Can food heritage save us? 

20 June 2026

Welcome to the CONVIVIUM conference  

Where?: Svolvær Music Society, Caroline Harveys vei 15, 8300 Svolvær 

When? : 26 June 2026 from 09:00 to 14:30 

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Preparedness, identity and belonging in uncertain times 

We are between a tough past and today’s challenges to have control over our own food in the region. The question is whether ancient knowledge can help us create a safer future. In the past, food security was just about surviving the winter, but today it’s also about healthy food, dignity and being able to withstand climate change. Using our heritage ? stories, methods and plants ? we can adapt to the future without losing our roots. 

Before lunch, presentations from:

Valdimar Hafstein ? Professor of?folkloristics?and?ethnology?at the? University of Iceland;

Yves Segers ? Professor in Economic History, University of Leuven and Managing Director at KU Leuven, Belgium;

Raúl Matta ? Senior researcher at Institute Lyfe Research and Innovation Center, Lyon, France;

Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen – Professor of? Oral Storytelling at the Department of Art, Design and Drama, OsloMet;

Marit Blekastad ? Leader of Kvæfjord Bygdekvinnelag The Norwegian Society of Rural Women in Kvæfjord:

Bjørg-Elin Kärn ? Projectleader, LoVe Utvikling AS, Leknes and managing director for Lofotlam PGI and Pedro Gadanho ? Architect, curator and writer, as well as former director of the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon, Portugal.

After lunch, there are open sessions where everyone can contribute to dialogue and discussions on the topic.  

If you are interested, you are most welcome. 

Feel free to send an email to the address below, and we will register your registration. 

We’ll send you a detailed program, along with some questions about your diet and what you want for lunch.? 

Registration: send your name and phone number to: Viram@oslomet.no?? 

*? CONVIVIUM: New European Bauhaus Solutions In? Food, Living Heritage And Conviviality