– I have been asked if I want to book artists for next year’s festival. It sounds very fun, says Live Meland. The 14-year-old interested in music is one of many committed young people who both sit on the board and are involved in arranging the Fjellpark Festival, which is taking place now. This summer, news has written about the Stavern Festival, the Steinkjer Festival and Kunesdagan, which have struggled to get enough volunteers. This has not been the case for the Fjellpark Festival in Flekkefjord. Festival director Simen Berrefjord says they were excited in advance, but that it has been surprisingly good to recruit volunteers. – We struggled a bit during the pandemic, but this year we have got many new young people in addition to the volunteers who show up year after year, he says. Festival director Simen Berrefjord started working for Fjellparkfestivalen when he was 15 years old. Photo: Sigurd Schaathun / news 19-year-old booking manager Ever since the start-up in 1982, the country’s oldest rock festival has had a tradition of engaging young people. Today, the average age of the board is 19 years. The youngest participant is 13 years old. The booking manager is 19 years old. The festival director says that they make it easy for the young people to take responsibility early. Having teenagers both on the board and as volunteers is a conscious choice. – For us, it is important to facilitate the young people’s ideas and initiatives, he says. Learning to collaborate with Live Meland, she feels she learns a lot from being involved in arranging. – I am with people I would not normally be with, and learn a lot about working with others. In addition, you have to be creative and find solutions to things, she says. Night to Friday, she spent the night as a guard at the festival area. After a short trip home, she will return. Jesenia (left), Hermine and Live have been working on rigging and painting signs all week. – We learn to work with others, they say. Photo: Sigurd Schaathun / news Live has spent at least eight hours a day on the festival site over the past week. – To be part of this is just fun. You can be with friends and have something to do in the summer. Who do you dream of booking next year? – Oh, that was a difficult question, but I must say Gluecifer. It’s coolest to have Norwegian bands! Fjellparkfestivalen expects to have at least 3,000 visitors during the three days the festival lasts. Around 150 volunteers are in action. Photo: Sigurd Schaathun / news Easy to recruit Festival director Berrefjord started working for the festival himself when he was 15 years old. For the last five years he has been festival director. – It’s cool to have that opportunity as a young person and now bring it on. My experience is that when given responsibility and a good framework, it is easy to recruit. The mountain park festival started as a one-day festival 40 years ago. The starting point was local bands that made a scene to show off. Even then, the youth’s efforts were central. Mayor: – Very grateful Mayor of Flekkefjord Torbjørn Klungland (Frp) is impressed with all the young people who line up for the festival year after year. – One thing is that it is voluntary, but many of them could have had summer jobs and earned money. Instead, they choose to work hard for the festival. I am very grateful for that sacrifice. Klungland even has a son who has worked for the festival since he was 14 years old. – He is 22 years old and is probably one of those who raise the average age, he chuckles. Mayor of Flekkefjord Torbjørn Klungland will work as a volunteer at the festival on Saturday. – But on Sunday I will be a participant! Photo: Odd Rømmeland / news
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At the Fjellpark Festival in Flekkefjord, teenagers take responsibility – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
