European Capital of Culture: Bodø2024 Will Put Northern Norway on the Map
Trevarefest in Henningsvær, Lofoten. "Including the whole county is important to us. All the regional centers have exciting projects that will contribute to the culture capital year," says the Bodø2024 Director Andrè Wallann Larsen. (Photo: Dan Mariner)
The aim of Bodø2024 is to make Nordland more attractive. "Sadly, we see that we are becoming fewer inhabitants in Nordland despite the fact that we need more labor. Culture may not be able to solve all problems, but we will contribute to reversing the trend," says the Director of Bodø 2024 Andrè Wallann Larsen.
It is exactly one year until the opening of the European Capital of Culture in Bodø and the rest of Nordland. On Friday, the highlights of the program were presented.
"It will be a year of a lot of activity across the whole county. Nordland is to be put on the map for everyone interested in culture," emphasizes the Bodø2024 Director, Andrè Wallann Larsen, in a press release.
Last week, he and the rest of the staff of the capital culture project could finally reveal how 2024 will look. In Bodø, they announced that over 600 events will be held all over the country. There will be everything from huge festivals to smaller events.
Bodø2024 Director Andrè Wallan Larsen. (Photo: Fredrik Stenbro)
Split into five seasons
Almost 100 projects were presented during the presentation on Friday. Bodø2024 has split the year into five seasons and uses the passage of lights as the framework for the program, they write.
2024 will be opened on the 3rd of February with a colossal production in the Bodø harbor. Here, Bodø2024 hopes that there will be up to 20 000 in the audience. The German company Phase 7 has been given the task of putting together the spectacular show.
In March, the next big production will take place in Bodø. Bodø2024, the Parken festival, and Oslo-based Gyro will then create the first ever 100% green festival. The organizers hope for 10 000 spectators.
The aim of Bodø2024 is to make the county more attractive.
"There will be something for everyone. There will be dance, music, art shows, outdoor activities, sports, and much more. 2024 will be a wonderful year of culture! The aim of Bodø2024 is to make the county more attractive. Sadly, we see that we are becoming fewer inhabitants in Nordland despite the fact that we need more labor. Culture may not be able to solve all problems, but we will contribute to reversing the trend," says Wallann Larsen.
Too early to launch musicians and artists
Bodø2024 emphasizes that the event on Friday was not a typical artist presentation.
"It is too soon to present every musician and artist this far in advance. The industry does not quite work that way and we will carry this out in close cooperation with actors that are in the middle of planning this year's events. We are in dialogue with artists, musicians, and cultural actors within all genres and exciting news will come throughout the year," ensures Program Manager Henrik Dagfinrud.
According to the press release, Bodø2024 hopes for more than 500 000 spectators during the culture capital year. They describe the project as the world's longest party, both in time and location. The road stretches from Bindal in the south to Andøya in the north is, after all, 800 kilometers. And the party will last for a whole year.
"Including the whole county is important to us. All the regional centers have exciting projects that will contribute to the culture capital year. There is a lot to be excited for," says Wallan Larsen, who encourages everyone who is curious to check out the program in Bodø2024's cultural calendar.
Mer information about Bodø2024 can be found here.
About Bodø2024
- Bodø and Nordland in Northern Norway received the status of European Capital of Culture in 2019.
- This is the first time a city north of the Arctic Circle receives the status.
- There will be more than 600 events in 2024.
- Bodø2024's budget is NOK 310 million. Bodø municipality contributes NOK 50 million. The same is done by Nordland county. The state contributes NOK 100 million, while private sponsors, ticket revenue, and the EU contribute NOK 100 million.
- The Europen Capital of Culture is an EU program and more than 70 cities have had the status since 1985. The experiences from previous culture capitals are that tourism significantly increases, both during the year and the time after. The number of jobs within culture has also increased greatly.
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This article was originally published in Norwegian and has been translated by Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen.