“Strike while the iron is hot” The Cultural Schoolbag
Background
(Picture above: Marte Glanville, Kulturtanken)
The Cultural Schoolbag (DKS) is a nationwide programme to ensure that all school pupils in Norway experience professional arts and culture. It’s the only programme of its kind in the world. It is a collaborative project between the Ministry of Culture and Equality and the Ministry of Education and Research, and with all counties and municipalities in Norway. The activities cover the entire spectrum of artistic expressions – from film, literature, music and cultural heritage, to performing and visual arts.
Read more on the programme here.
In the DKS-project strike while the iron is hot (in Norwegian: smi mens jernet er varmt) schoolchildren and students can try blacksmithithing for a day. To dissemitate traditional crafts is central in the work at Norwegian Crafts Institute, and the former Craft Fellow Terje Granås spreads knowledge and interest for blacksmithing through the project.
The project has been run in several counties in Norway, in both secondary schools and high schools.
The need for safeguarding
Blacksmithing is one of the traditional crafts in Norway that is considered rare and in need of special protection (in Norwegian: Verneverdige tradisjonshåndverksfag). One way of safeguarding the craft is to spread information about it the younger generation.
How it is done
Granås got the idea of using the project DKS as a way of spreading the word on blacksmithing. He started in 2017 and got hold of portable forges and other equipment.
-My mobile set-up makes me more flexible, I can easily travel to different schools and can show blacksmithing outside. The only down-side is that we are at mercy of the weather, comments Granås.
Terje Granås showing his concept for new craft fellows at Norwegian Crafts Institute during a workshop at Maihaugen Ouitdoor Museum. Photo: Norwegian Crafts Institute
Creating interest for the craft
A key point is to create an understating of hands-on, practical work and traditional crafts. Most of the attendands do not become blacksmiths aftewards, of course, but they get a new insight and knowledge about traditional crafts.
The key point is to try out blacksmithing for a day. After a couple of hours they become quite skilled in using the hammer and gets a better understanding of practical work, Granås comments.
The central point is the experience. Granås tells stories and sayings and gives insight into the historical background of the craft.
Photo: Norwegian Crafts Institute
A sense of mastery
Granås tells that most students finds the experience fun, to be able to work manually and create something with their own hands:
-It should be uncomplicated. Many are quite surpriced at what they have achieved after one day. That gives them a sense of mastery, and that is very important.