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Creative collaboration between outsiders and locals | Moa Björnson | TEDxOsloSalon


hi shawna was one of the first

hi shawna was one of the first settlements in Norway here they lived in

settlements in Norway here they lived in

settlements in Norway here they lived in caves 9,000 years ago today the island

caves 9,000 years ago today the island

caves 9,000 years ago today the island is home to some 500 people making it one

is home to some 500 people making it one

is home to some 500 people making it one of the smallest and most remote

of the smallest and most remote

of the smallest and most remote municipalities in Norway as everywhere

municipalities in Norway as everywhere

municipalities in Norway as everywhere else urbanization makes small places in

else urbanization makes small places in

else urbanization makes small places in the outskirt very aware of the constant

the outskirt very aware of the constant

the outskirt very aware of the constant threat of depopulation just like it was

threat of depopulation just like it was

threat of depopulation just like it was a hundred years ago when Norwegians

a hundred years ago when Norwegians

a hundred years ago when Norwegians emigrated to nations overseas before I

emigrated to nations overseas before I

emigrated to nations overseas before I go into how we are working with creative

go into how we are working with creative

go into how we are working with creative collaborations between outsiders and

collaborations between outsiders and

collaborations between outsiders and locals to fight depopulation today I’d

locals to fight depopulation today I’d

locals to fight depopulation today I’d like to share a story it’s a story of

like to share a story it’s a story of

like to share a story it’s a story of hundred years and ten thousand nautical

hundred years and ten thousand nautical

hundred years and ten thousand nautical miles from Holmen in Tirana to Honolulu

miles from Holmen in Tirana to Honolulu

miles from Holmen in Tirana to Honolulu in Hawaii in 1898 Theodore Holman an 18

in Hawaii in 1898 Theodore Holman an 18

in Hawaii in 1898 Theodore Holman an 18 year old man from tirana left his home

year old man from tirana left his home

year old man from tirana left his home to begin a journey which took him to

to begin a journey which took him to

to begin a journey which took him to Hawaii he emigrated just like hundreds

Hawaii he emigrated just like hundreds

Hawaii he emigrated just like hundreds of thousands other Norwegians during

of thousands other Norwegians during

of thousands other Norwegians during this time period three years later his

this time period three years later his

this time period three years later his little sister Alma was born she grew up

little sister Alma was born she grew up

little sister Alma was born she grew up and lived all her life in Tirana despite

and lived all her life in Tirana despite

and lived all her life in Tirana despite the distance the brother and sister

the distance the brother and sister

the distance the brother and sister managed to communicate with each other

managed to communicate with each other

managed to communicate with each other from one side of the globe to the other

from one side of the globe to the other

from one side of the globe to the other three years or as soon as Alma was old

three years or as soon as Alma was old

three years or as soon as Alma was old enough to start reading tarot wrote

enough to start reading tarot wrote

enough to start reading tarot wrote letters directly to her three months

letters directly to her three months

letters directly to her three months later they arrived in China in this way

later they arrived in China in this way

later they arrived in China in this way they slowly got to know each other but

they slowly got to know each other but

they slowly got to know each other but they never met in 9025 Alma received the

they never met in 9025 Alma received the

they never met in 9025 Alma received the package

package

package bigger than just a letter opening it

bigger than just a letter opening it

bigger than just a letter opening it finding out it was a camera a code

finding out it was a camera a code

finding out it was a camera a code ematic a machine should never seen

ematic a machine should never seen

ematic a machine should never seen before she had to write to the brother

before she had to write to the brother

before she had to write to the brother asking how is this supposed to work it

asking how is this supposed to work it

asking how is this supposed to work it took three months for the letter to

took three months for the letter to

took three months for the letter to reach him another three months to get a

reach him another three months to get a

reach him another three months to get a reply then the camera became an

reply then the camera became an

reply then the camera became an important object in almost life and also

important object in almost life and also

important object in almost life and also for the rest of the community with an

for the rest of the community with an

for the rest of the community with an expressed wish from the brother of

expressed wish from the brother of

expressed wish from the brother of documenting his home I London sending

documenting his home I London sending

documenting his home I London sending the best pictures to him ten thousand

the best pictures to him ten thousand

the best pictures to him ten thousand nautical miles away she committed to the

nautical miles away she committed to the

nautical miles away she committed to the task and captured the island and its

task and captured the island and its

task and captured the island and its people throughout the rest of the

people throughout the rest of the

people throughout the rest of the century theatre received pictures of

century theatre received pictures of

century theatre received pictures of better and better quality but he never

better and better quality but he never

better and better quality but he never returned home he died in America leaving

returned home he died in America leaving

returned home he died in America leaving no other traces than the letters sent to

no other traces than the letters sent to

no other traces than the letters sent to Norway and alma she never got the chance

Norway and alma she never got the chance

Norway and alma she never got the chance to visit him she died 1997 the same year

