Stavanger kommune

Culture is Urban Development
After the Second World War, cultural politics were an important
part of establishment of the welfare state. At the same
time, the definition of culture was expanded to include a wide
range of human activities. A cultural democracy was to be
created, where the government was to play an major role.
In 1964 Stavanger established a Standing Committee of Cultural
Affairs, followed in 1969 by the first culture plan. With its
focus on the new and broader vision of culture, this plan was
groundbreaking.
Today, the Stavanger municipality conducts an active and
broad cultural policy to ensure that cultural values are accessible
to more people and to include and support new and
untraditional cultural activities. A new plan for art and culture
2009–2014 will establish the main guidelines for future cultural
policy.
Here are some examples of the city’s varied and exciting cultural
life:
Rogaland Theatre
In 1850, the mayor L.W. Hansen built a new building at Skagen
which was furnished with theatre facilities on the first
floor and space for 300 spectators. Performances were later
held in Stavanger Sparekasse’s assembly hall, and in 1883 the
curtain went up for the first time at a new theatre building at
From the opening of European City of Culture 2008
CULTURE IS URBAN DEVELOPMENT
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