious energy for all his projects is admirable. If you are in Copenhagen and looking for a relaxed environment paired with a satisfying meal and a superb glass of wine, then head to Le Saint Jacques. If you want to bring a souvenir back with you or invite friends over for dinner, then go to Letz Shop for inspiration, advice and fabulous produce to make your taste buds sing.

For more information please visit: lesaintjacques.dk

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 93

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Finland

Restaurant of the Month, Finland

Restaurant Kolmon3n offers traditional Finnish fare with a modern European spin.

Living room dining Kolmon3n is a neighbourhood restaurant tucked away in the heart of Kallio, a vibrant district in Helsinki, and has become a popular lunch and dinner destination for locals and visitors alike. Inspired by modern Nordic cuisine, the restaurant’s menu boasts fresh, local produce from Helsinki and Finland, as well as a wide range of wines and local craft beers.

meat, fish and vegetarian options. “I and my business partner, Santeri Harju, wanted to open a restaurant that offers customers fresh seasonal food and tasty homely fare,” Lumb explains.

By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Julianna Harkki

From reindeer osso bucco and fish of the day to rose hip panna cotta, Kolmon3n serves traditional Finnish fare with a modern European spin. The restaurant also offers a seasonal à la carte menu of modern Finnish bistro cuisine. “As well as focusing on local produce,” Lumb says, “we want to make traditional Finnish cuisine interesting and combine it with new and exciting flavours.”

Located at the eastern end of Helsinki’s heart, Kallio used to be a working class neighbourhood that has undergone a facelift in recent years. Now home to a young and diverse population, the district’s rugged charm, paired with a number of trendy restaurants and bars, gives the area a distinctive appeal. Open since April 2014, Kolmon3n has established itself as a homely neighbourhood restaurant. Kolmon3n’s focus is on serving traditional Finnish food and fresh, local ingredients. “We serve traditional Finnish home cooking, made with the best-quality ingredients,” says Ryan Lumb, co-owner 94 | Issue 84 | January 2016

at Kolmon3n. “All our dishes are created using interesting flavours, sourced from the best local and Nordic ingredients. Many of our products are supplied by small businesses in and around Helsinki: our beers and ciders come from microbreweries all over Finland, our cheeses come from a local dairy, our coffee is roasted weekly at Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo and we stock gin from Helsinki Distilling Company. Supporting local business is important to us.”

Finnish delights Kolmon3n’s lunch is themed on Finnish home cooking with a twist. The lunch menu changes daily and always has

Living room vibe The simple yet colourful décor featuring typical modern Scandinavian design brings its own style and a special, relaxed feel to the restaurant. “The atmosphere in Kolmon3n is cosy and inviting; we wanted to give the place a homely feel and for customers to be able to relax. It’s almost

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Finland

Owners Ryan Lumb and Santeri Harju.

like they are chilling in their own living room,” says Lumb. “Kolmon3n seats 30 guests, and the place is rarely quiet. Our team is very close, and we all work hard to ensure that we offer customers the highest-quality service. The team takes great pride in expertly selecting beers to match different foods.” Kolmon3n also has a sister restaurant: nearby Loung3 serves cocktails and food with the idea that sharing is caring. “Loung3 serves tapas-style starters, and even main courses are made with the idea that customers can share their food,” Lumb explains.

Pairing beer with food Finland is following in the rest of Europe’s footsteps with its emerging craft beer scene and, in addition to its food selection, Kolmon3n offers a wide range of beers from local microbreweries. “The recent rise of the craft beer movement has given us the opportunity to showcase local beers and combine them with our

food. Our beers and ciders are supplied to us by small brewers in Finland, and they are carefully selected to accompany our dishes,” says Lumb. “We have a lot of exciting new projects in the pipeline and are always developing new products and ideas. On New Year’s Eve, we launched our own beer, Lag3r, which we created in partnership with an independent Finnish craft brewery.” Catering for small, intimate dinners as well as larger parties, Kolmon3n is the perfect setting for those who want to experience dining in an authentic, Finnish way. “We want to stay true to the Kallio spirit and our mission is to offer local, great-quality food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere. Our food is unpretentious and rustic, but always of excellent quality,” Lumb concludes.

For more information please visit: www.kolmon3n.com

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 95

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

Photo: Juiceriet.no

Restaurant of the Month, Norway

Eat fresh, feel fresh Make a stop at Fresko the next time you are on a stroll down Aker Brygge in Oslo. Located in Aker Brygge’s newly refurbished shopping street, Fresko, with its large variety of food, is living proof that healthy does not have to mean boring.

Juices, shakes, salads, soups and sweets: the list of what Fresko has to offer is long. All the food at Fresko is made from scratch in the shop to avoid additives and other forms of manipulation of the food’s appearance and durability. Fresko makes some of its own commodities too, including almond milk made from organic almonds.

By Vilde Holta Røssland | Photos: Fresko

Fresko helps you choose the healthy alternative by offering fresh, organic and clean commodities. Fresh fruits and vegetables, purified water, organic products, homemade dressings and recyclable packaging are all part of Fresko’s way of motivating and inspiring people to take responsibility for their own health as well as the environment.

tasty. And most of all, we want it to be good for the health of the people eating it,” Paulina-Elisa Pacheco, the owner of Fresko, says. Instead of using fast carbohydrates, such as white flour and sugar, that have low nutritional value and a negative effect on your blood sugar, Fresko uses clean wheat products and quinoa, which boast a high nutritional content.

