Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Culture Special
A place where music, theatre and dance come together One year ago, Scenkonstmuseet (‘the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts’) opened up and quickly became a new favourite attraction in central Stockholm. “This is a museum where you step into the world of theatre, music and dance,” explains Daniel Wetterskog, museum director. “It gives the visitors a great overview of the three performing arts, on and behind the stage.” By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Jonas André, Scenkonstmuseet
Scenkonstmuseet has a collection of over 50,000 objects, so there is a lot for visitors to see and experience. In contrast to many other museums, which have dedicated interactive areas, Scenkonstmuseet has made sure that interactivity is integrated throughout all exhibitions. The exhibitions should be exciting for all generations. “I love to see grandparents getting help from their grandchildren while they are reminiscing about classic children’s songs. Our museum is not the quiet kind – it inspires conversations,” says Wetterskog proudly. While the museum focuses on Swedish heritage, Wetterskog emphasises how much international guests have appreciated a visit. “It is the only museum in Europe where you can experience theatre, 52 | Issue 110 | March 2018
music and dance at the same time, and it makes sense to keep it this way. The three performing arts are very often naturally performed together. You can’t dance without music,” says Wetterskog.
Bergman – truth and lies A forthcoming exhibition that has garnered a great deal of international interest is about Ingmar Bergman. This year, people all over the world are celebrating the ‘Bergman year’, as it marks 100 years since his birth, and Scenkonstmuseet is developing its own take on his success. “As a base, we are using an exhibition that was originally created by Deutche Kinemathek, but we are adding objects from our own collection,” explains Wetterskog. “Every month, we are finding new material with a connection to
Bergman – everything from original costumes and sketches to scenography models.” The museum will also make sure to highlight some of the people who were crucial to Bergman’s productions, including Gunilla Palmstierna-Weiss and Kerstin Hedeby. The biggest Bergman fans will most likely appreciate seeing original manuscripts and enjoy the deep-dive into the theatrical aspect of the director’s career. Meanwhile, it also gives those who do not know much about Bergman a quick overview. “It’s Bergman condensed into one hour,” says Wetterskog.
Web: scenkonstmuseet.se