NEWSLETTER | June 2019

Hi everyone! Here’s wishing you good summer!

June was the month we were all looking forward to, especially the day of the launch - a milestone for Hope Cathedral! But there’s been lots more on the programme too. Here’s an update!

Baptism of the barge

Whit Monday was a big day for Hope Cathedral: the barge was launched to cheers and applause from happy and excited volunteers and a fantastic turnout of people!

The barge’s godmother is 13-year-old Celine Kurahachi Manstad. We’re proud that she accepted this important role. Her wonderful speech included the following: «Hope Cathedral isn’t just a boat, it’s a message of hope. It can help us to open our eyes and contribute more.» She finished by thanking the volunteers for the enormous job they do!

Fredrikstad’s own Richard Burgess made his cultural contribution to the programme in the form of a shanty- a working song from the days of sail, when physical strength was the only power source available. Encouragement was vital and Burgess certainly achieved that. 

Video:

See photos and film of the launch day here - til shanty accompaniment from Burgess/Foghorn.

Creation day

Creation day was marked by an outdoor service on Isegran.The focus here was on the idea that hope and faith that we can change ourselves and the world around us - as well reminding us of our common responsibility for concrete action in our everyday lives.

See photos of the event here

Climate pilgrims crossing the touchline!

Hope Cathedral was the final destination for the Climate Pilgrims  of the Inter-religious Climate Pilgrimage.

Take a look at the event here.

Photo: Rebecca Bosy

Some good news!: 

VWe have received kr. 350 000 - from Østfold county. That will help us meet the challenges of the autumn ahead of us. 

Thank you very much!

Children’s Station in full creative flow!


Hope Cathedral and Fyrlykta (the Lighthouse) arranged a free activity day for families from Children’s Station: 


 

«We think this is nice thing to do before the summer break, allowing us to give something back to society. That’s what the project is all about - building hope - and there are lots of ways of doing it», says Solveig Egeland, creative director of Hope Cathedral. Read more in this article from Demokraten.

Adrian Khalid using Hope Cathedral’s confessional as a climbing frame during Friday’s activity day. Here he is with artist Solveig Egeland.

Photo: Hermund L. Kjernli/Demokraten

25 children and their parents let their creativity flow in the Isegran sunshine.

Photo: Hermund L. Kjernli/Demokraten

From NAV to Isegran

During this last month we’ve had several visits from a group of hard workers from NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration). They’ve produced a large number of bee cathedrals, and deserve all credit for their work! 

Here’s a little greeting from their supervisor:


 

It’s been exciting to be able to contribute to such an important project. I hope our contribution to Hope Cathedral helps to give even more focus to the issue of plastic in the ocean and wish you the best of luck with your work. Mukhtar Qaarbosh, supervisor for NAV Fredrikstad.

Vi present the resource group!

- A new face every month.

This month (June) - Truls Korsgaard, Senior consultant for the eHealth Directorate.

-I think Hope Cathedral is a marvellous project because it involves and mobilises everyone, regardless of background and standpoint, and because I hope and believe that religious denominations will commit more strongly to looking after this planet of ours. From my perspective, politics seems fairly powerless within a system that is based on and presupposes continued material growth and thereby increased consumption. 

The bee cathedral

 - Let it hum (video clip)


 

Do you want to see how and why the bee cathedrals are made? 

Then take a look here.

The Plastokrill is coming to Hope Cathedral during Tall Ships Races.

Tall Ships Races

We’re well underway with planning TSR2019! TSR2019!

On Isegran there will be a range of activities for children, including:

  • Garbage bingo

  • Hope catcher workshop: «dream catchers» made out of ocean plastic

  • Gathering and throwing «mermaid tears» with Kystlotteriet (the Coastal Lottery)

  • Guerilla Plastic Movement are coming with the Plastokrill and their activity project, «Pictures made of ocean plastic».

  • Bee cathedral workshop

Cameron Carpenter on the barge!

The world-famous organist Cameron Carpenter (38) is coming to TSR2019 with his specially constructed organ. He’ll play his concert in the middle of the river on Hope Cathedral barge. It will be a spectacular experience!

Find the Facebookevent here.

Ghana - Fredrikstad

Finally we’s like to share a little greeting we received from Nina Jensen, marine biologist and leader of the expeditionary research ship REV Ocean and Hilde Opoku, special consultant for sustainability targets (for the Finance Minister of Ghana). They send their greetings to Hope Cathedral and talk about the project that is being initiated there.. Check out this video!

***

There’ll be be no more newsletters from us until August/September.

Have a good summer!

Nina Jensen and Hilde Opoku (Link: youtube).
 

This newsletter was translated by Richard Burgess

Thank you so much!

Hope Cathedral is an interfaith and sustainable art project. We’re building a cathedral with a wooden construction inspired by traditional Norwegian stave churches and blocks made out of plastic we have found in the sea. The cathedral becomes proof that we can transform something bad into something good - and is a groundbreaking meeting point between world heritage and modern art, between people across age, nationality and faith. Hope Cathedral will be a place for common effort in a world where we may feel isolated from others.

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