In addition to being a healthy alternative for each and every one of their customers, Fresko offers food for those on lowcarb and raw food diets. Food allergies? No problem. Fresko has alternatives for you, too.

Fresh, non-processed and locally produced are some of the key words describing the food at Fresko. Their suppliers and retailers are well-known brands in the Norwegian market, such as Stange, Rørosmeieriet, Montabes and Kaffa. “For us to be sustainable, we use a lot of locally produced food. It is important to use what we have nearby,” Pacheco says.

”We want people to realise that food does not necessarily need additives to be good. We want our food to be nutritious and 96 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Fresko’s food is also available for businesses wanting a little variation, be it in terms of snacks for meetings or catering at bigger events. You simply register your company and make a deal with Fresko, who will deliver the food. The food from Fresko is different, yet familiar. “We offer food you know with our own little twist,” Pacheco says.

For more information, please visit: www.fresko.no

Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns

IS IT JUST ME…

By Mette Lisby

Who has recently started to wonder whether there are people who go to their call centre customer service job every day only with the intention of annoying us? You know most things function reasonably well on a daily basis: you pay your bills and monthly subscriptions online or by monthly direct debit and it is all fine. Until one day it is not, and you have to call customer service to get back the service you already paid for. Recently, our Cable TV refused to show any of the shows and channels we subscribed to, and we had to call the so-called customer service which, as it turns out, is a term most service-related companies use very casually these days. First you have to get through the automated voice response system, which can be aggravating in and of itself, because somehow the system is borderline racist. If you do not pronounce ‘re-pre-sen-ta-tive’ absolutely perfectly, it tells you, very mechanically, first an optimistic ‘I didn’t get that’, then progressing to ‘option is unknown’, followed by the dreaded ‘please start over’. Then you use the pound key – which you have pounded like you were Mike Tyson before biting off someone’s ear. And then you might reach an actual human being.

Hugs I’ve recently attended a few Swedish shindigs, which have reminded me of an aspect of Scandinavian etiquette that I sorely miss: the greeting ceremony. Swedes only have two modes of greeting. Mode 1 – the handshake. This applies to all strangers and is something that Swedes do well. It’s a swift, firm affair with comforting eye contact and a word or two of hello. There are no limp fishes, no up-turned, Queen-style offerings , no finger crushers or clammy lingerers. On the whole, Swedes shake hands like they’re on an emergency international relations mission. Once you move beyond this formal stage with a person, you move on to mode 2 – a hug. Again, this is very no-frills. You grab, you hug, you release, done. Maybe it’s my Swedish reserve, but oh how I love the simplicity of this! I can’t count the amount of times that I’ve gone for a kiss, or a kiss/hug, or a kiss/ kiss and ended up smooching someone’s neck, or their hair, or ended up head-butting them. Once or twice I’ve been precariously close to snogging a stranger because I just

This is your first – and only – victory, and you feel like someone should give you a medal, because boy have you earned it. But this is where you encounter the aforementioned people, who have declared that their sole purpose for the day is aggravating customers. They do not help you; they just pass you on to another department, then from department to department where no one is able to detect your problem or the person who may be able to solve it. It is as though everybody showed up at work thinking, ‘let’s pass the monkey’. Yes! Sadly, you are the monkey these people have decided to pass around! In the end, you opt out, hang up and spend two hours finding one of your cable provider’s bricks-and-mortar shops, where they tell you, ‘oh, you know, you could have solved that problem online or using your smartphone’. And you yell: “I tried! But if that was truly possible, you would be unemployed, so just be happy you are still the shop re-pre-sen-ta-tive’!”

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish version of Have I Got News For You and Room 101.

By Maria Smedstad Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

didn’t know which side to go for first. You know where you are with a handshake and a hug. There are no margins of error, very little chance of public humiliation. And your face remains in a safe place at all times, either at a nice distance (shake) or tucked away over someone’s shoulder (hug). Don’t get me wrong, kisses are great! But only in the right context, with the right people, when you have mintyfresh breath and everyone is firmly on the same page and cheek.

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 97

Scan Magazine | Café of the Month | Norway

Café of the Month, Norway

Traditional home-cooked food in world-famous venue Idyllically located across the river Nidelva from the stunning Nidaros Cathedral is the wonderful café Baklandet Skydsstadion. Imagine walking through the picturesque streets of an old part of town, then being able to enter one of the houses to enjoy an exclusive home-cooked meal. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Baklandet Skydsstadion

The building itself is from 1791 and is as packed with history as it is of inviting aromas from the kitchen. Its back garden, where guests can enjoy their food and drinks, remains in all its originality from when it was built – a feature that has seen the entire building listed as a cultural heritage. Having been awarded Café of the Year by the National Geographic in 2012, the peaceful cafeteria proudly produces its own traditional Scandinavian food and can offer 111 different types of aquavit, guaranteed to add that something extra to the dining experience. 98 | Issue 84 | January 2016

“We are very preoccupied with traditional food, like fish soup, reindeer stew, salmon and of course herring,” the owner, Gurli Riis Holmen, says. “Herring is a personal favourite of mine and I am constantly trying to invent new ways of preparing and serving it. We have a large Danish herring buffet every Friday, Saturday and Sunday year-round. A number of our guests have learnt to enjoy herring here, young people too, and they’re always surprised by how good it tastes.”

