Agreeable introduction to visit Norway’s culture featuring our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe : Norway is an active participant to world affairs and takes its share of responsibility in global issues. Norway has a foreign policy known as the “Norwegian model,” the goal of which is to contribute to peace and stability through a coordinated response among governmental and non-governmental Norwegian organizations; acting as an honest broker in international conflicts; an informal network of Norwegian individuals with access and credibility among parties; and the willingness to take the long view in international issues. Norway works actively to find lasting political solutions to wars and conflicts by facilitating dialogue between parties to conflict and supporting other actors’ conflict resolution efforts. Read extra information on the subject here : https://about.me/kristinskjefstad.
The Oslo region: the Norwegian capital is full of surprises. It was named European Green Capital in 2019. A cutting-edge food scene, new and funky neighbourhoods, a fully-packed event calendar, and several brand-new museums and attractions are just a few teasers of what you can expect. Surrounded by the Oslofjord and deep forests, you can easily combine urban city life with nature-based fun like cycling, skiing at some of Norway´s top ski resorts and trips to nearby regions of Østfold and Vestfold, with charming towns such as Fredrikstad and Tønsberg dotted along the coast.
Norway is becoming a hotspot for fabulous restaurants and food producers, all giving you world-class gastronomic experiences: If you are looking for a top-class international restaurant, then Maaemo in Oslo is the place for you! In 2018, the restaurant was ranked the world’s 35th best restaurant. Maaemo is the first restaurant in Norway to earn three stars in the Michelin guide. As the only restaurant with two stars in the Michelin guide for 2022, the gourmet establishment RE-NAA is another jewel. It is located in Stavanger, along the west coast of Norway. Choose from a menu inspired by the local landscape that will give you a unique culinary experience. Under, with its one star, put Southern Norway on the Michelin map in 2020. Located in Lindesnes, the spectacular underwater restaurant is the world’s largest of its kind. Experience the ocean as you dine, sitting five and a half meters below sea level. It’s a once in a lifetime view!
Edvard Munch (1863–1944) is Norway’s most famous artist, a symbolist/expressionist painter who created The Scream, a world-famous piece and one of the most recognizable paintings in all art. Other notable painters and sculptors have brought Norwegian art to the public from the 19th and 20th centuries. Norway today is a destination for art and culture as expressed with the new MUNCH and the National Museum. Other highlights include the Tjuvholmen area with a unique architecture, home to the Astrup Fearnley contemporary art museum, which features key works by artists including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, and Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard, as well as major temporary exhibitions. You will also find a number of Norway’s most cutting-edge contemporary art galleries in the area. Oslo also has incredible outdoor sculpture parks, including Ekebergparken and the must-visit Vigelandsparken. There’s also lots of impressive street art along the way.
Norwegian design is part of the minimal, functional, and aesthetic Scandinavian design which is a major force in furniture and interiors. Scandinavian design first emerged as a common term in the 1950s, when designers from Norway and the neighbouring countries toured the world with their products, characterised by minimalism and functionality. Norwegians haven’t perhaps been as skilled or eager as our Swedish and Danish neighbours in promoting our post World War II-era design icons. But this could be seen as an advantage: the new generation of designers are now able to express themselves more freely, without having to constantly live up to a legacy. Already, many are gaining international recognition. They work with multiple formats, but the common thread is the willingness to experiment and take risks. The design scene in Norway has really been blooming in the 21st century with brands like brands like Fjordfiesta, Eikund and Hjelle.
A design for life: It’s easy to think about furniture or electronic products when someone mentions the word “design”. However, more and more focus on schools such as The Oslo School of Architecture and Design has been on the role designers can have at problem solving in society in general – both in the private and public sectors. How can designers work to reduce emissions and contribute to a sustainable society? Or to build public spaces where children can move and play on their own terms? A much-discussed example of this was when a team of designers worked together with Oslo University Hospital on the process of cancer diagnosis, and the project managed to reduce the waiting time from 12 weeks to seven days. The design institute at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design is today ranked among the world’s best, and at The Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture (DOGA) you can experience exhibitions, conferences and other events that promote good use of design and architecture.
The most popular sports in Norway are Football, Cross-country skiing, Biathlon, Ice hockey, and Alpine skiing. Cross-country skiing is de facto the national sport of Norway. Norway has some of the best athletes in the world for both Cross-country skiing, Biathlon and Alpine skiing, with the national team often being very successful in those sports.