Agreement on SKREI centre signed

13 December 2022

Museum Nord and LPO Arkitekter (Oslo) have signed an agreement for the project development of the SKREI centre outside Kabelvåg in Lofoten. Thus, the work on the national centre for cod fishing is a big step closer to the planned opening in 2026. 

magnificent central building

SKREI will convey the story of the importance of the Lofoten fisheries and be will be built in connection to Museum Nord’s existing units Lofotmuseet, Lofotakvariet and the Espolin Gallery. 

– With a project as extensive as SKREI, there are many phases you have to go through before you end up with a finished building, but now we have reached an important milestone and are working towards the announcement of tenders in the spring of 2024, says project manager Jens-Henrik Andersen. – Now that this important agreement has been signed, we can put all our attention on the realization of the new central building, the Otolith.

The planned main exhibition in the central building will highlight the importance of cod for Lofoten and Norway. The public will be able to follow the cod’s wanderings through the building, and learn about and be fascinated by the interaction between humans and fish. The exhibition will cover the historical development of the Lofoten fisheries, but also is present and future. As well as what it takes for us to be able to continue harvesting the fantastic resource that the cod is. An agreement has been signed with Expology AB (Stockholm) for the development of the new main exhibition.  

The central building will also house a café and a museum shop, room for changing exhibitions and events, Museum Nord’s new storage facilities with workshops for conservation, as well as outdoor areas adapted for visiting families.   

National Centre for Cod Fishing

– It’s no secret that construction costs have risen sharply in recent years, so some of the preparatory work has been particularly demanding. Museum Nord has chosen to divide the construction project into two stages, and is now starting on the first part, which includes the central building and outdoor areas. We aim to have this ready for opening before the summer of 2026, says Geir Are Johansen, director of Museum Nord.   

– Vågan municipality, the county and the Ministry of Culture have shown great understanding of the situation, and we have had a positive and constructive dialogue during the preparatory work. We are now applying for a grant to compensate for the extraordinary rise in prices, Johansen continues.  

– It is very important that this funding comes through so that we can realize SKREI as it has been intended and planned. For SKREI to become the centre that lifts the importance of the Lofoten fisheries on a national level. But also to ensure the important interaction between the central building and the rest of the museum area, with upgrades at the Lofoten Museum, the Lofoten Aquarium and the Espolin Gallery. 

Construction and sustainability

One of the first things that will happen in the new year is a seminar on sustainability and environmental aspects related to SKREI.  

– A project such as this triggers the need for upgraded infrastructure around both the new building and the existing units, ranging from energy use and sewage management to walkways. Museum Nord will therefore invite architects, the municipality and relevant experts to a seminar to work out the best solutions – both for us and the local community that surrounds us, concludes Jens-Henrik Andersen.  

Read more about the SKREI project here: https://www.museumnord.no/projects/skrei/