Like a public living room Dane Riis Holmen, who has owned the café for nearly seven years, says that

one of the key elements of the café is tradition and combining all things Scandinavian. “I’d probably say that tradition and home-cooked meals, combined, of course, with a good aquavit, have always been key elements,” she says. “After Lonely Planet described us as ‘probably the best fish soup in Norway’, guests from all over the world have been walking through the door. And that’s exactly what we want to be: a place where guests from all over the world feel welcome and can enjoy good company as well as great food and drinks.” Like a public living room, guests are usually placed rather close together, with every chance of meeting a local over a cup of cocoa, or indeed meeting a tourist. Quite fitting, in other words, that National Geographic described Baklandet Skydsstaion as ‘an old fisherman’s café turned student

Scan Magazine | Café of the Month | Norway

hangout, this may be the cosiest place in Scandinavia’. “I was very impressed that we were mentioned in both Lonely Planet and National Geographic, especially with the way they described us,” Riis Holmen admits. “We want the guests to feel that they are visiting someone’s home in this old house. And that they get enough food, of course!”

Home-made cooking

The café also boasts several different types of aquavit, which specifically complement all of the dishes. “It’s a lovely addition to the café as we serve very typical Nordic food,” Riis Holmen continues. “All the 111 different types of aquavit also cost the same, so guests can simply taste and try different types to find the one they think complements the meal the best.”

A genuinely enjoyable experience

Experimenting with both the ingredients and the portion sizes, the menu is ideal for new guests who want to try various items from the menu, or for regulars wishing to load up on their favourite dish.

Albeit aiming for the traditional, Riis Holmen and her husband Olaf have continuously made ingenious improvements and changes to the proud establishment – little by little, to ensure that nothing is ruined.

“Personally, I like all the dishes we cook here, and I am happy to promote homemade cooking – particularly relevant to this café, as it makes the whole experience feel more genuine. As the menu might be new and rare for some of the guests, particularly the tourists, we serve every dish in two sizes so that guests can chose according to their desires,” the owner explains. “Tourists tend to enjoy several smaller dishes in order to get to taste as much as possible.”

“The regular costumers always tell us how they are excited to see what subtle changes have been made. And there’s always something: a slight change on the menu, some added furniture or something similar,” she says. “I suppose our plan for the future is, as long as we maintain what we’ve been doing so far, and with a wholehearted attitude, to ensure that we do our utmost to ensure that guests are excited and enjoying themselves – then we have succeeded.”

For more information, please visit: www.skydsstation.no

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 99

Scan Magazine | Business | Keynote

Scan Business Keynote 100 | Business Features 101 | Business Column 104 | Business Calendar 104

102

104

The world’s tech scene is changing. Is Silicon Valley still the first option? As a result, the scene is changing and tech start-ups are increasingly looking elsewhere. Silicon Valley is of course still great for tech-heavy products, but less so for other industries which find better opportunities in other parts of the world: for fashion, they go to London, New York or Milan; for biotechnology, they go to Boston or Cambridge; and, for sure, they go to Hong Kong or London for FinTech (financial technology).

Silicon Valley has for many years been the number one place for tech start-ups. It has been the place to go to find eager and knowledgeable investors. However, when I visited Silicon Valley last April, it soon became obvious that starting up there is getting more and more challenging. It has become expensive, the investor pool is shrinking and the level of competition is probably tougher than most foreign start-ups ever imagined. 100 | Issue 84 | January 2016

London has seen a huge surge in the tech sector over the last few years and is now booming with forecasts showing that the sector will have boosted the economy by a total of £18 billion in 2015. London’s emergence as the most important tech hub in Europe is not only testament to the city’s incredible home-grown innovators, but also to thousands of migrant entrepreneurs. The richness of the UK start-up ecosystem is key to its success. The UK is now the unicorn (meaning a tech start-up company with a $1 billion market value) champion of Europe with eight firms hitting the $1 billion valuation mark. And let us not forget Sweden. It is the second most prolific tech hub in the world today on a per-capita basis, second only to

Silicon Valley, according to a recent report from the investment firm, Atomico. This is being fuelled by foreign venture capitalist investments pouring into the Stockholm tech scene – four times higher in 2014 than previously. Sweden has already produced five unicorns: Skype was Stockholm’s first when it sold for $2.6 billion in 2005, followed by Spotify, King, Minecraft and, most recently, Klarna. Success breeds success, they say, and Swedes tend to think globally when starting up – two good reasons at least for this great track record. One thing is certain: we are living in fast-changing times. It probably will not be long before we have big tech players, rivalling Amazon, Facebook and Google, coming out of the London tech hub – or even Sweden, if they can wait long enough before selling out! Annika Åman Goodwille, CEO of Goodwille Limited

Goodwille Limited

All you need to set up and run a company – from bricks and mortar to people and processes.