to visit him she died 1997 the same year

to visit him she died 1997 the same year as internet made its entrance today we

as internet made its entrance today we

as internet made its entrance today we easily send messengers and snapshots two

easily send messengers and snapshots two

easily send messengers and snapshots two brothers and sisters all over the globe

brothers and sisters all over the globe

brothers and sisters all over the globe it takes three seconds rather than three

it takes three seconds rather than three

it takes three seconds rather than three months to send and it takes three

months to send and it takes three

months to send and it takes three seconds for it to disappear but the

seconds for it to disappear but the

seconds for it to disappear but the letters and pictures that Almonte are

letters and pictures that Almonte are

letters and pictures that Almonte are sent they’re still here 100 years later

sent they’re still here 100 years later

sent they’re still here 100 years later some thousand copies or negatives from

some thousand copies or negatives from

some thousand copies or negatives from Alma and 150 letters from theatre have

Alma and 150 letters from theatre have

Alma and 150 letters from theatre have been kept their exchange of letters and

been kept their exchange of letters and

been kept their exchange of letters and pictures is a personal documentation of

pictures is a personal documentation of

pictures is a personal documentation of an entire century capturing migration

an entire century capturing migration

an entire century capturing migration economic growth The Wall Street Crash

economic growth The Wall Street Crash

economic growth The Wall Street Crash the first world war and the second one

the first world war and the second one

the first world war and the second one portrayed by two siblings from two

portrayed by two siblings from two

portrayed by two siblings from two different island communities on the on

different island communities on the on

different island communities on the on the opposite side of the

the opposite side of the

the opposite side of the hello how can we know all this now how

hello how can we know all this now how

hello how can we know all this now how can I tell this story well thanks to

can I tell this story well thanks to

can I tell this story well thanks to collaboration from a person coming from

collaboration from a person coming from

collaboration from a person coming from outside and some truly engaged local

outside and some truly engaged local

outside and some truly engaged local people one day photographer and

people one day photographer and

people one day photographer and archivists my artistic came to the

archivists my artistic came to the

archivists my artistic came to the island finding out that this story was

island finding out that this story was

island finding out that this story was lying here just waiting to be told she

lying here just waiting to be told she

lying here just waiting to be told she saw the potential of the story and

saw the potential of the story and

saw the potential of the story and wanted to make it a national example a

wanted to make it a national example a

wanted to make it a national example a time capsule from this period of history

time capsule from this period of history

time capsule from this period of history and she initiated to take care of all

and she initiated to take care of all

and she initiated to take care of all the photos and letters before they were

the photos and letters before they were

the photos and letters before they were two were destroyed by time but she also

two were destroyed by time but she also

two were destroyed by time but she also wanted to add new layers to the story

wanted to add new layers to the story

wanted to add new layers to the story bringing it back to relevance today for

bringing it back to relevance today for

bringing it back to relevance today for example during the Second World War

example during the Second World War

example during the Second World War there was a regulation in Norway forcing

there was a regulation in Norway forcing

there was a regulation in Norway forcing people to where ID cards since Alma was

people to where ID cards since Alma was

people to where ID cards since Alma was the one with a camera on the island she

the one with a camera on the island she

the one with a camera on the island she took pictures of everyone who lived in

took pictures of everyone who lived in

took pictures of everyone who lived in tirana at that time also some 500 people

tirana at that time also some 500 people

tirana at that time also some 500 people with this we get an excellent view of

with this we get an excellent view of

with this we get an excellent view of all who lived there but the photographer

all who lived there but the photographer

all who lived there but the photographer Maya wanted to add her layer to the

Maya wanted to add her layer to the

