Newsletter Hope Cathedral September 2020

Plastic from the ocean

In September we started production of the roof tiles for the Hope Cathedral. We’ve tested 20-30 colours and it’s looking most promising, as far as both colours and transparency are concerned. We’ve been working shifts over several days at the Fredrikstad-based factory Biobe, which we have close cooperation with. Assisting in production were both our gang of volunteers and the class from Frederik II upper secondary school. Biobe has more or less opened its doors to the project, allowing us to come and go as if we belonged to the permanent workforce. More than a thousand crates have been cleared from beaches along the coast. These are washed and grounded up before ending up as the new roof of the cathedral. Around 4000 roof tiles will be cast and then laid on the roof and the end wall. Needless to say, we’re looking forward to the assembly phase this winter.

Colour samples: We’re delighted to have been able to make such nice colours out of fish crates. Now we’re working on finding the right base to make them really shine!

Art and sustainability

NOKU (Norwegian Cultural Forum) held its anniversary conference this September, and the Hope Cathedral was invited to talk about the way we use art as a tool in our work for sustainability. Those taking part in the conference were artists, cultural workers and culture administrators from all over the country. One of the contributions we enjoyed hearing was from Catherine Cullen, who works as special advisor in the organisation Culture in Sustainable Cities. She spoke not least about the importance of culture, at all levels, in achieving sustainability. In addition to economic, social and environmental sustainability, cultural sustainability should be included as a fourth area of focus. We couldn’t agree more!

Language is mastery

Every Thursday we’re fortunate enough to be visited by two groups of adult men. What they have in common is that they need language training. One group consists of students from Fredrikstad International School (introductory programme) and the other comes from Friskliv og mestring, and calls itself Mestringsgledegruppa. The latter group is led by Hakim Abdalgadir, who himself has experienced frustration related to language difficulties. Older refugees don’t have the same opportunities for language learning as younger ones. Hakim says the group came into being two years ago and that the men benefit greatly from participating. Mastering the language helps them to grow as human beings and to make themselves understood. They come to the Hope Cathedral to talk, be sociable and to work with the bee cathedrals that are sold to fund the project. We’re so grateful for this cooperation.

Tremendous volunteer effort

Those involved in volunteer work for the Hope Cathedral contribute in a number of ways. Sometimes we’re so fortunate that someone turns up and bakes waffles for the Wednesday volunteers. On this occasion it was Elisabeth Golding who brought batter and a waffle iron.

Every week since we started we’ve had visits from school classes who come to learn about ocean plastic and biological diversity. All the pupils get to make their own bee cathedrals. 

If you work out how much time it has taken to process the fish crates, from the time they are fished out of the sea to when they are cast as roof tiles, you’re in for a surprise. Fortunately, it’s also a been a pleasure, since it has been done on a volunteer basis.

 

Volunteer work is demanding, but also fun.

We have an exciting collaboration with Frederik II and its «Sustainability and Innovation» class. Pupils have been involved in volunteer work both at Isegran and at the factory where we make the roof tiles. 

For many, working at the factory on roof tile production has been a welcome and exciting change from traditional building at Isegran. Here we see Inge at the assembly line.

 

Workshop in traditional building

In week 42 we’re ready start a new and exciting workshop in traditional building at the Hope Cathedral. We start on Monday 12.10 at 09:00 and continue until Friday 16:10 at 15:00 under the leadership of Steinar Moldal and Andreas Pagander. The aim is to build the entrance to the cathedral. The workshop is free of charge and open to everyone, but we would like to hear a little about your motivation for taking part. Registration at anne@hopecathedral.no by Wednesday 7.10.

Prayers for hope and the ocean

Every last Sunday of the month we meet for prayers for hope and the ocean. On Sunday 27.9 the gathering will be led by Petter Skauen and Clara Zita Lund will sing. All are welcome. From 17:00 to 17:30.

The Hope Cathedral is an inter-faith and sustainable art project based in Fredrikstad. We are building a 120 m2 barge of wood which will support the Hope Cathedral. The framework is inspired by stave churches, while the 300 m2 roof will be built as an innovative project using plastic from the ocean. The cathedral will be a symbol of hope built through cooperation. The project is under the leadership of Borg Diocese. Both the process and the finished cathedral is open to all. 

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Contact Anne Skauen anne@hopecathedral.no +4795912552 www.hopecathedral.no