Scan Magazine | Business feature | MS Iceland Dairies

Iceland’s secret to healthy living Following age-old traditions, MS Iceland Dairies make Skyr that is so delicious it will leave you with no doubt as to why it has been one of Iceland’s favourite food for over 1,100 years. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: MS Iceland Dairies

When the Vikings settled on a harsh, volcanic island on the edge of the Arctic Circle in the ninth century, they quickly had to find ways to preserve food if they were to have any chance of surviving the long Icelandic winter. Somewhere between yoghurt and cheese, Skyr was a pleasantly surprising offshoot of using whey as a preservative. It was thanks to Icelandic women that the processing methods were passed down through the generations and Skyr became one of the most-loved staples of the Icelandic diet. Thought to be Iceland’s secret to healthy living, Skyr is protein-rich, low-fat and packed with calcium, vitamins and minerals, making it the perfect snack for the health conscious. Enjoy Skyr in its natu-

ral form, silky smooth with a pleasantly sour edge, or choose from a variety of flavours: for a guilt-free sweet fix, opt for vanilla and dark chocolate, which has no added sugar, or try a more virtuous, fruity option, such as blueberries or baked apples. “In the fast-paced modern world there is an ever greater need for healthy food on the go. Skyr is just as good a snack for people today as it was for the Vikings,” says Heimir Már Helgason, export manager at MS Iceland Dairies. Compared to other dairies in Europe and America, MS Iceland Dairies is relatively small, bringing together 700 family-run farms that work in harmony with nature. While other companies around the world have attempted their own versions of

this unique delicacy, no one makes Skyr quite as tasty or nutritious as MS. “The methods we use ensure that the whey – one of the healthiest proteins you can eat – does not separate during processing but remains in the Skyr,” explains Helgason. “The real finishing touch is that we add original Icelandic cultures, which is what gives our Skyr its distinctive texture and flavour.” MS Skyr is currently sold in North America, Scandinavia, Switzerland and Ireland, where it has been embraced by the local markets, practically selling itself thanks to its nutritional value and unrivalled taste. From next year, people in the United Kingdom, Germany, Holland and Belgium will be able to make Skyr a healthy addition to their diet too.

For more information, please visit: www.skyriceland.co.uk

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 101

Scan Magazine | Business feature | WaterNlife

Suck it up – for a better world When the world seems full of scandal and devastation, keep in mind the positive developments which better the lives of more and more people across the world. In 2005, the Danish humanitarian company Vestergaard developed LifeStraw, a personal straw-like water filtering system, to combat the many preventable diseases caused by unsafe drinking water in poorer areas of the world. LifeStraw has prevented millions of deaths and helped to almost eradicate Guinea worm disease. Now, two brothers are making LifeStraw available to private individuals, building an innovative business that balances commercial viability with the humanitarian nature of LifeStraw. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: WaterNlife

It took more than ten years of research and innovation to perfect the chemical-free, hollow-fibre microbial multilayer filter which forms the basis of all LifeStraw products. Virtually all harmful microbes are removed, and the filter membrane blocks anything larger than 0.2 microns – 500 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The outside is smooth, clean and lightweight: each straw weighs only 56 grammes. Yet one single LifeStraw purifies more than 1,000 litres – enough to cover a dai102 | Issue 84 | January 2016

ly consumption of three litres for a year. Crucially, when the filters lose their capacity, they close up, making it impossible for the user to accidentally ingest unpurified water. The only action required is to suck through the mouthpiece as you would a normal straw, and to blow out any remaining water after use. The filter cleans even seriously dirty lake water.

Trickle-up innovation The lightness and simplicity of LifeStraw make it ideal for those who have to walk

long distances to find any source of water to drink, but also offer obvious advantages for travel, sports and outdoor activities. This was something that became increasingly clear as LifeStraw developed. In 2011, Nicolaj Due became the managing director of Vestergaard in New York. “It’s really rare to have a company that makes products for the poorest people in the world,” he says. “Most innovations are catered towards the rich.” Vestergaard had seen LifeStraw grow to a point where it was used in UN disaster relief missions throughout the world, including the earthquake in Haiti. They were busy developing larger LifeStraw storage systems but kept receiving queries from outdoor enthusiasts and other private individuals. “We thought we’d test LifeStraw in American outdoors markets,” Due explains, “and, to be honest, it went fantastically well. It became the best-selling filter in the US.” Due returned to Denmark

Scan Magazine | Business feature | WaterNlife

Top left: Nicolaj and Ole Christoffer Due during the ‘Follow the Liters’ campaign. Below left: 750 million people worldwide are still without access to clean water. LifeStraw works with local governments, the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and others to decrease this number.

in 2013 with the commercial rights to LifeStraw in Europe, Russia and Japan from Vestergaard. Together with his brother, Ole Christoffer, Due established WaterNlife in 2013. They sought to create a viable commercial company that kept intact the ethical philosophy of LifeStraw. Commercial LifeStraws cost only €26.95. For every LifeStraw they sell, WaterNlife donates drinking water, mostly through LifeStraw’s ‘Follow the Liters’ campaign, where African schools receive larger LifeStraw storage systems, helping 200,000 to 300,000 pupils annually. “We’ve tried to set up a business model we can live off, but which also makes a difference in the world,” Due says.

A reliable companion anywhere “I love hiking through the Scottish or Norwegian mountains and drinking straight from the source,” Due adds, “but every once in a while, you get an unfortunate surprise when a sheep has died upriver, for example. Those incidents don’t happen with LifeStraw.” Backpack-

ers and other travellers know that water is often not safe to drink from taps, let alone rivers, streams or lakes, and that holidays can easily be spoilt by nasty or directly dangerous bacteria. Even in countries where the water is safe to drink, large amounts of chlorine may be used to clean the water, leaving an unpleasant swimming pool aroma and taste. A new, additional filter in LifeStraw Steel negates any chlorine leftovers from national plumbing systems, and WaterNlife recycle customers’ returned steel in exchange for a 20 per cent discount. With this new, additional filter, they hope to help reduce the developed world’s worrying overuse of plastic bottles – more than 50 billion bottles are used annually by the latest reckonings – by allowing people to enjoy just the pure, clean taste of the water itself. “Water is going to be more and more of a problem with our generation and the next,” Due predicts, “and it’s something we can really do something about. It’s a privilege to see things changing.” LifeStraw has won sev-

eral awards and accolades, including the Saatchi & Saatchi World Changing Idea Award, Time Magazine’s Best Invention 2005 and the first Design to Improve Life Index Award. For more information, please visit: www.waternlife.com

Larger, tank-like LifeStraw storage systems are used in African homes, schools and communities. While wells and plumbing are the ultimate goals, LifeStraw systems provide clean, safe water in minutes.