Maya wanted to add her layer to the story what about taking new pictures of

story what about taking new pictures of

story what about taking new pictures of all people living in China today with

all people living in China today with

all people living in China today with Alma’s old camera the same one that was

Alma’s old camera the same one that was

Alma’s old camera the same one that was sent from Honolulu 1925 she is now

sent from Honolulu 1925 she is now

sent from Honolulu 1925 she is now capturing all people living in China to

capturing all people living in China to

capturing all people living in China to see who we are now but also set them

see who we are now but also set them

see who we are now but also set them aside and see who they were before us

aside and see who they were before us

aside and see who they were before us and questioning who we want to become

and questioning who we want to become

and questioning who we want to become tomorrow because this story is not told

tomorrow because this story is not told

tomorrow because this story is not told just to be dreaming of the past it’s

just to be dreaming of the past it’s

just to be dreaming of the past it’s also for creating a tomorrow what can we

also for creating a tomorrow what can we

also for creating a tomorrow what can we learn from persons coming from outside

learn from persons coming from outside

learn from persons coming from outside seeing our history with their own

seeing our history with their own

seeing our history with their own perspectives giving it as a gift to us

perspectives giving it as a gift to us

perspectives giving it as a gift to us sometimes you did you don’t even know

sometimes you did you don’t even know

sometimes you did you don’t even know that

that

that your story is unique and sometimes

your story is unique and sometimes

your story is unique and sometimes searching in history gives us new

searching in history gives us new

searching in history gives us new perspectives on things that we are

perspectives on things that we are

perspectives on things that we are dealing with today such as migration

dealing with today such as migration

dealing with today such as migration immigration depopulation creating

immigration depopulation creating

immigration depopulation creating sustainable societies and depopulation

sustainable societies and depopulation

sustainable societies and depopulation is a constant theme along the coastline

is a constant theme along the coastline

is a constant theme along the coastline in northern Norway and even if it is we

in northern Norway and even if it is we

in northern Norway and even if it is we are actually experience the opposite

are actually experience the opposite

are actually experience the opposite once a year in Tirana the population is

once a year in Tirana the population is

once a year in Tirana the population is 10 times multiplied how come well thanks

10 times multiplied how come well thanks

10 times multiplied how come well thanks to collaboration between people coming

to collaboration between people coming

to collaboration between people coming from the outside and some truly engaged

from the outside and some truly engaged

from the outside and some truly engaged local people one day our lamo good

local people one day our lamo good

local people one day our lamo good lotion came up with an ID what about

lotion came up with an ID what about

lotion came up with an ID what about creating the most unexpected festival

creating the most unexpected festival

creating the most unexpected festival out here in the cave where the first

out here in the cave where the first

out here in the cave where the first settlers lived with international

settlers lived with international

settlers lived with international musicians standing on the naked cliff

musicians standing on the naked cliff

musicians standing on the naked cliff and using the cave as a natural stage

and using the cave as a natural stage

and using the cave as a natural stage and get the audience spreading out in

and get the audience spreading out in

and get the audience spreading out in the slope some people at the island

the slope some people at the island

the slope some people at the island probably said no that’s a crazy idea

probably said no that’s a crazy idea

probably said no that’s a crazy idea it’s not possible while others said

it’s not possible while others said

it’s not possible while others said that’s a crazy idea is it possible let’s

that’s a crazy idea is it possible let’s

that’s a crazy idea is it possible let’s try it today travel festival on is a

try it today travel festival on is a

try it today travel festival on is a success bringing people together from

success bringing people together from

success bringing people together from far and near and setting the scene for

far and near and setting the scene for

far and near and setting the scene for some majestic days to remember not only

