Kapellankåken is officially open!
The dream of public education
In 2021, OVF put the 1906 chaplain’s residence up for sale, and fearing that it would be demolished and replaced with terrace houses, NRK presenter Linda Eide and Vossajazz director Trude Storheim bought the house.
“For a long time, we have wanted to establish and organise Opplysningshuset på Voss, a house that, in the best spirit of public education, makes people both wiser and more enthusiastic. A place to learn, experience and share. And this house, with its location, size and interior layout, is particularly well suited. That is why we want to open the house to various activities that are in keeping with the idea of a house for public education. The keywords here are lectures, courses, conversations, mini-festivals and intimate concerts. Both the mayor and the director of culture welcomed the plans; the bank perhaps did not exactly cheer, but at least they said yes. So then, yes, we bought it,” Linda Eide told OVF in 2021.
Weeks and months have passed, and many obstacles have been overcome since 2021. Trude is on leave from Vossajazz and is now acting director of culture in Voss municipality. OVF’s own Voss local, Jan Stedje, has joined the team with valuable knowledge about protected houses, building traditions and practical solutions. Layer upon layer of old renovation work was removed, and the house has now been completely renovated from roof to basement and modernised with underfloor heating and a ventilation system.
Raffle before the official opening
On Saturday 26 August, the ribbon was cut and Kapellankåken – the house of public education in Voss – was officially opened. The road to this point required demolition, carrying, construction, applications, sleepless nights, planning, organisation, financing, worry and enthusiasm. But with heads bowed and good, expert help from Jan Stedje and other enthusiasts, the dream has come true.
Who would cut the ribbon was decided by a raffle among the audience. And it could not have been more fitting when Hanne Marie Molde, who lived in the chaplain’s residence throughout her childhood, was drawn and given the honour. “No, it wasn’t rigged,” says Linda.
“through modern public education and broad cultural dissemination, Kapellankåken will create local pride, stronger community spirit and greater openness!”
Linda Eide
Along the line
The weekend was packed with events when Kapellankåken organised the literature festival Langs linjo – a name that refers both to lines of text and to the railway tracks passing Voss station, just below the house. During the festival, the audience enjoyed events featuring well-known authors, musicians and a special version of Eide’s language show. (You can find the programme here: Langs linjo. We hope and believe there will be a new festival in a year’s time.
The Foundation for Cultural Heritage Management sells several parsonages every year. It is inspiring to see how several of these are given new, community-building purposes while the houses and the history they carry are allowed to live on. We warmly congratulate Linda, Trude and Jan on the impressive work they have put in and on the opening of Kapellankåken – the house of public education in Voss!