Things Are Bubbling in Värmland!
On May 15, 56 artisans and cultural practitioners, association members, and professionals from the tourism sector and Arvika Municipality gathered at Brunskog’s heritage center in Värmland to exchange ideas for activities, experiences, and methods that could bring new life to western Värmland and its surroundings. “Things Are Bubbling” was part of Region Värmland’s #RuralSpot event for CULTURALITY.
Brunskog’s Heritage Center
Brunskog’s heritage center is a place with great potential. It has a long history of cultural heritage work, but it also needs to develop new activities for visitors, especially during the off-season. The surrounding area is home to many craftspeople, artisans, and other cultural actors who will be a driving force in the continued development process.
Inspirational Lecture by Mikael Öst
The day began with an inspirational lecture by Mikael Öst from Delsbo in the Hälsingland region of Sweden. In Mikael’s artistic practice, storytelling is central. By developing and placing tradition in a new context, he creates new frameworks that bring cultural heritage to life.
Participants’ Ideas in Focus
The main focus of the day was to highlight the participants’ own ideas and questions. Even before the gathering, they were asked to reflect on the needs and desired development of the area, the tourism sector, and their own work. The event was organized as an Open Space meeting, where the process was driven by the participants’ own questions—giving them the opportunity to shape the content themselves. During three sessions, they were free to choose discussion groups based entirely on their own interests. Some of the questions discussed included:
- What symbols exist and are being created around the cultural heritage of Värmland?
- How can we engage young people in preserving their local cultural heritage?
- How can we promote tourism destinations through educational courses?
- How can different cultural expressions create unexpected synergies with other practices, such as e.g. sports and heritage?
There was strong engagement among the participants across various cultural fields. A clear will and knowledge to develop the countryside was evident, and through Culturality, there is an opportunity to connect different forces. The gathering also provided an important space for participants to form new contacts and expand their networks.
