Cultural expression: Connecting art to life

Based on Professor Øivind Varkøy's reflections on connecting art to life in Morgenbladet on January 10, 2025, we invite you to a conversation about the intrinsic value of art. What words do we use to justify art today - and how can we talk about children and young people's art experiences as valuable in themselves?

Scenekunstbruket In recent years, performing arts for children and young people have often been legitimized on the basis of learning outcomes, health benefits or democratic effects.

What will happen to the art meetings of the future if artists' work is only seen in light of its social benefit? How can art gain a greater place in the public conversation without having to adapt to the rhetoric of other sectors?

The conversation is led by Julie Rongved Amundsen, editor of scenekunst.no and performing arts critic.

With:
Øivind Varkøy, professor of music pedagogy at the Norwegian Academy of Music
Tine Valavuo Tyldum, CEO of Scenekunstbruket
Mine Nilay Yalcin, director, performer and playwright
Karstein Solli, choreographer and senior lecturer at Volda University College and the Norwegian College of Dance
Trine Skei Grande, director of the Norwegian Publishers Association

Wednesday, June 25
14:00 – 15:30
Union Scene | Multisal 2

The participants in the conversation

Ahead of the conversation on cultural expression, we sent one question to all participants:

How do you relate to the intrinsic value of art?

Øivind Varkøy

Øivind Varkøy is a professor of music pedagogy and musicology, employed at the Norwegian Academy of Music. He has published a large number of articles, books and anthologies within the philosophy of music education and music philosophy, nationally and internationally. Varkøy is particularly concerned with legitimization issues related to the arts subjects in schools. He is also a composer, and is among others behind CD releases with Morten Harket and Solveig Slettahjell.

Karstein Solli

Karstein Solli is a creative and performing artist, senior lecturer in acting, drama and theatre communication, and artistic director at Seanse, the centre for art production at Volda University College. He is co-responsible for programming the Småkunstfestivalen (for children 0-6 years) every three years. Solli is a highly experienced artist and educator who has worked in the performing arts field for almost 40 years, and in recent years much of his own art production has been aimed at young children aged 0-6 years.

Nilay Yalcin Mine

Mine Nilay Yalcin is a Norwegian/Turkish director, playwright and performer based in Oslo and has throughout her artistic career focused on class struggle, cultural class struggle and diversity. She has been concerned that everyone should have access to performing arts and that everyone must be represented.

Yalcin has done projects such as "Asfaltpuls – paranoia like hell at sunset" (2018), "BLIKK" (2022), "Sirkus Grønland" (2024). In 2023 she received the Hedda Prize for best stage text for the performance "Ivars Kro – the story of a brown pub".

Trine Skei Grande

Trine Skei Grande is director of the Norwegian Publishers Association.

Tine Valavuo Tyldum

Tine Valavuo Tyldum is the CEO of Scenekunstbruket , and artistic director of the Showbox performing arts festival.

Julie Rongved Amundsen

Julie Rongved Amundsen has a PhD in theatre studies from the University of Oslo. She is the editor of Scenekunst.no and a theatre critic for Klassekampen. Amundsen leads the conversation at Kulturytring.