NEWS Lars Nittve, who is departing as the director of Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art) in Stockholm this autumn, begins as visiting professor and artistic advisor for Bildmuseet, the museum of Umeå University, on the first of July.
During the development of the new exhibition site at Umeå Arts Campus, Mr. Nittve will lead an Advisory Board and contribute with his experience and network in the artistic development and exhibition work.
"We are delighted that Lars Nittve is taking on this post. It is hard to find someone with equivalent experience and knowledge. Through the years he has also been involved in the development of both the Umeå Academy of Fine Arts and Bildmuseet at Umeå University, including other aspects of the city's artistic life. This commitment resulted in his appointment as an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Arts last year," says Dean Britta Lundgren.
"The fundamentals for something extraordinary to occur from Umeå Arts Campus are incredibly strong. There is a pioneering spirit, ambition and plenty of resources. To be involved from the beginning feels incredibly exciting," says Lars Nittve.
Umeå Arts Campus is intended to function as a hub for education, research and professional activities in architecture, design, art and new media. The campus area, which is located along the banks of the Umeå River, already includes Umeå Institute of Design and Umeå Academy of Arts. The new building for Umeå School of Architecture will be completed in the autumn. Construction work for the Academy of Arts’ new building has already begun, and an incubator for the creative industries will be built in the Academy’s old premises. A seven story exhibition building for Bildmuseet will be situated between Umeå School of Architecture and new Umeå Academy of Fine Arts.
"The vision of Umeå Arts Campus is to create a creative environment that echoes across the world," says Göran Sandberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University.
Umeå Arts Campus is expected to be complete in the early part of 2012.
Lars Nittve has a direct connection to the development for Umeå Arts Campus. He was one of three experts behind the report, written on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, on the developmental plans for Umeå Academy of Arts at Umeå University. Nittve also contributed with a visionary approach as to how the Academy could cultivate in the future Umeå Arts Campus.
Investment in the Umeå Arts Campus comprises a total of SEK 350 million. Umeå Municipality and the real estate company Balticgruppen Design AB have previously decided to contribute funding for the new campus. Umeå Municipality has implied that the improvement of the exhibition activities at Umeå Arts Campus is included in the venture of being the European Capital of Culture for 2014,
“I am proud and enthusiastic about Lars Nittve’s decision to want to participate in the work with Bildmuseet and Umeå Arts Campus,” says Marie-Louise Rönnmark, Municipal Commissioner (Social Democratic Party).
"Umeå is now taking another step to further develop the conditions and visibility for the arts and culture. I am particularly pleased with Lars Nittve’s vision of the roll culture as provocateur and innovator. Umeå already has a prominent role in the culture of Sweden, and is now moving upward with acceleration," continues Rönnmark.
For further information, please contact:Professor Britta Lundgren, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Umeå University
E-mail: britta.lundgren@kultmed.umu.se
Mobile: +46 (0)70-651 68 22
Lars Nittve, Director of Moderna Museet
E-mail: l.nittve@modernamuseet.se
Phone: +46 (0)8-5195 6259
Marie-Louise Rönnmark, Commissioner, Umeå Municipality
Mobile: +46 (0)70-655 64 84
Press photo: Lars Nittve
Image of the future Umeå Arts Campus
Read more about Umeå Arts Campus
