Murmansk Days in Finnmark

Cultural cooperation between Murmansk Oblast and Finnmark fylke has been developing over 20 years. There is a good tradition to have Norwegian Days and Finnmark Days in Murmansk city. Now Vadsø became a cultural venue for Murmansk Days in Finnmark.

– With our programme we tried to show all spheres where we have a long and successful cooperation - says Alexander Barannikov, the vice-head of Culture and Art Committee in Murmansk Oblast. First of all, these are contacts between painters and musicians, libraries and theatres.

Murmansk Puppet Theatre presented a fairytale “Adalmina’s perle”. Murmansk Puppet Theatre is a professional theater and has been over ten years cooperating with puppet theatres in Barents Region as well as participating in puppet festivals.

Northern Norway has no professional puppet theatres. Thus Murmansk Puppet Theatre performances are always a big success. It should be noted, that whole fairytale was performed by Russian actors in Norwegian.

After the fairytale, Murmansk actors gave a workshop. The young audience from Vadsø got to know about a wonderful profession which allows adults to play with dolls. They told about every puppet, its name and function. Children were excited when watching them and playing with them.

As a part of Murmansk Days in Finnmark there was held an exhibition of paintings by Murmansk artists. All in all there were 17 paintings of different styles and techniques which depict the way artist of different generations see their native place.

The exhibition was frequented by Vadsø citizens; some of them wanted to purchase paintings of Murmansk artists right there.

Apart from it there was a seminar on Russian contemporary literature in Vadsø library. The librarians from Murmansk Regional Scientific Library presented an overview of modern trends in today’s literature of Russia. Many Norwegians and especially immigrants from Russia ask about new names in literature, they want to know what books are the most popular today.

The seminar presented contemporary Russian authors and their works, which were given prestigious national awards over the last few years.

The Sør-Varanger library in Kirkenes also confirms a great interest towards Russia. People ask for literature and video materials about Russia no matter what language it is, many ask for guide books about Moscow, St.Petersburg and Murmansk.

The libraries in Finnmark have a vast collection of books in Russian and try to develop contacts with Murmansk libraries. To a great extent it is possible due to book exchange practice. This time also – Murmansk delegation presented to Vadsø library 15 books of contemporary authors, 6 of which are written by Murmansk men of letters.

Also there were several joint concerts of Norwegian and Russian musicians. On the last day there was Murmansk classical quintet playing the music of famous Russian composers such Tchaikovsky and Glinka. A good final accord was singing of Rauzalia Givargizova – soloists from Murmansk Philharmonic Hall, she performed well-known by Russians as well as Norwegians ‘Podmoskovnie vechera’ (Moscow Nights) and ‘Kalinka-malinka’.

- We are grateful to Murmansk Oblast culture authorities and Murmansk artists for having these days in Vadsø. All that you do is always done on a high level. – said Marianne Pedersen, the Head of Culture and Sport Department in Finnmark fylke.

Murmansk Days in Finnmark were funded by the Norwegian Barents Secretariat.