Opening weekend: Komtemåtta—A Pioneering Safe Space for Women

Komtemåtta–A Pioneering Safe Space for Women Opens 10 April! Come to the museum for three days of guided tours, conversations and lectures focusing on education and female empowerment.

Thursday 10 April, Floor 2

16:00 Opening ceremony Markerna, work by Carola Grahn and Nils-Johan Labba.

16:15 Welcome speech by Maria Lind, Kin’s director with an introduction to the exhibition with curator Hanna Nordell. Emma Pettersson Juntti introduces the women from the north who attended Fogelstad.

16:45 The artists Petra Bauer, Åsa Elzén, Susanne Ewerlöf, Olivia Plender and Åsa Sonjasdotter introduce their works.

17:15 Presentation by Jakob Derkert-Rosenberg on Siri Derkert and the Women’s Citizenship School.

17:30 Release of Ord&Bild’s special edition about the Women’s Citizenship School at Fogelstad with an introduction by editor Ann Ighe and writer Annika Öhrner.

Friday 11 April, Floor 5

17:00 Lecture by Sverker Sörlin about the importance of formation.

Formation (bildning) has been a central concept for the era of progress- a way for the individual to learn and grow since the enlightenment in the 18th century. The women who established the Women’s Citizen School in Fogelstad understood this. Formation makes it possible for us to overcome the limitations that nation, gender, ethnicity and other identities encompass.

In a time where dark shadows spread across the world, formation is more important than ever. We have more knowledge than ever before-but we know less and less together. There is a need for an updated understanding about the important history of public education (folkbildning), and the role it plays in all our lives. It sets us free and makes for safer societies.

Sverker Sörlin is an historian and author. He is an internationally renowned professor in environmental history at KTH, and a well liked public educator. He has recently published the book Snö: en historia (Snow: A History).

Saturday 12 April, Floor 2

12:00 Maria Lind and Hanna Nordell introduces the exhibition. Presentation by Jakob Derkert about Siri Derkert and the Women’s Citizen School.

12:45 Round table conversation with the participa- ting artists Petra Bauer, Åsa Elzén, Susanne Ewerlöf, Olivia Plender and Åsa Sonjasdotter. Moderator Paulina Sokolow, Kin’s communicator.

14:00 Siri Derkert, Fogelstad and the art. Presentation by Annika Öhrner, associate professor of Art History and writer.

14:30 Conversation on the archive KvinnSam with AnnaLena Bergquist, University Librarian, Birgitta Andréasson, deputy director, and Hanna Nordell.

15:00 Presentation and conversation about the women from Norrbotten who attended the Women’s Citizen School with Karin Tjernström, archivist att arkivcentrum Norrbotten and Emma Pettersson Juntti, producer and mediator at Kin.

Image 1: Siri Derkert. Komtemåttakören, 1943-54
Image 2: Susanne Ewerlöf. Hej Karin!, 2023