– Queer culture has always existed. What this year has done is bring that promise to an audience that might not have known about it before, says Tine Semb. – An important part of Karmaklubb* has always been that people should be able to meet across the board, says Tine Semb. Photo: Paulina Tamara She runs the queer culture, art and club concept Karmaklubb*, which has been behind over 40 events and projects that have been realized during the Queer Culture Year. Semb tells of an exceptionally busy year with a jam-packed calendar. On the list of things that she and the rest of Karmaklubb* have helped to put in place, you can find cooperation with large institutions such as the Preus Museum, the National Museum, the Munch Museum and KODE. In addition to club evenings, for which Karmaklubb* has gradually become known, they have, among other things, created exhibitions, performances, panel discussions and contributed as a research platform – all with a quirky look. – We have been able to do a lot that we otherwise would not have had the funds for. Some absolutely fantastic projects have been carried out this year, both large and small, and you should be proud of that, she says. LIFE AND MOTION: Karmaklubb* has been behind events in cities such as Oslo, Bergen and Horten during the year. Photo by Jan Khür from the exhibition “Over the rainbow”, curated by Hilde Herming at the Preus museum in connection with the Weird Cultural Year. (In the picture: Briar, Elektra Puzzz and Linda Longlegz) Photo: Jan Khür / Karmaklubb Mixed feelings about the year Semb believes that the Weird Cultural Year has had an overall positive effect, and believes that the initiative has been a wake-up call for many. She nevertheless talks about ambivalent feelings now that the year is immediately over – something she believes many in the queer community in Norway are aware of. She points out, among other things, that several people have been critical of how the funds for Skeivt Kulturår have been distributed, and that there have been too few resources. She herself wished the marking had been more even more visible. – I think a large part of the Norwegian population has had a Weird Culture Year from afar. I also feel that there has been little coverage of it in the media in relation to all the wonderful things that have been going on. Semb believes it is very important that the good work that has been started through the commemoration does not stop once 2022 is over. – I hope that the institutions that have been involved in marking the Weird Cultural Year do not just cut ties once the year is over – but that they are able to follow up the processes that have now been initiated, she says. Dancers Jorge & Thomas during the performance program for Karmaklubb* at KODE in Bergen. Photo: Mila Elisabeth Larvoll for Karmaklubb / KODE Art museums and composers’ home Drag artist Cassie Brødskive during the performance program for Karmaklubb* at KODE in Bergen. Photo: Mila Elisabeth Larvoll for Karmaklubb / KODE Art museums and composers’ homes We must continue to fight for more visibility and recognition, says Tine Semb. – Unfortunately, this year has shown us how much work remains. We see that incitement against queers is increasing. The shots that fell this summer were a brutal reminder that things are certainly not as good as many thought here in Norway. Marked by the terrorist attack, Minister of Culture and Equality Anette Trettebergstuen believes that the Skeivt cultural year became even more important in the aftermath of the tragedy in Oslo. – What the terrorist attack showed us is that we must never take visibility and security for granted. It is so hugely important to be visible, and therefore the events across the country became even more important in the time after the attack, she tells news. Listen to the full interview here: The Minister of Culture says that the year has been used to bring out the diversity of the stories told in Norway and to show that queerness is something that has always existed. – It is part of our own shared history and culture that has often been concealed, forgotten and hidden away, she says. Furthermore, she hopes that the initiative can inspire that the years to come will also be bigger, queer years of culture. – There have been so many wonderful large and small events all over the country that have contributed to bringing out the queer story. So I really feel that we have succeeded in that, says the Minister of Culture. DANCE: The Norwegian ballroom scene has flourished during Skeivt Kulturår. Picture from a ballroom event organized by the National Museum in the autumn. Photo: Annar Bjørgli / The National Museum Remi Johansen Hovda (aka. Nabi Yeon Geisha) in “Trollønsket”, a storytelling session and adventure walk for children in the dissemination program for the exhibition “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” at the National Museum. Photo: Ina Wesenberg / The National Museum Has had real ripple effects Stina Högkvist, director of the collection department at the National Museum, says that the year has gone beyond all expectations. – We are experiencing an increased interest in queer art and culture. This has grown incredibly large and had real ripple effects, she says. The National Museum has been one of the initiators behind Keivt Kulturår, together with Keivt Arkiv and the National Library. The director says that they have no plans to stop once the year is over. – This is not something that ends in 2023. We have learned a lot during the year that has been. For us, now is when the work really starts. Want to read more stories about queer art and culture? Check these out:
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– It is important that the Weird Cultural Year does not stop here – news Culture and entertainment
