Lecture tour in Vesterålen
Published 30 September 2026
Liv Helene Willumsen and Gøril Karlsen have been on a lecture tour in Vesterålen
23 April 2025
Over the last few weeks, Deadline and GaiaVesterålen have worked together to transform the atrium of a former shopping centre in Sortland. At the heart of the transformation is a highly technical 3D model of the Vesterålen archipelago’s past, present and future.
Before long, GaiaVesterålen and Visit Vesterålen will open a new, joint attraction in Sortland.
“The 3D model of Vesterålen has become a symbol of GaiaVesterålen, and it brings together several strands of our work. For those reasons, it is an important milestone for us to see it in its new location,” says Ane Høyem, Project Manager at GaiaVesterålen.
Customised technical solutions
Since 2021, GaiaVesterålen has collaborated closely with SINTEF, Deadline and several other partners to develop the model, with funding from Forskningsrådet’s Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet (IPN). The first two prototypes have already been on display in Øksnes Museum (2023) and in Sortland’s old cinema (2024). Soon, the third prototype will be ready in its new venue, filled to the brim with stories waiting to be discovered.
“We are excited for more visitors to discover the 3D model’s ample possibilities. The contents build on the largest-ever data collection in the region, and customised technical solutions bring Vesterålen’s past, present and future to life in ways that will appeal to locals and tourists alike,” says Ane.
A living attraction
As the physical model is adapted to a new venue, new content about Vesterålen’s culture, nature and history is also being developed.
Both in its new location and in the future circular museum in Sortland, the model will be a living attraction: a place for interactive learning where users contribute to the model’s further creation. That is why partners in the project are currently working to build an infrastructure that allows for locally directed development. With time, that will entail a direct connection between the model and Miljøkontrakten (The Environmental Contract), which is also currently in development.
“Miljøkontrakten was born out of a desire to unite the local community around the same sustainability goals. When we acquire the capabilities to visualise the extent of local sustainability efforts, we hope that will lead to redoubled efforts for sustainable and environmentally friendly local communities. First in Vesterålen, then further afield,” Ane concludes.