New student centre underway
Several players have come together to contribute to the opening of a new student centre in Kristiansand in August. A multitude of student activities will finally be gathered under one roof in the centre of town.
“It will be really fun and have enormous significance for the students and the wider population in Kristiansand. We will become visible in the town centre and want to create great enthusiasm, have fun and promote our expertise,” says Andreas Engeset, the leader of the newly founded student society, Kristiansand Studentsamfunn.
This week, Cultiva (a foundation supporting art and culture in Kristiansand), took over the former premises of SKMU, the art museum, Skippergata 24B. On the two top floors, Cultiva will create a space for digital innovation and culture. The ground floor and the basement will become the student area BARE, which will be run by the Student Welfare Organisation of Agder (SiA) and UiA.
The art museum’s former premises will now undergo a refurbishment and reopen as BARE student centre. The Cultiva Foundation is the new owner of the building and will create a space for digital innovation and culture on the two top floors.
On 3 January, students and others involved were given a sneak peek of the new premises. The building will now be refurbished and redecorated, and the goal is to open the student centre at the start of the autumn semester.
“This is meant to be a place you want to come to when you’re in town and it will also help with the recruitment of new students,” said UiA’s rector, Sunniva Whittaker, during the event, where stakeholders were present.
Facts: The student facilities BARE
- BARE is due to open in autumn 2023 on the ground floor and basement in Skippergata 24B, formerly SKMU art museum. The building is owned by the Cultiva Foundation.
- The premises will accommodate a variety of activities and be a place in town where students can gather
- SiA, UiA and Sparebanken Sør will fund the launch
- The University Board gave the green light for a new student building in March 2022
- SiA and UiA are responsible for running the facilities
- The student society, Kristiansand Studentsamfunn, will develop the concept further in collaboration with the municipality, businesses, the university and higher education institutions in town
- Read more at https://skippergata24b.no/ (Norwegian only)
A place where you can just drop by
The student centre’s name ‘BARE’ (only) signals that it should be an open and unassuming place where you can come alone or with others, find tranquillity or make new acquaintances.
“We want the student centre to contribute to student well-being in Kristiansand and to be a place where everyone feels welcome,” says Engeset.
BARE will accommodate a variety of activities:
- Small and large events
- Concerts
- Café / bar / nightclub
- Study spaces
- Lessons for students at the Faculty of Fine Arts in audience-oriented activities such as theatre, art and music
Sparebanken Sør contributes with funding
SiA will run the student centre and will contribute NOK 5 million. UiA is investing NOK 10 million in refurbishing the building.
During the inauguration on 3 January, it was also announced that Sparebanken Sør will contribute NOK 5 million.
Eva Kvelland in Sparebanken Sør presented a cheque of NOK 5 million for the establishment of the student centre. Here together with Andreas Engeset, the leader of Kristiansand studentsamfunn.
“We are incredibly grateful for all the support. My job going forward will be to develop Kristiansand Studentsamfunn and work together with our students and partners to achieve our goals of value, inclusion, sustainability and diversity,” Engeset says.
Do you have any questions or suggestions for the development of the student centre? Feel free to contact: studenthus@bare.no
Follow the project on Instagram: @barestudenthus