Highlights
Artist-in-Resident
Karen Werner will be our first Artist-in-resident from the 25th of June 2021. Karen is based in Bergen, Norway, where she is an artistic research fellow at the Bergen Art Academy. Her creative practice revolves around radio, song, voice and story. Learn More
Strikket!
Bringing together creatives from 8 countries and 3 continents to connect with local craftspeople and students from Vestland to harness the power of creativity and collaboration, culminating in a catwalk show. Learn More
Living Heritage Toolkit
An inter-regional project between Cultural Paths and Rovaniemi Heritage Museum Finland, inspired from the traditional clothing and textiles collection the museum holds. A reinterpretation of traditional working garments, knitted patterns and the nordic landscape. Learn More
Mandate
Create public platforms for exploring new ways of communication and interaction away from mainstream culture to allow free flow of different perspectives. Take risks by visiting new grounds and not conforming to preconceived ideas. Democratise and decentralise art.
We aim to place value in striving towards our goals and not quantifiable outcomes.
Location
Venø Gård is located on the island Venøya in Stad municipality. Situated on the West Coast of Norway.
The 400 acres farm Venø Gård has been in the Venø family for more than 400 years. Farming on such a small scale is barely sustainable, therefore it is important to find new ways for the land to give sustenance to the community. Our answer is art.
We create events on Venø Gård and in the local district.
Founders
Olav Venø
Olav left home at the age of 15 to become a sailor. With time he became a navigator of cargo ships. Among his amazing experiences was delivering pipes with a 8000 ton ship from Germany to Peru, via the Amazon river. It tok 10 days to travel 2000 nautical miles up the river and 5 days down. In his 30s Olav returned home to mange the farm he grew up on and is continuing to look after it to this day.
Julia Venø
Julia Anna Maria Kröner Venø is a fashion educator, fashion designer, pattern cutter and ladies’ tailor. She is using her international experience and strong clothing expertise to create meaningful work to benefit the region and beyond. Julia and her artist husband Bjørn Venø are working together on cultural projects that have the potential to question the current value system to encourage alternative perspectives and exploration.
Julia's Portfolio
Jessica Venø
Jessica has a Master in Service Experience Design and Innovation, and a BA in Experience and Event Design from Westerdals. Currently she is working as a Service Designer at Knowit. She has a environmental and futuristic agenda for social change and innovation.
www.myportfolio.com
Anita Eide
Anita has a Master in Fine Art from Swansea Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Art and Design from Høgskolen in Oslo. She has built her self a studio on Venøy and wants her life to be something else than accumulation of capital.
www.anitaeide.com
Elaine Venø
Elaine was a 21 year old student nurse when she first met Olav who was a navigator on a ship called Mambo. They dated and he invited her to visit Venøy. It was cold and the water was very calm. Olav’s mother Anne had prepared freshly made waffles for breakfast. Sivert, Olav's fatter asked Elaine if she new the queen, which felt funny and strange to her.
Bjørn Venø
Bjørn has a Master in Photography from Royal College of Art and a BA in Photography from University for the Creative Arts. He left Venøy at the age of 17, but every dream was located on Venøy. He is now back on the island living in the old farm house with his family. A notable project he is working on is a Manifesto on why it is important to make art nobody wants.
www.bjornveno.com