The matter in summary Stiftinga Geirangerfjorden Verdsarv, Thingeyri in Iceland and Vágur in the Faroe Islands collaborate on the project Arctic Digital Nomads Stipend. The project offers people who can work from anywhere to live for free for one to three months in these villages over the New Year. The aim is to strengthen communities by attracting people who do things other than traditional occupations such as fishermen and breeders. The hope is that those who receive the scholarship will enjoy themselves so much that they will settle down in the village for good. Over 80 percent of people in Norway live in densely built-up areas, and many rural communities are dying out due to centralization. It is important to include those who move to the village in the local community in order for them to thrive and stay. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I am very excited, says Katrin Blomvik Bakken. She is the director of Stiftinga Geirangerfjorden Verdsarv, and lives in a village where it bustles with life all summer. But now the last cruise ship of the season has sailed on. They enter the quiet time. – We who live here have a great fascination with the landscape, also in winter. I myself think winter is incredibly exotic. Katrin Blomvik Bakken hopes to receive many creative applications from people who want to live in Geiranger this winter. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Want to strengthen communities The three villages of Geiranger in Norway, Thingeyri in Iceland and Vágur in the Faroe Islands are together on the project – Arctic Digital Nomads Stipend. It means that people who can take their work with them anywhere can apply to live for free in one or more of these villages for one to three months over the New Year. Those who receive the scholarship also receive free office space. Geiranger is quiet and peaceful in winter. PHOTO: Øyvind Sandnes – What we are looking for in the Vestfjorden is to strengthen communities. We have industry, we are fishermen and breeders, but we would like to strengthen the area by bringing in people who do other things, says Gunnar Ólafsson. He is a bank manager and represents the village of Thingeyri, which is seven hours by car from Keflavik airport in Iceland. Gunnar Ólafsson is bank manager Blabankinn in Thingeyri. More than 200 people live there, and they would like to have more people in the village. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Far away Magnus Pauli Vest represents Vágur municipality. When he has to advertise his island, he points out that it is the furthest away from the center of the large islands in the Faroe Islands. He believes this is a unique opportunity where people can test what it’s like to live far out in the sea gap – Then they can decide for themselves if it is something for them to live here permanently, or if it was just an experience, he says. The municipality of Vágur in the Faroe Islands has made a promotional video to show what you can experience by living there. PHOTO: Martijn Bastiaans Community is important Strong centralization causes many rural communities to die out. Several countries in Europe are working to attract people who can take their work with them anywhere – so-called digital nomads. The hope is, of course, that they will like each other so much that they settle down in the village for good. Over 80 percent of people in Norway live in densely populated areas, according to figures from Statistics Norway. Marit Mellingen is director of the District Centre. Photo: Sondre Dalaker / news The District Center is a national competence center that works to help municipalities develop attractive local communities. Director Marit Mellingen says there is one important thing that must be in place when trying to get people to move to the village – in addition to houses and jobs. – What we know is important to get people to stay in a place, is that they thrive and are included in the local community, she says. Could you imagine living in one of these villages for a while? Yes, that would be really fun! 🙏 No, I don’t want to 👀 Maybe, but I’m a bit unsure… Show result Excited The three partners in the Arctic Digital Nomads Stipend are completely clear about that. As one of the most important qualities of Thingeyri in Iceland, bank manager Gunnar Ólafsson highlights the community in a hot tub – every morning before nine o’clock, with a cup of coffee and a good chat. – We have almost no clothes to wear. Everyone is equal in the hot tub. No expensive branded clothes. There is only the simple conversation left, says the bank manager. Thingeyri, Iceland Photo: Gunnar Ólafsson Katrin Blomvik Bakken in Geiranger is very excited about who will come to apply for the scholarship, and whether any of those who come will stay in the village for good. – Winter is the dark, quiet time. We are probably looking for those who want to be quiet and get inspiration from nature. And then they also have to tolerate living here when it’s dark, she says. Published 29/10/2024, at 09.13
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Looking for people who want to live here for free