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 103

Scan Magazine | Business | Column / Calendar

Better influencing By Steve Flinders

Last month, I wrote about why the ability to influence is important in the world of work today. This month, I want to talk about influencing skills. Influencing and negotiating have quite a lot in common, and my assumption is that good influencing and good negotiating aim for win-win outcomes which are of benefit to both parties. Influencing can obviously be manipulative and serve the interests of the influencer more than those of the influenced, but that approach does not help build good long-term working relationships. So a definition of influencing could be ‘getting a result which meets the legitimate needs of both sides’. Key concepts in influencing are power – being aware of the degree of inequality in the power relationship between the parties and adapting the amount you push

or pull to this; assertiveness – good influencers are self-confident; clear communication; and listening. As my quote from Tom Daschle last month told us, we should persuade with our ears. As well as the above, it is important to create rapport with and show respect to the person or people you need to influence; to communicate using a language and a style to which the other party will be receptive, which may well mean flexing your own preferred style; and to ask questions in order to be able to deal with the key issue for the other party of WIIFM – “What’s In It For Me?” Summarising agreed actions is another area where we see the similarities between influencing and negotiating. Using creative arguments, creating a positive and optimistic environment and

a collaborative relationship, and stressing the benefits for both of you, are other techniques you can muster. Thinking through and carefully preparing how you are going to influence someone using these skills will help you achieve the outcomes that you want. Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com; www.coachingyork. co.uk/item/steve-flinders/

Scandinavian Business Calendar

By Stephanie Brink Harck

What not to miss of Scandinavian business events Date: 19 January, 6.30pm–9.30pm Venue: Trowers & Hamlins LLP, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ www.scc.org.uk

Nordic Drinks

Photo: DUCC

Link Up Drinks – The Beer Edition The Link Up Drinks are the Swedish Chamber’s official networking receptions, bringing together new and existing members of the chamber for an evening of networking – this time with the fantastic twist of bringing you a beer tasting session! The beer tasting is led by the legendary Jane Peyton, founder of the School of Booze and the author of several books, including Beer O’Clock. 104 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Every last Thursday of the month members and friends of the Finnish, Danish and Norwegian Chambers of Commerce in the UK gather for Nordic Networking Drinks. And you should come! This time the event will be held at a beautiful ski lodge in Kensington. Date: 28 January, 6pm–8pm Venue: Bodo’s Schloss, 2a Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT www.fbcc.co.uk

Welcome to the UK 2016 Welcome to the UK is the perfect event for any individual or company looking to expand

their business to the UK. The event will kick off with traditional afternoon tea, followed by a seminar where you will get a chance to listen to the experts and those who have already made the journey across the pond and know the challenges and expectations. The seminar is free. Date: 09 February, 4pm–7.30pm Venue: Berns Salonger, Näckströmsgatan 8, 111 47 Stockholm, Sweden

www.scc.org.uk

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Photo: Arne Løkken

Conference of the Month, Norway

Work and relaxation in stately surroundings Eidsverket and its 250-year-old manor house were originally built in 1764 as the heart of one of eastern Norway’s most significant industrial estates. Today, however, the smithy and sawmill have stopped and turned silent, and the country manor estate has been turned into an intimate guesthouse and event space, fit for weddings, and life’s other grand occasions, at the weekends. During the week, the focus shifts to corporate events and conferences. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Kurt Gåsø

The walls of eastern Norway’s oldest hotel, located in Bjørkelangen, only an hour’s drive from the capital and 45 minutes from Oslo Airport, holds a rich and colourful industrial and cultural history.

From the top of the tower Originally, the main house did not sport one of its now most prominent features. The tower was only erected in 1864, when the eccentric landlord Halvor Hanneborg was in charge. Not only did Hanneborg use the tower to keep a watchful eye on the over 50 allotments belonging 106 | Issue 84 | January 2016

to his estate, but he was also convinced that he could see the future in the smoke from the four chimneys on the roof of the house. From the tower you get to take in a bird’seye view of Eidsverket’s perfectly manicured gardens and the cottages Badstua, Hvilestua and Sveiserboligen, all used as guest accommodation, in addition to the manor house. “With four suites and only 18 rooms, we are under the much talked about 20-room limit, so we definitely qualify as a small and intimate ho-

tel,” says booking manager Jarle Frivold. “Due to our limited space, guests get the place to themselves for larger events such as weddings and conferences.”

An intimate gathering For corporate guests, Eidsverket offers three different conference packages: a one-day package including lunch, a breakfast-meeting package, and a ‘lunch-to-lunch’ package including all meals for up to three days. Eidsverket’s ballroom fits 80 guests for sit-down dinners, while each of the three dedicated meeting rooms hold 25. Meeting rooms are equipped with modern AV-equipment, “and if anyone wants an overhead, I’m sure we can sort that out too!” Frivold says with a smile. However, Frivold points out that, due to the space limitations, only smaller groups will be able to spend the night, making Eidsverket ideal for board meetings, strategy seminars and the like. “If a smaller group needs a place to really focus and work undisturbed, then they get the perfect opportunity to do that here. Surrounded by the forest, you really are all by yourself,” he says.

Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway

A personal touch With a small manor comes a small and friendly staff. “It is often the same person assisting you at lunch that wishes you a good night after dinner and drinks,” Frivold says. “We pride ourselves on offering service with a personal touch.” Eidsverket’s head chef hails from Finnmark in northern Norway and enjoys putting specialties from his home region, such as reindeer or Atlantic cod, on the menu, while the vegetables remain locally sourced. The restaurant creates weekly or daily menus, and the kitchen staff are happy to assist in the planning of menus for special events.

Run, ski, relax “The land belonging to Eidsverket is very versatile,” says Frivold. “Each summer around Midsummer, the pop music festival Midtsommerfest brings some of Norway’s biggest pop acts to the area.”

But even outside the festival season, the forest and the fields surrounding Eidsverket have been put to good use. In the nearby forest, the team at Eidsverket has constructed a fun obstacle course for runners. “We have designed our own running maps covering the surrounding area, or, well, I’m not going to force anyone to run it – it’s a nice walk too,” Frivold says.

Surrounded by forests as far as the eye can see from the top of Hanneborg’s white tower, Eidsverket really does offer visitors a slice of the Norwegian countryside, which they get to enjoy all to themselves. For more information, please visit: www.eidsverket.no

During winter, guests get the chance to test their skills in the illuminated cross-country track next door, as well as ice skating if the weather permits. For guests preferring to complete their workout indoors, Eidsverket has secured a good deal with the local gym. And for the more leisurely inclined, Eidsverket boasts wood-fired hot tubs, the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy a drink. Taking the nearby horses for a ride and trying out the local motocross track are also popular among guests. “It is important for us to make use of the nature surrounding us, and provide our guests with an authentic countryside feeling,” says Frivold, continuing: “Whether it is to celebrate one of life’s defining moments or buckle down to finish that company report, the team at Eidsverket is happy to stand by your side.”

Photo: Arne Løkken

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 107

Scan Magazine | Feature | Scandinavian Everyday Heroes

Scandinavian Everyday Heroes:

Summiting the streets of Oslo It started as an idea he just could not shake. Adventurer, film maker and photographer Petter Nyquist had filmed a light-hearted project in Las Vegas when he befriended two men living on the streets of the prosperous city. Despite Nyquist’s 11 expeditions to the Poles and two to Mt Everest, the idea scared him more than anything he had done before. In November 2014, he left his family, home and possessions behind to live on Oslo’s streets for 52 days. The subsequent TV series, Petter Uteligger, is an ode to his most challenging adventure and the friends he made along the way. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Peter Nyguist

“We met a couple of guys who lived in the tunnels under the city, and they let us stay with them for a few nights,” says

the 37-year-old when recalling the Vegas trip he embarked on with a colleague four years ago. “We spent a Friday gambling and sharing laughs, having an absolute blast. We just wanted to hang out on their terms. I got more and more curious about how these people were able to create a meaningful existence without having their basic needs – proper shelter, food, care – met. I realised I could find answers to those questions a mere half hour from my home in Norway.”

Overcoming fears of the unknown Midnight, 12 November 2014. Nyquist has 108 | Issue 84 | January 2016

read his two-year-old daughter a good night story, kissed his girlfriend goodbye and closed the door to his west-ofOslo house. He is wearing a few layers of clothing, carrying two cameras and 30NOK for the metro ride into central Oslo – substantially less than what is normally required for his expeditions, which are planned for months and to the utmost detail. In a few days, the familiar mental toil of reaching the summit of the world, or the coldest corners of the planet, will seem minuscule. “A few days in I got quite paranoid,” says Nyquist. “The lack of sleep does that to you. It’s a well-known form of torture, I guess.” Sleeping on benches, on floors, and – after some time – a small concrete ‘cave’ behind Oslo Central Station, his sleep was interrupted more often than not. “I always felt like I was being watched, like I was on somebody’s radar. I wouldn’t say there was one time when my fear peaked, despite hearing stories of rough sleepers being hit with bats and

Scan Magazine | Feature | Scandinavian Everyday Heroes

other people you meet in the series, very open. He made his life available to me because he wanted people to see what his reality is like.”

‘Smile. Chat with them. Recognise them’

Photo: Lars Myhren Holand

iron bars; it was a case of constantly being alert to what could happen and what might be lurking around the corner.”

Humour, warmth and generosity Although the initial trials made Nyquist painfully aware of the difference between his normal existence and life on the streets, he says prejudices were quickly laid to rest. “Arriving in Oslo that first night meant encountering a whole new world. Faces, people and silhouettes are different after midnight, and it was a frightening experience.” The next experience was extreme hunger, and an environment of heavy drug use. Nyquist’s only means of making money for food was begging and recycling plastic bottles. “Still, it only took me about 24 hours to make my first friend. The subsequent warmth I felt from many of the people I met was what surprised me the most about the project. They shared their lives and possessions – including food – with me.” The first friend in question was Svein, a person Nyquist describes as central to the narrative of the series. “We ended up bickering like an old married couple,” laughs Nyquist. “His humour, warmth and generosity stay with me. We developed a special friendship that we’ve maintained to this day,” he says, explaining how they recently spent some time at Svein’s, catching up and decorating a Christmas tree. “He is, like many of the

