Welcome to the panel discussion on Sunday, October 13th at 2:00 PM at Dikemark Art Arena/Galleri Dikemark.

With:
Ketil Stoknes, supervisor and researcher at NMBU
Balder Ullmann, master's student at NMBU
Marthe Berger Walthinsen, artist living in Asker
Moderator: Anne Siv Falkenberg Pedersen at Trafo Kunsthall

Winter 2024 invited Trafo Kunsthall two master's students at NMBU, Balder Ullmann and Eira Opedal, to investigate the potential that urban agriculture can have for the future development of Dikemark, with rekreasjon as a starting point. In this context, they saw it as relevant to look at the areas that are already defined as green structures. Dikemark currently has good conditions for rekreasjon , but Ullmann and Opedal wanted to look at how they could further develop the qualities of the place by creating green meeting places as a focal point for the local community. The overall idea is to reactualize the principle on which Dikemark is founded; that scenic surroundings are positive for mental and physical health.

The students themselves say about the project: "There is a lot we can learn about how agriculture worked in the past and at the same time increase the degree of self-sufficiency and locally sourced food through various cultivation activities. Values ​​such as community and sustainability are central to how we hope Dikemark will develop. Dikemark can hopefully be an inspiration for what the green neighborhood of the future can look like."

Trafo Kunsthall's initiative is part of the mission from Asker kommune to investigate the possibilities for cultural industries at Dikemark. Over time, the Art Hall has linked up with various actors and partners, including higher education institutions.

The exhibition initiative REKREASJON addresses the ability to take a place's inherent possibilities, but also historical experiences, into the further development of the place. At Dikemark this is particularly relevant with regard to the historical farming that was crucial for the hospital to be maintained. In the further development of the place, new housing and densification of the area are envisaged. At the same time, there are clearly natural resources that can be exploited and expanded with wisdom and insight.

How can this be done? And how can a historical necessity such as farming be incorporated into both embracing recreational opportunities and satisfying the need to develop the area for housing? The experience with urban agriculture is that this can expand both the awareness of and the use of a place, in addition to a clear benefit in terms of food production. Urban agriculture incorporates many of the ideas that were also advanced a hundred years ago at Dikemark.

Dikemark is today used by many people, among other things, for hiking and rekreasjon What role can urban agriculture have in future site development at Dikemark?

The event is free and open to everyone!