At the National Ibsen Conference in Skien in 1997, it was generally agreed that more systematic efforts were needed to cultivate and renew the Ibsen heritage, both in Norwegian cultural life and in the presentation of Norway abroad. In October 1997, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs appointed the National Ibsen Committee.
Members and deputy members
- Lars Roar Langslet, former Minister of Cultural Affairs (chairman)
- Ellen Horn, Director, Riksteatret
- Knut A. Wille, Chief Municipal Executive, Skien
- Per Norstrøm, Chief County Officer for Cultural Affairs, Aust-Agder
- Helge Rønning, Professor, the University of Oslo, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Ibsen Centre
- Gerd Stahl, Dramaturge, the National Theatre (deputy member)
- Terje Mærli, stage director (deputy member)
- Astrid Sæther, Associate Professor, the Ibsen Centre (deputy member)
Secretariat
Elisabeth S. Christensen at the National Library of Norway is secretary of The National Ibsen Committee.
Mail address:
The National Ibsen Committee, c/o The National Library of Norway
Att.: Elisabeth S. Christensen
P.O. Box 2674 Solli
NO-0203 OSLO
Norway
Telephon (+47) 23 27 63 03
Telefaks (+47) 23 27 60 10
E-mail: ibsenkomiteen@nb.no
Tasks of the Committee
- In a supervisory and coordinating capacity, the Committee will plan and organize work aimed at the promotion of Ibsen.
- The Committee will consult with and encourage co-operation between the various Ibsen environments, stimulating ongoing work and helping to launch new projects.
- The Committee will propose measures in two main fields:
1) Mediation, i.e. all use of Ibsen`s life and works, in whatever medium and for any target group. Mediation can consist of theatre performances, films, electronic media productions, teaching projects, museum exhibitions, or books. In the multimedia area, the Committee will consider the possibility of developing "pioneering projects" with potential impacts on other cultural sectors.
The Committee`s work will be aimed at international, Nordic and national audiences, including schoolchildren, students, teachers and other communicators, scholars and "culture tourists".
2) Research and documentation:
The Committee will facilitate research, and support initiatives and developments for which experts in various fields see a need.
The Committee will propose wide-ranging measures designed to enhance Norway`s position as a centre for international Ibsen scholarship.
Aims
Henrik Ibsen is Norway`s most important and internationally famous author. His amazingly topical plays are so popular in theatres all over the world that in numbers of productions he is second only to Shakespeare. His works attract great interest among international scholars.
It is a paramount national responsibility to cultivate this interest in Ibsen and, while preserving our Ibsen heritage, to encourage its innovative, international, critical and creative stewardship.
The following will be among the Committee`s principal objectives:
- To survey national Ibsen-related activities to find out where special support may be needed
- To seek improved co-ordination and co-operation between the persons and institutions that initiate and engage in the various activities
- To draw up a plan for a large-scale national commemoration in the year 2006, the centenary of Ibsen`s death
- To help to give Norway a high international profile by disseminating knowledge of Ibsen, and to make Norway an international centre of Ibsen scholarship and Ibsen mediation
Fields of activity
The Committee has appointed sub-committees to generate ideas and report on activities in certain especially important fields:
- cinema/TV/radio
- museums
- new media
- teaching/mediation aimed at children and adolescents
- research/the new historical and critical edition of Ibsen`s works
Other areas:
- The Committee has taken steps to establish an Ibsen video library.
- The Committee co-operates closely with the theatre world, and supports the National Theatre`s Ibsen Festival.
- The Committee prepares its own Web site with links to Ibsen material on the Internet.
- The Committee co-operates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that Ibsen figures prominently in Norwegian cultural promotions abroad.
Committee budgets permitting, financial support is given to:
- Especially significant single projects, either when there are no other prospects of launching or funding, or when support by the Committee can help to trigger broader financial or organizational support from other sources.
- Pilot projects which may give rise to new initiatives in and original approaches to the maintenance and national and international mediation of the Ibsen heritage.
- Top-up funding (joint funding) of important projects which would otherwise come to a halt.
By ibsen.net