Strategies for Regenerative Culture Festivals in Remote Areas
Student Projects in collaboration with Barents Spektakel 2025
The Project
The students of International Culture Producer (ICP24) are during the course Culture Production 1 (30Yhp) collaborating with the festival Barents Spektakel in Kirkenes, Norway. Focusing on the context and challenges within the Barents Region they are presenting strategies for Regenerative Culture Festivals in Remote Areas.
The project is research based and aims to understand and propose solutions that can be implemented and tested in festivals like Barents Spektakel or similar socio-political, environmental, and cultural contexts.
During 4 weeks the student groups has researched, developed and prototyped innovative solutions that will be presented at the festival in Kirkenes (February 20th-23th) both as a poster hanging at the Festival Office, Terminal B, and as a Discussion and presentation within the festival agenda at Sør-Varanger bibliotek: Thursday February 20th 11.00-12.30 The future of Arts and Culture Festivals in Remote Areas
The project focus on applying regenerative practices to address environmental sustainability, foster inclusivity, and strengthen community engagement while still being relevant working with cross-border cultural exchange and artistic innovation.
Why do we work with Barents Spektakel?
Students participating in Barents Spektakel through the International Cultural Producer (ICP) program gain hands-on experience in cultural and artistic production, including festival logistics, curatorial practices, and event management. They develop cross-border collaboration skills, working with international artists and producers while expanding their professional networks. The festival provides insights into the geopolitical and cultural significance of the Barents region, using art as a tool for social dialogue. Students also gain practical skills in marketing, technical production, and financial management. The experience enhances problem-solving and adaptability, preparing them for real-world challenges. They explore innovation in cultural work, experimenting with new media and artistic formats.
This learning bridges theory and practice, increasing employability and competitiveness in the global cultural sector.
Ultimately, the festival prepares students to become cultural leaders and producers, equipped with the skills to shape international cultural projects.
Student Projects
Explore what the Students has been working on
Post Festival Festival
A Community-Driven Artistic Evaluation
MyceliUX
Digital Bio-Mimicking Event Solutions
Giella Loop
Transforming Travel Connecting Communities
Time Banking for Festivals
Tap into Human Potential with a Unique System where Time and Skills are the Currency
The Brief, Objectives and Deliverables
Project Objective
Through research develop innovative, regenerative strategies to enhance the environmental sustainability and inclusivity of festivals in remote areas while still being relevant working with crossborder cultural exchange and artistic innovation.
Inspired by the Barents region’s socio-political, environmental, and cultural contexts, this project will focus on applying regenerative practices to address environmental sustainability, foster inclusivity, and strengthen community engagement.
Project Basics
*Project Title: Sustainability and inclusion; Regenerative Culture Festivals in remote areas.
*YH credits: 30
*Project working time: 8 weeks (including preparatory workshops, project work, On-site meeting, delivery, report and presentation.
*Time resources: ca 1 900 hours/ working group, 6 students each group
*Working format: 4 project groups working with the same brief
Key Deliverables Summary:
As a member of ICP24 you will have several deliverables within the project both on individual, project group and team-wide level. Your work as a team is to be able to organize and coordinate your tasks in order to deliver everything within the frame of the project period.
Key Deliverables 1:
Individual assignments:
Engaging as a producer trainee working with a project within the festival and supporting the production team at Barents Spektakel.
A written reflection and report about your personal involvement with Barents Spektakel as well as your work with your project group.
Key Deliverables 2:
Project Group assignments:
Poster presentation A1 format to hang at Terminal B Festival oOice: a visually compelling and informative poster summarizing findings and proposed solutions of your research.
An audio/landing page connected to a QR code on the poster for visitors to use and engage with in order to get more information about you and the project.
Key Deliverables 3:
Team wide delivery:
A presentation of your projects including discussion and activation of a professional audience at Barents Spektakel Thursday 20/2, 12.00: 90 minutes co-facilitated teamwide findings and discussion within the festival agenda.
Group report and presentation:
A project report per working group including the individual reflection assignments.
A 10-minute professional presentation for a selected group of practitioners from the professional field showcasing project outcomes and real-world applications.