some majestic days to remember not only

some majestic days to remember not only for the celebrities that that comes from

for the celebrities that that comes from

for the celebrities that that comes from outside but also for the local ones who

outside but also for the local ones who

outside but also for the local ones who lives here and experience once a year

lives here and experience once a year

lives here and experience once a year that the everyday view turns into a big

that the everyday view turns into a big

that the everyday view turns into a big celebration of their home well after

celebration of their home well after

celebration of their home well after success it’s easy to applaud the man

success it’s easy to applaud the man

success it’s easy to applaud the man behind the great ID but I’d also like to

behind the great ID but I’d also like to

behind the great ID but I’d also like to applaud those who dared to say yes to

applaud those who dared to say yes to

applaud those who dared to say yes to this crazy ID daring to welcome creative

this crazy ID daring to welcome creative

this crazy ID daring to welcome creative minds from outside with your own local

minds from outside with your own local

minds from outside with your own local impotence it’s what it’s all about very

impotence it’s what it’s all about very

impotence it’s what it’s all about very easy to say yet something quite

easy to say yet something quite

easy to say yet something quite difficult to do it takes training but

difficult to do it takes training but

difficult to do it takes training but when you succeed with these

when you succeed with these

when you succeed with these collaborations and creative combinations

collaborations and creative combinations

collaborations and creative combinations something happens some people call it

something happens some people call it

something happens some people call it added value others innovation or just

added value others innovation or just

added value others innovation or just magic or as world-famous artist manager

magic or as world-famous artist manager

magic or as world-famous artist manager once put its drama paradise only closer

once put its drama paradise only closer

once put its drama paradise only closer I agree but 13 years after the summer

I agree but 13 years after the summer

I agree but 13 years after the summer festival it was time for another crazy

festival it was time for another crazy

festival it was time for another crazy vision this one goes back to a letter

vision this one goes back to a letter

vision this one goes back to a letter that theater once wrote to his little

that theater once wrote to his little

that theater once wrote to his little sister Alma sitting in Honolulu the

sister Alma sitting in Honolulu the

sister Alma sitting in Honolulu the tenth of January 1922 he was a longing

tenth of January 1922 he was a longing

tenth of January 1922 he was a longing to experience something else than

to experience something else than

to experience something else than sunshine I wish I could be with you a

sunshine I wish I could be with you a

sunshine I wish I could be with you a day in real cold weather hmm he was

day in real cold weather hmm he was

day in real cold weather hmm he was longing for those days in tirana that

longing for those days in tirana that

longing for those days in tirana that makes the life at the island to what it

makes the life at the island to what it

makes the life at the island to what it is the shitty weather the storms the

is the shitty weather the storms the

is the shitty weather the storms the roughness maybe it was not until he

roughness maybe it was not until he

roughness maybe it was not until he gained an outside perspective that he

gained an outside perspective that he

gained an outside perspective that he could really verbalize the charm of

could really verbalize the charm of

could really verbalize the charm of drift back shitty weather from this a

drift back shitty weather from this a

drift back shitty weather from this a new ID was born what about create the

new ID was born what about create the

new ID was born what about create the most unexpected festival out here during

most unexpected festival out here during

most unexpected festival out here during the wintertime the peak season of

the wintertime the peak season of

the wintertime the peak season of hurricanes and storms inviting people to

hurricanes and storms inviting people to

hurricanes and storms inviting people to come and experience how life here really

come and experience how life here really

come and experience how life here really is as a tribute to theaters words and to

is as a tribute to theaters words and to

is as a tribute to theaters words and to everything that makes life at the Arctic

everything that makes life at the Arctic

everything that makes life at the Arctic Circle far out at sea hard yet fantastic

