A PROGRAMME YEAR IN THE MAKING CAPITAL OF CULTURE YEAR UMEÅ2014 Photo: Malin Grönborg. 5 8 6 7 2 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A PROGRAMME YEAR IN THE MAKING CAPITAL OF CULTURE YEAR UMEÅ2014 Programme content: Umeå2014 Production: Pondus Kommunikation AB Cover picture, book and sleeve: Northofsweden, Andreas Nilsson, Thinkstock, Per Enoksson and Garry Knight. Printing: Original, Umeå Book printing co-financed by: Swedbank Published April 2013 CONTENT 8 voices on Umeå2014 4–5 Introduction 6–9 Background 10–13 The seasons 14–15 Dálvvie (deep winter) 16–25 Gijrradálvvie (early spring) 26–33 Gijrra (true spring) 34–41 Gijrragiessie (early summer) 42–49 Giessie (summer) 50–57 Tjakttjagiessie (early autumn) 58–63 Tjakttja (true autumn) 64–71 Tjakttjadálvvie (early winter) 72–79 Initiatives 80–95 Co-creativity 96–99 The northern lands 100–103 Riga 104–105 Collaborations in Europe 106–107 Building for the future 108–111 How to get here 112–113 Those who are making it possible 114–119 8 VOICES ON UMEÅ2014 “I think that we’ll have “Culture is one of the most more unusual things powerful forces behind growth happening here. Things and development. In Umeå we you don’t normally see have invested more in culture otherwise. And maybe per resident than other Swedish even a surprise! I would municipalities. Today Umeå is like to see David Guetta, one of Europe’s fastest growing a DJ that I really like a lot”. cities and in 2014 we’re taking William Billman, the next step. Taking our unique 10 years old, Umeå experiences as a starting point we want to work together with you to continue developing culture-driven projects through- out the whole of Europe. Join us on this journey!” Jan Björinge, Capital of Culture CEO, Umeå2014 “Umeå – European Capital of Culture is the northern- most European city to have been awarded this honour. Throughout the entire year the city will shed “Umeå University is recruiting researchers and students a beautiful light on its history, its people and their from Sweden and the rest of the world. Being European connection with the rest of Europe. Umeå2014 will Capital of Culture is strengthening and makes Umeå provide a unique opportunity to instil a rejuvenated more attractive and visible. The university is an active sense of pride in the city and surrounding region. part of the programme initiative. This investment is of We are very much looking forward to being a part of long-term importance both for us and for the develop- this chapter of European history”. ment of the entire region”. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Lena Gustafsson, Vice-Chancellor Umeå University education, culture, language and youth issues 4 “Umeå2014 is a very important investment 8 voices on Umeå2014 for the entire Västerbotten region. We now have a unique opportunity to share the cultural traditions of Västerbotten with the citizens of Europe. Umeå2014 will also en- able us to build a modern northern region together with culture as our driving force”. Magdalena Andersson, County Governor, Västerbotten “Umeå2014 provides an opportunity through “2014 is going to be a very special year for Sweden its content and format when Umeå, together with Riga, becomes the to provide visitors with European Capital of Culture. Being a capital of culture more knowledge about presents unique opportunities for both Umeå and the the contemporary and entire country to contribute to cultural development vibrant Sami culture”. in many different ways”. Michael Lindblad, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, Minister of Culture Chairman Såhkie, Umeå Sami Association “Umeå2014 is the northernmost capital of culture ever appointed within the EU. This initiative will help raise the profile of the region’s fantastically rich resources. As the gaze of Europe turns to northern Sweden, the status of the region will rise which in turn will create new opportunities for tourism. But perhaps the greatest influence will be a belief in the future and in development – even for Piteå and other municipalities in the region”. Peter Roslund, Municipal Commissioner, Piteå 5 Sara Lidman. Photo: Ulla Montan Photo: Anna Öhlund. Photo: Olga Ekaterincheva. Photo: Johan Gunséus Photo: Malin Grönborg. 6 Introduction WELCOME TO EUrope’s NORTHERN LANDS! Umeå is a proud, forward-thinking city built around the eight Sami seasons that in today’s integrated and multifaceted represent the very essence of the northern Europe. A city built on participation and lands and provide a framework for the co-operation combined with passion cultural activities that await us in 2014. and curiosity. A warm welcome to all our local, regi- Culture is an essential part of building onal, national and international partners. a society where a sense of openness See you soon! allows the creativity of people to shape its future. For many years now we have Marie-Louise Rönnmark, Municipal been working hard to build a cultural city Commissioner/Chairwoman of the that reflects this philosophy. Capital of Culture Committee Which is why we are so delighted to invite you to our city. The preliminary programme we are presenting here is 7 Komeda. Photo: Kia Naddermier. Profilteatern. Photo: Sofie Ekholm. Photo: Malin Grönborg. GLASHUSET (the Glass House) Creating and influencing before and after 2014. Located in the main square in the heart of the city. Sune Jonsson Centre of Documentary Photography. Photo: Sune Jonsson. The Glass House, Rådhustorget. Photo: Andreas Nilsson. 