Open letter: Meeting places Barents Road 2014

AN IDEA:

Barents Road 2014
Meeting places in four countries, 1,500 km.

Concerning an application for meeting places in Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway with the focus on media and history

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

It takes only a quick look at a map of northern Europe to see that there is something really exciting here: the Barents region. Nowhere else in my homeland Sweden do so many countries meet. In historical terms there are many common denominators.
The four countries are linked by a road that runs for 1,500 kilometres.

It is called the Barents Road. But what does this road mean? Does it have any significance at all? Although it has been part of my consciousness for a long time, the term “Barents Road” has not had any great relevance for my commitment to northern issues. It started to become interesting to me in 2013, however, when I produced a journey that went under the name “Literary Arctic Journey”. It started from Luleå and went via Vuollerim, Kiruna, Tromsø, Alta and Kautokeino.

My eyes fell on the Barents Road when I was searching for information for an Arctic literary tour as part of Literary Journey/Belarus. Here you can see a number of texts and pictures from the journey: http://literaryarcticjourney.blogspot.se

But now it’s happening! Within the framework of Barents Press Sweden, where I am on the board, in 2014 we will be exploring the course of the road in detail, and naturally meeting the people who live there. Preparations were made in autumn 2013, especially in connection with the Film Festival in Murmansk in November 2013. We are planning a theme involving history and media.

The target group is the general public. The concept can also very well include singing, music and guided tours so that we can learn more about the area/city where we are.

The aim is to spread knowledge about each other’s areas and to exchange ideas. A subsidiary aim during the work with Barents Road is to survey the situation for media. We envisage a report on the media situation in four countries in the Barents region, focusing on how the general public can receive local news. One reason for this question is the clear deterioration in news coverage that is taking place in northern Sweden.
A few of us have discussed a potential route and some themes. An important book that we would like to see as part of the project is the one about the Barents encyclopaedia (coming 2014). Here is a brief introduction: “The aim of the project is to produce a history book and an encyclopaedia about the Barents region, which is the final result of ten years of cooperation between researchers at Luleå Technical University, Umeå University, Bodø University, Tromsø University, Lapland University, Oulu University, Joensuu University, Murmansk State Humanities University, Northern Arctic Federal University Arkhangelsk, Petrozavodsk State University and Syktyvkar State University.” (From the project description by Prof. Lars Elenius 2013).

It is planned to divide the 2014 tour into four parts:

- Murmansk and Kandalaksha in August or September.
(In connection with the Barents Meeting in Kirkenes on 24–26 April,
this will be discussed with Russian partners).

- Kemijärvi and Tervola in September (ideas from Barents Press in Finland?)

- Luleå and Arjeplog (3–5 October 2014)  (ideas from Barents Press in Sweden?)

- Fauske and Bodø in October (ideas from Barents Press in Norway?)

In Arjeplog we have already started working on an idea in which Gunilla Bresky will show her film “Jag stannar tiden/I Stop Time/Я останабливаю время”. There will be more points on the programme. Co-arrangers are the Arjeplog Cinema Association.

http://midsommarudden.blogspot.se/2014/01/hostmarknad-arjeplog-program-pa.html

Are you interested in taking part and receiving information?
Email info@mariafoto.se
We need financiers, and in the immediate future we will be drafting a proposal that we think can be interesting for a number of actors in the region. This application will includes invited guests and participiants, accommodation, transport, lecturers’ fees, rental of premises and production in eight cities/places. 
We´re thankful that Länsstyrelsen in Norrbottens län/The County Administrative Board in Norrbotten has given us a first important support to develope the idea.

Maria Söderberg  

16/4 2014
Photographer and producer
Member of the board of Barents Press Sweden.