Kilden Performing Arts Centre, Concert and theater complex in Kristiansand, Norway
Kilden Performing Arts Centre is a theatre and concert venue in Kristiansand, Norway, with four halls built for different types of performances. The building sits on the waterfront and brings together stages, rehearsal rooms, and production spaces under one curved roof.
The building was conceived as a response to the city's long-standing lack of a proper venue for the performing arts. Crown Princess Mette-Marit laid the foundation stone in 2009, and the centre opened in January 2012.
Three resident companies share the building: Agder Regional Theatre, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Sør. This means that on any given week, the program can shift from a symphony concert to an opera or a theater production.
The venue is located on the waterfront in central Kristiansand, making it easy to reach on foot from most of the city centre. Arriving a little early is a good idea, as the foyer offers a clear view over the harbour and is a pleasant place to wait.
The main interior wall is covered in curved planks of local oak, a reference to the oak timber trade that made this port one of the busiest in Norway during the 1600s. Most visitors walk past it without knowing it tells the story of how the city once made its fortune.
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