Come and join us to celebrate the European heritage!
Welcome to the kick off of the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Days (Kulturverndagene), a joint event between EUNIC Norway, the Arts and Culture Norway and Kulturvernforbundet.
The theme we explore this evening and during the «Kulturverndagene», is: HOME. In particular, HOME will address the themes of identity, tradition and heritage from different perspectives, reinforcing the strength of our common shared values at the core of Europe.
The evening will take place at Sentralen in Oslo and offers a rich cultural program where Norwegian cultural heritage meets those from various European countries, as: Austria, Finland, Italy, Latvia and Slovenia.
The program will include an exhibition of traditional crafts from international communities, and you will have the opportunity to listen to talks and contributions that will entertain and engage.
There will also be film screenings and last but not least, a catwalk showcasing traditional costumes!
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Our Italian special guest will be the city of Matera. Former European Capital of Culture (in 2019) and appointed Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026.
From Matera, we have invited Rita Orlando, responsible for the programming and network of «Fondazione Matera 2019», who will present artefacts typical from Matera and the Basilicata region:
– the whistle, an iconic and symbolic object of the city reinterpreted by contemporary designers. Its origins date back to prehistoric times. The legendary whistle of Matera is likely the first musical toy in the area, dating back to ancient times. Small clay whistles have been found in children’s tombs from the Magna Graecia period. The traditional Matera whistle depicts a rooster, a symbol of strength and virility. It was often displayed outside homes as a ward against evil spells.
– the papier-mâché bell from the solidarity workshop, an object linked to the tradition of «transhumance» and now a symbol of inclusion and innovation.
– a Bread Stamp, an iconic and symbolic object of the city linked to the tradition of Matera Bread and community ovens. Each family had its own stamp, which they placed on the loaf of bread that was then collected from the baker to be baked: the stamp made it recognizable when it was picked up.
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So, over all, we do think the evening will be a nice opportunity to meet people from the diverse cultural scene in Norway and Europe.
…and we will of course also offer some food and drinks.
