Ordkalotten

The history of Ordkalotten – Tromsø International Literature Festival has on one side its roots in a Zapffe seminar arranged by The Nordland Academy (NAVK) in 2000, due to the centenary of the birth of Zapffe and on the other side the planning The Northern Norwegian Writers’ Union did related to a literature seminar related to the centenary of the writer Lars Berg. Through uniting the resources a literature seminar was planned for year 2000 with the main topics Læstadius (a Northern Norwegian religious leader) and the fundamentalism of literature. During the work with the seminar an interim board for the project was established, and after a suggestion from Professor Viggo Rossvær the name Ordkalotten was selected. Parallel work to establish a long-term organisation model was done and before the formalities due to it was in place, Ordkalotten 2001 had also been completed. The project was expansive, still in collaboration with Nordland in planning and implementation of the festival, and also with an international section in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the headline of War and Peace. A number of internationally distinguished writers were gathered. The seminar got much media coverage nationally and internationally. The national and local emphasis was on the life and writing of Lars Berg. This part of Ordkalotten also got coverage. The profile and implementation of the seminars met acclaim.

The literature foundation Ordkalotten:

Based on the experiences from Ordkalotten 2000 and 2001 a formal organisation was established as a non-profit organisation registered in the public registers of The County Governor in Troms and The Brønnøysund Register Centre, under the name of Ordkalotten Tromsø International Literature Festival. Statutes and rules for responsibility and work were made. The formal organs of the organisation are the council, the board and the committees. Administration has thus far been performed partly through voluntary work by the members of the board and sponsors and partly through outsourced services for production managed. In the period from 2002 to 2009 the festival has hired a project leader, from 2006 in a 50 percent part time position.

Festival topics:

Ordkalotten 2010: October 7-9
Topic: Caravan

Ordkalotten 2009: September 30 - October 4
Topic: Violence

Ordkalotten 2008: October 1. - 5.
Topic: Crossing borders.

Ordkalotten 2007: September 26-30.
Topic: Russia.

Ordkalotten 2006: October 5-8.
Topic: Japan - Kokoro: Heart and mind.

Ordkalotten 2005: September 7-11.
Topic: Polarised.

Ordkalotten 2004: 8.-11. September 8-11.
Topic: When the word is threatened.

Ordkalotten 2003: 10.-14. September
Topic: Cora Sandel.

Ordkalotten 2002: September 4-7
Topic: Nils Aslak Valkeapää.

Ordkalotten 2001: September 3-8.
Topic: War and peace and Lars Berg seminar.

Ordkalotten 2000: September 13-16.
Topic: Lars Levi Læstadius

Source: Ordkalotten, 4.1.2011, http://www.ordkalotten.no/