Kilden
Kilden & Competence Center
Kilden Dialogue is a national competence center for diversity, inclusion, and co-created art at Kilden Theatre and Concert Hall in Kristiansand
“Culture for Health,” EU report
Arts and cultural activities are important for promoting good mental health and quality of life among the population, both individually and collectively.
Kilden Dialogue is a national competence center for diversity, inclusion, and co-created art at Kilden Theatre and Concert Hall in Kristiansand. The belief in the performing arts as a powerful tool to promote personal growth, social inclusion, and quality of life forms the foundation of this initiative.
As a national center of excellence, we work on the development of the field, research on outcomes, and dissemination of methodology, knowledge, and experiences.
- Development: We build on more than 15 years of experience in collaborative performing arts to develop methods and productions that combine artistic quality with social inclusion.
- Research: Kilden is the only arts center in Norway with Kilden own research director. She investigates how participation in art and culture can influence people’s well-being and how they cope with life. We have a particular focus on the field of collaborative performing arts and on the connection between culture, health, and living conditions.
- Outreach: We share our experience, expertise, and research findings through scientific articles, opinion pieces, lectures, workshops, and collaborations with cultural institutions, schools, and organizations nationwide.
Our projects
Kilden has a wide range of exciting projects, both past and present.
My daughter was a rock star on Saturday
With deep gratitude, I just want to thank you for a fantastic performance! My daughter, who has multiple disabilities—including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and visual impairment—was my rock star on Saturday! She was beaming, gave it her all, and I saw how her enthusiasm spread among all the wonderful students as each one contributed to a truly magical experience.
There is light
Being part of this has been like going from fifth grade to high school in a week—I’ve learned so much. There is light, even if you might not realize it.
– Participant in Ikke A4
A willpower I have rarely seen.
What a performance—congratulations! This was truly impressive—the way these young people tell their unique stories—their lives filled with immense challenges, yet marked by a hope and a strength of will I have rarely seen. They managed to take a playful jab at us in the healthcare system.
Anne Lill Berthelsen, clinical advisor in the Department of Psychiatry at Sørlandet Hospital, on the performance *Ikke A4*
Silje Hansen Flemmen
Program Coordinator for Children and Youth
Lena Beate Skjerdal Berge
Ticket Coordinator / Accessibility Coordinator
News
Young Composers on Stage
This week, 13 third-grade students from Rosseland School will take the stage alongside the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra
Visit by students from Kvadraturen High School
When we have some spare capacity, we’re happy to open our doors to curious groups who want to explore Kilden’s many rooms.
Sign Language in *The Tin Soldier*
"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" by Hans Christian Andersen will be staged at Kilden January, before the production embarks on an extensive tour. The production uses sign language.
Positive outcomes of collaborative art
A newly published article shows how collaborative artistic work can contribute to a sense of belonging, emotional development, and the feeling of making a difference in others’ lives.
Have you considered taking cultural vitamins this winter?
performing arts centre Mari Andreasen, Head of Research at Kilden performing arts centre , wrote an op-ed before Christmas about the positive health benefits of participating in cultural activities. With summer still a ways off, might “cultural vitamins” still be relevant during the winter months? Read the op-ed here.
Key partners
Partners
