2_Q9_ScanMag_78_July_2015_Text_JOE _Scan Magazine 1 07/07/2015 15:47 Page 51
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway
jørnsen (author of the Elling series among other well-known works) will return, ever so faithfully, to the festival’s venues. Eyes on the prize – for young and old And, while lingering on Ambjørnsen, aspiring writers should be well advised to seek out the prize named after him. The accolade, a collaboration between Ingvar Ambjørnsen, Amedia and Litteraturuka i Vestfold, each year awards a young person between the ages of 14 and 20 a sum of approximately £1,600. Beyond the prize money, the winner is given unique guidance and support by Ambjørnsen in his or her budding authorship. “It’s an extraordinary chance to receive direction from one of the best,” notes Engeland, adding that Litteraturuka also sees the County Council award the distinguished Vestfolds Litteraturpris (the Vestfold Literature Prize) to an author associated with Vestfold. Crime author Jørn Lier Horst can often be encountered at Litteraturuka i Vestfold. Photo: Gyldendal, Trude Rønnestad.
can inspire festivals around the country to do the same then that’s wonderful.”
All in all, as far as literature goes, it’s a festival that cannot be missed. “Low thresholds and high quality – that’s what we stand for. That, and extraordinary experiences!” Engeland concludes.
An impressive line-up – quite literally
A full room when author and musician Levi Henriksen takes to the stage. Photo: Vestfold County
While the full programme for this year’s festival will be released on 1 October (the festival opens on 2 November), visitors can already be sure to encounter an impressive group of literary masterminds in Vestfold this autumn. All age groups are carefully catered to, with the aim of providing just as many qualitative events for children and youths as the adult demographic. “We work closely with audience development in the sense that we want to reach out to, and decipher, the literary audience of coming years. Who are they? What do they want to read? A lot of our attention in upcoming times will be on the 15-25 age group, creating valuable literature experiences for young adults,” says Engeland. And, while keeping scores with the reading habits of their visitors, the team behind Litteraturuka maintains good relationships with visiting authors. This year esteemed author and noted funnyman Knut Nærum will inaugurate the festival as host of the opening performance, while Ingvar Amb-
Litteraturuka i Vestfold in brief: - Owned by Vestfold County - Established in 1997 - Recognised as the most important literature festival west of the Oslofjord - Just a short train ride from Oslo and Sandefjord Torp airports - Run in cooperation with all of Vestfold’s municipalities and a lineup of other participants - Readers can delight in roughly 80 events - Readers can meet with roughly 100 authors and other participants - The festival is supported by Kulturrådet – Arts Council Norway - Facebook: litt.uka - Twitter: #litt.uka - Instagram: #litt.uka
For more information, please visit: www.vfk.no/Litteraturuka
Issue 78 | July 2015 | 51