Evening, 9 December 2015. Nyquist and the friends he made on Oslo’s streets present Petter Uteligger (of which the last episodes are airing this month) at Parkteatret, Oslo, to lengthy, wild and standing ovations. Nyquist has just described the despair, cold, hunger and meaninglessness he felt during the seven weeks he lived a life very different from his own. Yet, the prevailing feeling is one of hope, closeness and care. “One day as I was begging, I had a cup of coffee flung over me as a woman missed the dustbin she was aiming for. She didn’t look my way,” he says from the stage. “But – I also had numerous people buy me food, or stop to chat. One day…” he stops. “I made 62NOK begging. 42NOK were from a woman selling =Oslo [a Norwegian equivalent of Big Issue]. I felt bad taking the money from her, and told her about the project. She smiled and said ‘you need it as much as I do’.” That Nyquist wanted the series to exude positivity amidst all the reality is palpa-

ble. So how can we help improve conditions for those living on the streets? “Smile. Chat with them. Recognise them as people,” says Nyquist firmly, revealing that he is currently working on a new project involving disadvantaged people. “Hopefully, this too will help make these people human. Maybe even realise some dreams.” About Petter Nyquist Norwegian adventurer, film maker and photographer. Expeditions in brief: – Seven individual expeditions to the North Pole – Four individual expeditions to the South Pole – Two expeditions to Mt Everest Nyquist worked with H.R.H. Prince Harry and the foundation Walking With the Wounded on three documentaries depicting the lives of injured war veterans and their attempts at reaching the two Poles as well as Mt Everest.

Petter Uteligger is a docuseries in six parts, co-produced by Petter Nyquist and available on sumo.tv2.no Below left: 50/50: Nyquist before and after completing the 52-day-long project.

Photo: Thomas Løberg

Issue 84 | January 2016 | 109

Scan Magazine | Culture | Ragnar Jónasson

Ice cold in Siglufjörður The northern Icelandic fishing town of Siglufjörður is the setting for an acclaimed series of Nordic Noir novels in which the extreme weather conditions play a crucial role. Scan Magazine caught up with the Icelandic author and crime fiction festival founder Ragnar Jónasson for a glimpse into his inspirations and take on the Nordic Noir genre.

there, you have to go through the tunnel – it’s in the book – so you enter like a different world. It’s surrounded by mountains and so peaceful and quiet. There are all these lovely elements that I wanted to convey while it’s still the scene of a crime.” He adds: “My grandfather wrote a series of books about this town. That wasn’t fiction; he wrote about the history of the town. He lived there, and I try to continue what he was doing, in my own way, by writing about the town.”

“It probably does slightly, but it’s still set in the same tradition. My guess would be that the weather plays a more important part and maybe there’s more nature generally in Icelandic crime fiction, because with Scandinavian stories proportionately more of them are set in cities while Icelandic crime tends to be set outside of Reykjavík – except for Arnaldur Indriðason’s novels,” ponders Jónasson. “The weather is probably more important for Iceland than many other places in Scandinavia, because historically people’s lives depended on it. The weather is also more unpredictable than many other places in Scandinavia.”

With its long dark winter nights, volcanic landscape and post-financial crash soul searching, Iceland provides an abundance of suitable settings for crime writers plotting dark tales of murderous deeds. Previously overshadowed by its higher-profile Scandinavian neighbours, the country’s crime fiction is gaining

Jónasson’s Snowblind sees a policeman on his first posting dragged into the heart of a community of secrets and lies as a half-naked woman is found bleeding and unconscious in the snow and an elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre. The sequel, Nightblind, will be published by Orenda Books in 2016.

By Andy Lawrence | Photos: Press Photos

As one of the co-founders of Iceland Noir, a crime fiction festival, Ragnar Jónasson has already earned a reputation as one of Iceland’s foremost crime writers and is quickly becoming one of Nordic Noir’s most distinctive emerging voices. His debut novel, Snowblind, has been listed as one of 2015’s best crime novels by The Independent, and a sequel, Nightblind, is being published in 2016. Three further instalments in the Dark Iceland series are being translated into English and will be issued by Orenda Books. The Dark Iceland series is set in Siglufjörður, a small fishing town in the north of Iceland. Situated just below the Arctic Circle, its economy was once dependent on the herring industry. “It’s one of my favourite places on earth, this town,” Jónasson explains. “When you get 110 | Issue 84 | January 2016

a stronger foothold on the international bookselling charts. But does Icelandic crime fiction differ greatly from other Nordic versions of the genre?

Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Music

Scandinavian music

By Karl Batterbee

Finnish duo LCMDF wowed recently The two grandsons of none other than with their Procrastination 365 hit. Now Benny Andersson from ABBA, have branched out and formed a band of their they return with an electro-rock anvery own. Bracelet are a new Swedish act them that serves as a perfectly maniwho have just released their debut single cured two fingers up to what they say is and video, Rooftop. The band consists of a male-dominated, sexist music industry within Finland. The track is called Rookie Charlie Grönvall, Felix Grönvall and their mate Rebecca Krogmann. And as well as and confidently states: “I’m so done with having ABBA royalty as their grandad, the dudes who think they’re better than me”. boys have Nanne Grönvall as their mum. Spotify Norway has earmarked a young female artist as one of its top ten Rooftop is a catchy pop-rock number that acts to watch in 2016. Her name is Chibears no resemblance to the tunes that 2016 with another Euro-pop flavoured nook, and Norwegians first fell in love made their pop dynasty elders famous. assault on the charts around the conwith her in early 2015 when she comSophia Somajo has returned to pop tinent. Night After Night is a cross bepeted on the most recent series of Idol, music. Retiring her critically acclaimed tween her previous hit and Avicii’s mega Soso moniker for now, and re-emerging banger Wake Me Up. So an even bigger eventually finishing third. At the end of with her original artist name, the Swedlast year, she released her debut sinsplash, and higher levels of delight/anish synth superstar has come back with gle, Dancing in Flames – a super catchy, noyance (delete as applicable) are proma bang – the bang being the incredible ised. You have been warned. uplifting pop track with a soulful underchorus featured on her new single Klein tone, co-written with Norwegian pop icon Frida Amundsen. Blue. A brand new EP will be out latFinally, Norway’s Sandra Lyng proer this month, and on it a collaboration www.scandipop.co.uk vided one of the novelty hits of 2015 with with recent Scan Magazine cover star scandipop@gmail.com 2_1_Nordfyns_Museum_Ad_1-4p_NEW_SIZE:Layout 1 26/7/12 Seinabo Sey. Play My 17:07 Drum. Now 2_0_Subscribe_Quarter page ad:Layout 1 27/3/14 Pageshe 1 launches into

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Nordfyns Museum The history of the town of Bogense and North Funen, in words, artifacts, paintings and pictures. Nordfyns Museum Vestergade 16, DK-5400 Bogense, Denmark Phone: +45 6481 1884 E-mail: nordmus@mail.tele.dk www.nordfynsmuseum.dk

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Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar

Svalbard Photo: Einar Kling Odencrants

112 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar

Tove Stryke

Osmo Vänskä

Photo: Sony Music

Photo: Kaapo Kamu

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Horror (25-26 Jan) Swedish-born Jakop Ahlbom’s Horror will have you shuddering on the edge of your seat. The play is an homage to the horror genre with its gruesome, scary, but very funny, story. Part of the London International Mime Festival. Peacock Theatre, London, WC2A 2HT. www.sadlerswells.com

Electronic Superhighway (29 Jan-15 May) Electronic Superhighway is a landmark exhibition that brings together over 100 artworks to show the impact of computer and internet technologies on artists from the mid-1960s to the present day. The exhibition boasts new and rarely seen multimedia works alongside film, paintings, sculpture, photography and drawings by over 70 artists, including works by Swedish Ulla Wiggen and Jonas Lund. Tue-

Sun 11am-6pm, Thu 11am-9pm. The Whitechapel Gallery, London, E1 7QX. www.whitechapelgallery.org

Tove Styrke (1-5 Feb) Swedish singer-songwriter and former Swedish Idol contestant Tove Styrke, is touring the UK with her latest electro-pop album, Kiddo. www.facebook.com/tovestyrke

Svalbard at London International Mime Festival (3-6 Feb) Swedish Svalbard’s debut show, all genius all idiot, is about the conflict between our instincts and our intellect. They use extreme circus artistry to highlight human behaviour at its most animalistic, blending contemporary circus with theatre, physical comedy and live music.

By Sara Schedin

Jacksons Lane, London, N6 5AA. www.jacksonslane.org.uk

Nikolai Astrup: Painting Norway (5 Feb-15 May) This is the first London exhibition of paintings and prints by Nikolai Astrup (1880-1928), one of Norway’s finest 20th-century artists. Along with Edvard Munch, Astrup expanded the artistic possibilities of woodcuts to capture the lush, wild landscapes and traditional way of life of his home in western Norway, powerfully capturing the myths and folklore of the country. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, SE21 7AD. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

Osmo Vänskä and Lilli Paasikivi (10 Feb) In celebration of 150 years since the birth of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, Issue 84 | January 2016 | 113

Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar

his fellow countryman Osmo Vänskä conducts some of the last music the composer wrote. Featuring Finnish mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1 8XX. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Vinterfest in Mora, Orsa and Älvdalen (18-21 Feb)

Vinterfest Photo: Ryan Garrison and Graphics by Daniel Garpebring

Vinterfest has been described as “one of Europe’s most enjoyable festivals” by BBC Music Magazine and compared to Gidon Kremer’s historic Lockenhaus Festival in Frankfurter Allgemeine. It offers first-class musical performances in the middle of Dalarna’s stunning countryside, with a focus on smallscale, relaxed and intimate aspects. www.vinterfest.se

Karin Broos – Still life (Until 21 Feb)

Karin Broos Photo: Marc Broos

Karin Broos is one of the most acclaimed Swedish artists of our time, and this exhibition includes about 70 of her paintings, from 2008 until today. Her photo realistic works of seemingly mundane motifs express ambiguous meanings and universal feelings of melancholy and sadness. Tue-Sun 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm. Waldemarsudde, Prins Eugens väg 6, Stockholm. www.waldemarsudde.se

Amorphis (Feb-Jul) Finnish heavy metal masters Amorphis will be playing songs from their 2015 album, Under the Red Cloud, at various venues across Europe this spring. www.amorphis.net

A-ha (Mar-May)

Amorphis Photo: Ville Juurikkala

114 | Issue 84 | January 2016

Norwegian synth-pop/rock legends A-ha are touring Europe with their tenth studio album, Cast in Steel. a-ha.com

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