THE LIFE-BOATS ART PROJECT 

 

Skien is a canal city in Norway, and Skien Municipality is very positive about an art project that wants to make use of the waterways and canals in Scandinavia and Europe. 

 

The Telemark canal, with Skien as the port of entry, celebrates its 150 year jubilee in 2011 and is therefore one of the region’s strongest brands and bearers of culture. It is in the interests of Skien Municipality that the canals become the focus of attention, debate and renewed interest. This is what we believe will be the case with the completion of the Life-boats project, which also includes a voyage on the Telemark canal.

 

An art project based on the canal will also harmonise well with Skien Municipality’s commitment to Art Town Skien, where drawing attention to art production, the promotion of art and artists and improving their working conditions is essential. Work is underway to establish the Telelmark Canal as a regional park. The purpose of the regional park is to increase the attractiveness of the area as a destination and place of residence and to bring about growth and development in business through refining of the distinctive resources that are associated with the Telemark Canal and the canal landscape. In line with this project, ”Life-boats” could also help to highlight the Telemark canal as an attractive destination and place to live as well as supporting objectives for the region.

 

As an artist, Marit Benthe Norheim has roots in Skien, both in terms of her familiar ties as well as an artistic association. One of her major projects, The ”Rat Maiden”, is a landmark in Skien. Both the ”Rat Maiden” as well as her other great work in Skien, Reinforced women, are in close proximity to the canal and will thus be able to welcome the ”Life-boats” as they sail up the Telemark canal. 

Based on this, Skien Municipality is very positive about the ”Life-boats” project based on the project information that Marit Benthe Norheim has sent to us and we look forward to further collaboration around the project.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Ragnar Nilssen, Head of Culture, Skien Municipality

Tom-Erik Lønnerød, project leader, Art town Skien