Circle far out at sea hard yet fantastic

Circle far out at sea hard yet fantastic the Winter Festival tarana taken by

the Winter Festival tarana taken by

the Winter Festival tarana taken by storm was launched

with this festival or gathering we want

with this festival or gathering we want to discuss and celebrate this changes

to discuss and celebrate this changes

to discuss and celebrate this changes that are along the Norwegian coast line

that are along the Norwegian coast line

that are along the Norwegian coast line and inviting other small communities and

and inviting other small communities and

and inviting other small communities and people who wants to be a part of that

people who wants to be a part of that

people who wants to be a part of that discussion creating our own future and

discussion creating our own future and

discussion creating our own future and well celebrating these perspectives of

well celebrating these perspectives of

well celebrating these perspectives of collaborations with festivals every year

collaborations with festivals every year

collaborations with festivals every year is great but working and using these

is great but working and using these

is great but working and using these values on an everyday basis is even

values on an everyday basis is even

values on an everyday basis is even better today we are working with

better today we are working with

better today we are working with long-term development in trauma one of

long-term development in trauma one of

long-term development in trauma one of the smallest municipalities in Norway to

the smallest municipalities in Norway to

the smallest municipalities in Norway to see what we can become in the future

see what we can become in the future

see what we can become in the future nine thousand years from then and nine

nine thousand years from then and nine

nine thousand years from then and nine nine thousand years to come and setting

nine thousand years to come and setting

nine thousand years to come and setting up a structure like that we need to look

up a structure like that we need to look

up a structure like that we need to look for new Islanders so our our our in

for new Islanders so our our our in

for new Islanders so our our our in residency program is a part of that

residency program is a part of that

residency program is a part of that structure artist-in-residence business

structure artist-in-residence business

structure artist-in-residence business in residence and chefs in residence

in residence and chefs in residence

in residence and chefs in residence since 2015 more than 150 projects have

since 2015 more than 150 projects have

since 2015 more than 150 projects have applied to come to our little island and

applied to come to our little island and

applied to come to our little island and make creative contributions to and with

make creative contributions to and with

make creative contributions to and with the local community they get free

the local community they get free

the local community they get free housing and we get free creative minds

housing and we get free creative minds

housing and we get free creative minds to collaborate with it’s a win-win it

to collaborate with it’s a win-win it

to collaborate with it’s a win-win it ends up with us for example a book and

ends up with us for example a book and

ends up with us for example a book and new outdoor venue food products or

new outdoor venue food products or

new outdoor venue food products or happening or as in this example this

happening or as in this example this

happening or as in this example this summer a group of young architects came

summer a group of young architects came

summer a group of young architects came to Tirana with an idea of renovating the

to Tirana with an idea of renovating the

to Tirana with an idea of renovating the oldest boathouse we have hmmm it was

oldest boathouse we have hmmm it was

oldest boathouse we have hmmm it was almost totally destroyed by every storm

almost totally destroyed by every storm

almost totally destroyed by every storm that has been but they wanted to create

that has been but they wanted to create

that has been but they wanted to create a new meeting place by the sea welcome

a new meeting place by the sea welcome

a new meeting place by the sea welcome coming us out into the water

coming us out into the water

coming us out into the water into the warm in September our public

into the warm in September our public

into the warm in September our public sauna was opened and I can assure you

sauna was opened and I can assure you

sauna was opened and I can assure you almost no Islander thought that they

almost no Islander thought that they

almost no Islander thought that they needed a sauna now if they do the the

needed a sauna now if they do the the

needed a sauna now if they do the the residency program is not just for coming

residency program is not just for coming

residency program is not just for coming making quick fixes but with our open

making quick fixes but with our open

making quick fixes but with our open call we want to we want people to

call we want to we want people to

call we want to we want people to actually come and try out the life at

