The first thing visitors at Emmaus are met by is art; all visitors have free access to the exhibitions, which change five times a year.
Conference of the Month, Denmark
‘Our special atmosphere comes for free’ With its atmospheric interiors and green exteriors, Emmaus is the place to go if you are looking for a conference venue with a heart. Founded as a gallery focused on biblical art in Haslev’s old folk school, the grand old building is still saturated by the genuinely artistic, homely and open-hearted spirit that has characterised the place since its inception. Besides a professional conference venue, visitors will also find a distinct gallery experience, a special place to spend the night and a creative folk school.
of the folk school because art has also always been about challenging and debating the norms of society. At the same time, I wanted to create a convention centre based on Christian values, and a place where people could meet and connect to themselves – and to others,” says Olsen.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Emmaus
14 years ago, Grethe Olsen established Denmark’s first and only gallery dedicated to biblical art with a special focus on the great Bible stories. The idea garnered much attention from artists, many of whom also started showing interest in the old folk school which the gallery was located in. In 2010, the school and gallery were merged under the ownership of a 74 | Issue 90 | July 2016
non-profit fund and managed by Olsen. As the beautiful 100-year-old building underwent a complete renovation, it also opened up to seminars and conventions. This was something it seemed perfect for, with its many rooms and large surrounding park. “To me it seemed an obvious opportunity to pair up art with the traditionally liberal and open-minded culture
With 70 hotel rooms and a range of meeting rooms of all sizes spread out over 10,000 square metres of floor space, Emmaus can accommodate organisations and meetings of all kinds with up to 500 people.
Something extra With 30 artists connected to Emmaus and the gallery being the point of
