The case in summary: The festivals in Northern Norway are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery announced that the festival will be included in the state budget again, which gives more predictability to the event. The festival has previously received funding from the Culture Council, but will now receive the money directly from the government. Festspillene is an important art and cultural actor in Northern Norway and is described as a spearhead among festivals. Inclusion in the national budget requires approval from the Storting. Since its inception in 1965, the festivals have attracted countless participants and audiences to Harstad, Northern Norway’s third largest city. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The festivals in Northern Norway, which are held every year during the summer solstice in June, are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery came to the celebration, who brought a gift that had been at the top of the wish list for a long time. – When someone has a birthday, you should preferably not come empty-handed, you should bring a present. – I know that there are many here who have worked for one thing, and that is to work the Festivals in Northern Norway back into the state budget. And dear Harstad: I have decided that we must actually manage to do that, said Jaffery from the stage, to great applause from the several hundred present. GIFT: Minister for Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery brought a gift with her on her trip to Harstad. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Predictability for the festivities The birthday present from the Minister of Culture and Equality came as a surprise at the festivities. – I’m very grateful. I have fought for this since we got rid of the state budget in 2016, says festival director Ragnheiður Skúladóttir to news, before she continues: – This is a very important signal and recognition of what we have done to build up this wonderful festival and cultural beacon here in the North -Norway, the Festivals currently receive funding from the Cultural Council. Saturday’s happy news, on the other hand, will provide much more predictability for the cultural event, which will receive the money directly from the government. – This creates the stability that we need. We have many ventures that take years to plan. So for us, getting this recognition and stability is very important, she continues. SURPRISED: festival director Ragnheiður Skúladóttir (th) was anything but disappointed with Saturday’s birthday present from Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Spearhead Jaffery has no doubt that the festivals, which she describes as a spearhead among festivals, deserve to end up in the state budget. – They are an important art and culture actor here in Northern Norway. It is then important that we in the Ministry of Culture take them to heart, so that we can also take part in the important development for the entire region. Saturday’s good news requires an approval from the Storting, which the Minister of Culture, who, like most Bergens, grew up with parties, is sure that will be arranged. – I think they will have to deal with the whole of Harstad if they don’t. FOR EVERYONE: The festivals in Northern Norway gather people of all ages for eight days with over 100 different cultural events in Harstad. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news 60 years of cultural history Since the first festivals were organized in Harstad in 1965, the event has attracted countless participants and audiences to Northern Norway’s third largest city. Mayor of Harstad, Kari-Anne Opsal (Ap), has no doubts about the importance the festivals have had, and still have, for the city. – The festivals are the mother ship for us being such a fine cultural city. It does something for our identity, says Opsal. Mayor Kari-Anne Opsal and festival director Ragnheiður Skúladóttir were guests on Saturday morning Helgemorgen on news 1 and P2. Festival director Ragnheiður Skúladóttir and Harstad mayor Kari-Anne Opsal (Ap). Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news During the opening ceremony, no less than 30 former participants came on stage, which made an impression on the minister. – It was very touching and incredibly wonderful. It was so wonderful when all these who have been involved over these 60 years came on stage, says Jaffery, before she continues: – These are not just people who mean something to Northern Norway, but to our entire country and the entire cultural nation of Norway. COMING: On Monday, Pål Moddi Lue, best known by his stage name Moddi, is coming to Harstad. Photo: Heather Ørbeck Eliassen / news Published 22.06.2024, at 11.03 Updated 22.06.2024, at 16.16
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The Northern Norway Festival in Harstad is back on the state budget – news Troms and Finnmark
