/Event

Lofoten International Art Festival presents The Kelp Congress

The Kelp Congress

September 19–22, Svolvær

The Public Programme of the Kelp Congress consists of keynote lectures, discussions, art works, and performances. Insights, processes and discoveries from the Coast, Line, Kelp Curing and Kelp Diagramme Collective closed workshops that lead up to the weekend will be shared.

Reserve your spot!
Due to the limited number of places, registration is offered on a first come, first served basis.
You can also pre-register for meals during the weekend on the same form:
Registration form for the Kelp Congress Public Programme.

Thursday 19 September

14:00–17:00
The Kelp Medal of Honour
Public Maker Lab by Signe Johannessen
Svolvær Town Square (wet weather location: Sentrumsgården)

19:00–21:30
Film programme
Curated by HÆRK with Erik Martinson:
Svolvær film theatre

Friday 20 September
*extended opening hours of the LIAF 2019 exhibition (12:00–22:00)

12:00–14:00
The Kelp Medal of Honour
Children’s Workshop by Signe Johannessen
Svolvær Town Square (wet weather location: Sentrumsgården)

14:00–17:00
The Kelp Medal of Honour
Public Maker Lab by Signe Johannessen
Svolvær Town Square (wet weather location: Sentrumsgården)

16:00–18:00
Registration for the Kelp Congress
The Former Lofotposten Building

18:00–18:15
Introduction to the Kelp Congress by LIAF curators
Thon Hotel Conference Suite (10th floor)

18:15–19:00
Planetary Speculation: Cultivating Curiosity, Concern and Care, Collaboratively
Keynote by Prof. Cecilia Åsberg
Thon Hotel Conference Suite (10th floor)

19:00–22:00
Kelp Kitchen
Seaweed inspired food served and the bar opens
The Former Lofotposten Building

19:30–20:00
Intertidal Shelter Part II
Artistic Intervention by Devil’s Apron (Kåre Grundvåg & Trond Ansten)
The Intertidal Zone beside The Former Lofotposten Building

Saturday 21 September
*extended opening hours of the LIAF 2019 exhibition (12:00–22:00)

10:00–11:15
So Tired, The Sea…
Recorded Keynote by Prof. Astrida Neimanis. Moderated Q&A by Dr. Marietta Radomska
Svolvær Film Theatre

11:30–12:00
Common Notions (Confusion resumes outside a few squaremeters)
Performance Lecture by Sabine Popp
Svolvær Film Theatre

13:00–13:45
Kelp Medal of Honour Ceremony by Signe Johannessen
Svolvær Town Square

14:00–15:15
Kelp Connections
Panel Discussion
Svolvær Film Theatre

15:30–17:00
Artistic Research Sharing Kelp Curing & Kelp Diagram Collective
Starting point Svolvær Film Theatre for Kelp Curing
The Old Second-Hand Shop for Kelp Diagram Collective

17:00–19:00
DINNER
Food served and the bar opens
The Former Lofotposten Building

19:00–20:00
Artistic Research Sharing Coast, Line
The Former Lofotposten Building

20:00–22:00
Kelp Gathering
DJ and bar in The Former Lofotposten Building

Sunday 22 September

10:00-10:30
Sea Ceremony
Performance ritual by Julia Lohmann
The Former Lofotposten Building

10:30-12:00
Kelp Network Discussions
The Former Lofotposten Building

About LIAF 2019 and the Kelp Congress

LIAF 2019 is curated by Torill Østby Haaland, Hilde Methi, Karolin Tampere and Neal Cahoon.
The festival lasts from August 30 – September 29 i Svolvær.

LIAF 2019, together with Annette Wolfsberger, initiated the Kelp Congress with input from several artist-run organisations and research centres based in the Nordic countries and Northwest Russia – ArtLab Gnesta, Fridaymilk, Laboratory for Aesthetics and Ecology, Mustarinda, Posthumanities Hub, Skaftfell – Center for Visual Art, and The Department of Seaweed.

Illustration by Amy Franceschini.