actually come and try out the life at

actually come and try out the life at our islands living there working there

our islands living there working there

our islands living there working there being one of us instead of advertising

being one of us instead of advertising

being one of us instead of advertising about how good the life is like other

about how good the life is like other

about how good the life is like other traditional meanest parties do we give

traditional meanest parties do we give

traditional meanest parties do we give people the possibility to pack the bag

people the possibility to pack the bag

people the possibility to pack the bag and try it out and judge it themselves

and try it out and judge it themselves

and try it out and judge it themselves our first artists-in-residence guest was

our first artists-in-residence guest was

our first artists-in-residence guest was a seaweed pioneer we will meet her later

a seaweed pioneer we will meet her later

a seaweed pioneer we will meet her later tonight prize-winning startup the

tonight prize-winning startup the

tonight prize-winning startup the northern company came in contact with us

northern company came in contact with us

northern company came in contact with us they wanted to look for new

they wanted to look for new

they wanted to look for new possibilities for developing seaweed

possibilities for developing seaweed

possibilities for developing seaweed products from our freshen wild water up

products from our freshen wild water up

products from our freshen wild water up there as the Asian cuisine is largely

there as the Asian cuisine is largely

there as the Asian cuisine is largely based on seaweed and since we need to

based on seaweed and since we need to

based on seaweed and since we need to feed the world with more sustainable

feed the world with more sustainable

feed the world with more sustainable food we thought that this was a really

food we thought that this was a really

food we thought that this was a really interesting field to be a part of of

interesting field to be a part of of

interesting field to be a part of of course someone at the island said

course someone at the island said

course someone at the island said seaweed we don’t even give it to the

seaweed we don’t even give it to the

seaweed we don’t even give it to the cows anymore some also said yes that’s a

cows anymore some also said yes that’s a

cows anymore some also said yes that’s a fantastic idea one year later they are

fantastic idea one year later they are

fantastic idea one year later they are working with establishing a firm in

working with establishing a firm in

working with establishing a firm in tirana creating new workplaces and

tirana creating new workplaces and

tirana creating new workplaces and collaborating with a local fisherman

collaborating with a local fisherman

collaborating with a local fisherman using the old fish factory for a new

using the old fish factory for a new

using the old fish factory for a new purpose with their work they are

purpose with their work they are

purpose with their work they are activating a whole little Society and at

activating a whole little Society and at

activating a whole little Society and at the same time making us know that the

the same time making us know that the

the same time making us know that the rest of the world is interested in

rest of the world is interested in

rest of the world is interested in something we didn’t even know we had

something we didn’t even know we had

something we didn’t even know we had being able to combine the creative

being able to combine the creative

being able to combine the creative forces coming from outside of Tirana

forces coming from outside of Tirana

forces coming from outside of Tirana with our own local competences history

with our own local competences history

with our own local competences history tradition and resources is the main

tradition and resources is the main

tradition and resources is the main learning here we can build strong

learning here we can build strong

learning here we can build strong relations overseas and two decades

relations overseas and two decades

relations overseas and two decades across disciplines and cultures if we

across disciplines and cultures if we

across disciplines and cultures if we dare to let people in what will happen

dare to let people in what will happen

dare to let people in what will happen next well urbanization will most likely

next well urbanization will most likely

next well urbanization will most likely continue and some small places will

continue and some small places will

continue and some small places will continue depopulate but i think all

continue depopulate but i think all

continue depopulate but i think all societies big or small has the potential

societies big or small has the potential

societies big or small has the potential to sustain if they dare to let people in

to sustain if they dare to let people in

to sustain if they dare to let people in say yes and collaborate with outsiders

say yes and collaborate with outsiders

say yes and collaborate with outsiders thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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