Stiftelsen Arkivet: Purpose and Activities
Stiftelsen Arkivet is a foundation working with information, documentation, education, research and art & culture. The foundation is based in a building which served as a Gestapo regional headquarters during the 2nd World War, with the basement functioning as a detention and interrogation centre. Stiftelsen Arkivet took over the vacated building in 1999. The prison cells and torture chambers from 1942-45 have been reconstructed and the events that took place in the basement are illustrated by installations and human size dolls. By promoting dialogue, historical reflection and communication among different generations, Stiftelsen Arkivet wants to assist in the achievement of human rights, human dignity, peace building and conflict prevention.
Stiftelsen Arkivet works in close co-operation with several humanitarian organisations that are also located in the building; regional offices for the UN Association, Save the Children, Red Cross, Fredskorpset, ARC-aid and Amnesty International.
Objectives
According to the statutes, Stiftelsen Arkivet shall:
- Own and maintain the previous State Archive (the building)
- Function as an information centre about the 2nd World War
- Become an education centre for peace building and conflict prevention
- Develop close cooperation with similar institutions both nationally and internationally
- Ensure good cooperation with all parts of the education system
- Undertake research in areas relevant to the organisation
- Undertake development work in areas relevant to the organisation
Focus areas
According to the Strategic Plan 2005 - 2008 Stiftelsen Arkivet puts emphasis on three areas:
- Historical reflection and dialogue among generations: in the form of education, school visits, artistic and creative activity, research, debates and courses/seminars
- Democracy and human dignity: by linking historical knowledge to current challenges to democracy in a global perspective
- Dialogue and conflict prevention: by researching conflicts' origins, their discourses and ways to handle them
Around 35,000 people have visited the centre since it opened in 2001. The main target group is school children with approximately 6,000 pupils visiting annually. They are offered a guided tour of the basement by members of the Friends of Stiftelsen Arkivet individuals who in various ways have a close connection to the building's history. The guided tour is followed by a lecture within a relevant topic such as international humanitarian issues.
Research and development constitute a central part of Stiftelsen Arkivet's activity. The research areas are concentrated on the following topics: historical transformation, human dignity, dialogue and conflict prevention, and historical education.
Stiftelsen Arkivet believes that art can play an important role in encouraging reflection upon what peace and coexistence imply. We are engaged in the productions of books, theatre performances, music arrangements, festivals and exhibitions.
The foundation aims to work in cooperation with similar organisations across the world and has signed Memorandum of Understandings with Robben Island Museum in South Africa and Toul Sleng Genocide Museum in Cambodia.
Contact information:
- Adress: Vesterveien 4, 4613 Kristiansand, Norway
- Telephone: +47 38 10 74 00.
- Telefax: +47 38 10 74 07
- E-mail: kontakt@stiftelsen-arkivet.no