Lecture tour in Ofoten
Published 12 October 2026
The museums and libraries in Ballangen, Kjøpsvik and Narvik invite you to a lecture tour with Arne Håkon Thomassen from the Sami Parliament!
30 September 2026
Liv Helene Willumsen and Gøril Karlsen gave lectures about, and told fairy tales by, the author Regine Normann (1867-1939) at the museums in Bø, Øksnes and Hadsel.
Liv Helene Willumsen has written a biography of Regine Normann, called The Merman’s Daughter (1997). Here she describes Regine as someone who was surrounded by storytellers from childhood. She had a dramatic childhood where she lost her father at a young age. And after which she was taken care of by relatives. Later she was unhappily married to the bellman in Bø. And finally escaped under cover of darkness to Oslo, where she attended teacher training and established herself as a writer.
In the fairy tales, which are celebrating their 100th anniversary these days, it is precisely the child who is the hero and has to solve the problems. Perhaps that way she herself used the stories she heard when she was little. As comfort and hope that it is possible to break out of established patterns. Imagination is a good quality to have.
Gøril Karlsen has memorized the fairy tales and tells them in Regine’s words, and performs them with empathy and delicacy. At the end, there were nice discussions about Regine and the fairy tales. We are very grateful that Liv Helene and Gøril came to us and we welcome them again.