Čoarvemátta opening day

Reminiscing the extraordinary experience it was being part of the opening of Čoarvemátta – the building housing the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš & Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School / Beaivváš Sámi Našunála Teáhter & Sami joatkkaskuvla ja boazodoalloskuvla.

From its very first day Čoarvemátta proved to be truly “the house of magic and knowledge” as expressed by the theatre director Rolf Degerlund.

We have still barely landed after the opening ceremony back in August:
The ambience, the strong and touching speeches, the fantastic concert-performance, the food by the arctic gastronomy students, the truly amazing art and duodji – and of course the people, many of whom have worked for years for the realization of this building.

Some highlights from the day:
Welcoming by Sara Ellen Anne Eira representing the school and Rolf Degerlund the theatre.
Official opening by Silje Karine Muotka, President of the Sámi Parliament
Compères: Marte Fjellheim Sarre & Inger Marie Nilut
Symphony performance “Beaivi áhčážan. Eanni eadnážan / The Sun, my Father. The Earth, my Mother.” by Arktisk Filharmoni & Beaivváš theatre based on poems by Áillohaš, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Composer and music supervision: Frode Fjellheim
Conductor: Anna F. Hartmann
Director: Rolf Degerlund
Choreography: Marte Fjellheim Sarre
Text selection and translation: Rawdna Carita Eira
Soloists: Ulla Pirttijärvi Länsman & Adrian Angelico
Actors / yoikers: Egil Keskitalo, Mary Sarre, Iŋgor Ántte Áilu Gaup, Nils Henrik Buljo
Light: Øystein Heitmann
Sound: David Solheim
Grand drape: Máret Anne Sara
Sámi anthem Sámi eatnan duoddariid by Áillohaš sung in unison summed up the heartwarming and soul lifting experience Ollu giitu!
Architecture team: Snøhetta, Joar Nango & 70°N arkitektur
Photo: 70°N arkitektur

The art project for Čoarvemátta

The art project for Čoarvemátta – the Sámi High School and the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš in Guovdageaidnu / Kautokeino, takes as its point of departure art which is deeply rooted in the Sámi world perspective and in traditional knowledge.

The Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš presents stories and theatre performances from a Sámi world perspective, while the Sámi High School and Reindeer Husbandry School provides tuition in traditional knowledge, culture and language to Sámi youth. The overarching curatorial approach for the art project is based on two concepts or values that are both fundamental and deeply rooted in Sámi cultural understanding: vuoiŋŋalašvuohta, Sámi spirituality, and árbemáhttu, traditional knowledge.
Particular emphasis is placed on the representation of different geographical areas within Sápmi and selected artists that work with diverse approaches to traditional knowledge and spirituality - and to demonstrate the range and boundary-breaking aspects of Sámi art, from traditional duodji (Sámi handicrafts) to conceptual contemporary art.
 
It has been an honour and pleasure to work with the curators, the artists and duojárat and KORO / Public Art Norway – thanks for a great collaboration and congratulations to you all!

Artists and duojárat:
Rámavuol Elle Bigge - Sáráhkká, Juoksáhkká ja Uksáhkká - in collaboration with Merethe Ella Márjá Kuhmunen 
Fredrik Prost - Máttaráddjá, Meantaš and Beaivvi nieida / The bear, the reindeer stag and the daughter of the sun 
Britta Marakatt-Labba - Miin Duoddarat / Our plains
Elle Valkeapää - Šiella
Máret Ánne Sara - Gapmu
Laila Mari Brandsfjell (coming in 2025)
Iver Jåks - Beaivi ja biegga / Sun and Wind (1996)
Aage Gaup - Girdinoaiddi loddi / Bird of the Flying Shaman (1988)

Curators:
Monica Milch Gebhardt with Anniina Turunen and Joar Nango 
 
Production of the grand drape: Big Image 

Čoarvemátta – the new Sámi National Theatre & the Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School

Čoarvemátta – the building housing the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš & Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School / Beaivváš Sámi Našunála Teáhter & Sami joatkkaskuvla ja boazodoalloskuvla / opened in Guovdageaidnu / Kautokeino, Sápmi / Northern Norway on August 21.

The project is developed in collaboration between the artist Joar Nango, the architectural firms Snøhetta and 70°N arkitektur, and is built by the entrepreneur Econor, for the client Statsbygg. 

Photo: 70°N arkitektur

Partnerships for Change publication

The paper Re-framing agencies: 'production' of non-human subjects in contested territories – counteracting ecological deprivation by Magdalena Haggärde and Gisle Løkken, presented at the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 in Copenhagen is now published by Springer Nature in Design for Partnerships for Change – Proceedings of the UIA World Congress of Architects Copenhagen 2023,
editors: Sandi Hilal, Merve Bedir, Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen, Martin Tamke

Proud, delighted and honoured to be part of this project – more than a publication and a conference science track; a collective cultivated by Sandi, Merve & co, sharing knowledge, experiences and ideas for partnerships for change in a truly profound and radical way.