Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Dose of Danish Culture
Left: Tree of Codes is a breathtaking, rhapsodic encounter between music, dance, light and structure. Brought to life by Jamie xx’s scintillating score, Olafur Eliasson’s dazzling visual designs and Wayne McGregor’s visceral choreography, Tree of Codes will be performed at Musikhuset Aarhus. Photo: Ravi Deepres. Top right: With 29 performances of the epic Viking saga, Røde Orm, 100,000 audiences will get the chance to experience this mega event in Aarhus 2017. Photo: Røde Orm: Aarhus 2017. Below right: British Rebecca Matthews, previous New York and global partnerships director for the British Council, is the CEO of Aarhus 2017. Photo: Michael Grøn/ Billedmageren.
Aarhus 2017
– rethinking the European Capital of Culture Being the European Capital of Culture is anticipated to change a city but, next year, the city of Aarhus is determined to change what it means to be a capital of culture. Together with the region’s 19 municipalities, Aarhus 2017 has been rethinking the very purpose of the prestigious project. The result is not just a year packed with cultural events but a programme which, as the result of a democratic and inclusive process, highlights many pressing global and local issues. By Signe Hansen
Fine art and popular art, global artists and local artists, huge free exhibitions and exclusive intimate performances; with more than 400 scheduled events, Aarhus 2017 will have it all. Overall the ambition has been to be as inclusive and democratic as possible in both process and result, explains Rebecca Matthews, CEO at Aarhus 2017. “Democracy is a very important part of Danish life, so in the bidding process we had a broad democratic consultation asking 10,000 people across the region what they expected from a cultural capital. The answer was that they wanted a broad and inclusive art and culture programme, but 54 | Issue 94 | November 2016
also a programme that looks at global challenges and issues that are pressing for us here in Denmark.” She continues: “So, we developed a programme that’s based on culture but also uses culture as a platform to rethink issues such as sustainability, globalism, localism, democracy and so on. That way our slogan ‘let’s rethink’ is more than a slogan; it’s a mindset, a progressive mentality that bids us to think and act smarter in the future.” The result is an exceptionally diverse programme that covers all the region’s 19 municipalities and includes 3,500
volunteers. Prominent events include Røde Orm, an epic Viking extravaganza performed on the grass-covered roof of Moesgaard Museum; The Garden, Aarhus and ARoS’s largest outdoor exhibition reflecting on humanity’s depictions and alterations of nature; and the internationally acclaimed ballet Tree of Codes, directed by Wayne McGregor and with a visual concept by Olafur Eliasson. “There will be a special moment for everyone, whether it comes through viewing an internationally exceptional performance in Aarhus, taking part in local community events, enjoying the sports, gastronomy, dance, theatre or educational offers – it’s culture in the broadest sense,” says Matthews.
For more information, please visit: www.aarhus2017.dk