viðar hreinsson on the boundary svartárkot, culture...

Viðar Hreinsson

On the Boundary

Svartárkot, culture – naturewww.svartarkot.is

The idea is to establish an international centre for

research and education on Icelandic culture and nature

in Svartárkot, Bárðardalur Valley, North Iceland.

The rough Icelandic nature at hand and the cultural

history of Iceland as it appears in the valley, will be history of Iceland as it appears in the valley, will be

intertwined.

The relations between humans and nature will be a

specific field of resarch.

The centre will connect a remote homestead with the

international academic community and will create a

dialogue between the local and the global.

Magnificent nature, Ódáðahraun and Suðurá, Dyngjufjöll and Askja, Vatnajökull, Herðubreið........ Aldeyjarfoss, the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland, is near Svartárkot

Rich sources of cultural history, such as manuscripts, letters,

autobiographies, diaries, plays, the poet Stephan G. Stephansson.

Bárðardalur is important for the history of immigration to America

Brenniás in Fljótsheiði heath, where there were many –heath-

homesteads in the 19th century, my great granfather was conceived

there – family history, what else!!!

Iceland today �It is necessary to eliminate the imaginary split between the capital and the province, the country has to be regarded as a whole �If the entire country shall remain inhabited, views must change and opportunities be created all over the country, even in the most remote places�The creative classes are supposed to maintain the �The creative classes are supposed to maintain the knowledge-society. They must be nourished by nature and culture – and in tourism, they seek experiences�By means of innovation in education and culture, it is possible to attract creative people to live all over Iceland

Study abroad Has increased greatly in the last few years

�I was appointed as Executive Director of the Reykjavik Academy in the fall

of 2005 and the board backed me up to work on the implementation of this

project, as it is important to develop self-sustainable projects out of the

knowledge of scholars in humanities and social sciences

�A small grant was awarded by Impra Innovation Centre by the end of 2005

and it was used to make a business plan and hold a two day brainstorm

meeting in Svartárkot in June 2006, with a group of good people who have

since been very supportive.

�In 2007, we received 5 m from the parliament in order to develop the idea

further and invite c. 30 international academics to a kind of a demo-course.

�In 2008: We receive 10 m. to continue the development of the idea, hold

courses and market them.

�In the demo-course, a variety of lectures were delivered on Icelandic culture and nature, combined with excursions, such as a dreove to the lavafield and whale watching. �The participants were overwhelmed, and some of them have donated funds and books for the project. �Three Courses were promoted for last summer. One of them was held, in cooperation with the University of Edinburg, but there was not enougn enrollment for the others, as we started too late. This year, we are much to sooner to promote the next year’s courses.

There are also possibilities of winter-courses in Svartárkoti, for instance in astronomy, as the place is ideal for an observatory due to it isolations and little light-pollution.

Sunrise in Svartárkot

This year, we have been gathering expeience and

knowledge as well as making international connections.

Many of our connections are interested on cooperation,

and joint courses in cooperation with overseas

universities is also an interesting possibility.

We have already started promoting next year’s courses We have already started promoting next year’s courses

and this fall we intend to make plans about raising funds

for buildings in Svartárkot.

The project is just starting...............

Hrafnabjörg falls in Skjálfandafljót River

THANK YOU