8 Introduction LET’s go! Hello! Umeå has been chosen as the Festivals and art exhibitions. Concerts, European Capital of Culture 2014 – a design projects and national sports events. unique opportunity to enable culture in Camps, conferences, choirs, excursions all its forms to get some well-deserved and European co-operation. space and recognition as a crucial part Right now we’re letting the programme of any multifaceted society. year mature and grow. We are planning, Two applications to the EU commission adjusting and making room for more lie behind the programme you are now projects and ideas before we finally raise looking at and the journey from ideas to the curtain. implementation has been long and event- There is still time and space for new ful. Through searching, euphoria, reflec- and unexpected events to take their place tion, looking to the future, doubt, chaos and in this programme. So what are we a goal-orientated approach to a defined waiting for? Let’s go! cultural policy we have finally arrived at this point and our programme! One year Fredrik Lindegren, of anticipated events created by people in Artistic Director, Umeå2014 Umeå and the northern regions in co-ope- ration with others from the rest of Sweden, Europe and the world. This is huge! We are happy and proud to be able to present this exciting selection of events happening in Umeå and the surrounding region during our tenure as European Capital of Culture 2014: performing arts, photography, dance, opera, pop, blues, jazz, tango, architecture and fashion. Photo: Fredrik Larsson. Photo: Fredrik 9 WHY IS UMEÅ A CAPITAL OF CULTURE? Reflections by Leif Larsson, journalist and former culture editor at Västerbottens-Kuriren (a regional newspaper in Västerbotten). It’s the autumn of 1986 and I am attending a of reasons why. Personally I’d like to use an culture conference at Hässelby Castle. Every- analogy to highlight a rather odd reason. one is there. At the podium a Norwegian cultural sociologist is holding up a full-page If you consider the EU as a political project advertisement placed by the municipality of through and through then the cultural scene in Umeå in Dagens Nyheter (a Swedish national Umeå could also be viewed in the same light. newspaper). An opera house, symphony orchestra, muse- ums, theatres, a host of festivals and an ener- “This is the future”, the man exclaims and goes getic rock scene all bear witness to this. To on to describe the grand visions of this medium- this you can add industrial design, architecture sized city and its mix of knowledge and culture. and art education in an impressive cluster down by the river. I am the only participant from Umeå and during the break everyone wants to talk to me. What’s All of this had been mainly created through going on ‘up there’? What are you doing? political decisions spanning 40 years, while Lund had been ‘preparing’ for around 1000 Never would I have guessed that 23 years later years, Uppsala at least 500 years and Gävle Umeå would be chosen as the European Cap- around 200 years. This was not simply a ital of Culture. But the cultural elite’s amaze- triumph for Umeå but a victory for purposeful ment over the bold initiative of Umeå‘s politi- cultural politics as a whole. cians was a sign of things to come. This was of course about cultural politics. Cultural politics However, cultural politics isn’t an ethereal con- and a belief in the future. cept, something that floats in the breeze. The roots of the capital of culture year must In September 2009 Umeå was competing along be grounded elsewhere. No other city in Swe- with Lund, Uppsala and Gävle for the title of den expresses the public sector’s amazing European Capital of Culture 2014. It was a post-war expansion better than Umeå. well-deserved bid and there are a number 10 NorrlandsOperan, The Marriage of Figaro. Photo: VK image archive. Marta, UIK. Photo: Johan Gunséus. Background Ögonblicksteatern. Photo: Andreas Nilsson. Refused. Photo: Andreas Nilsson. Miles Davis at Umeå Airport. Photo: Lena Sondell/VK image archive. Umeå University. Photo: Mattias Pettersson. 11 Photo: Annakarin Drugge. By the end of the 1950s this rather sleepy res- highlighted and began being celebrated during idential and regimental town suddenly accel- a special week every year in March.