Community in the Jazzbox
- The Jazzbox has been a long continuous adventure to work with, says the person responsible for the Jazzbox, Elbjørg Tveit. She has been developing the new scene in collaboration with The fountain house Kongsberg - a low-threshold service for people with psychological challenges. A terrific collaboration between the jazz festival and Fontenehuset Kongsberg has led to an exciting further development of the Jazzbox, the eye-catching stage at the Fellesbrukkrysset.
Since the anniversary year 2014, Kongsberg Jazz Festival's new "free concert stage" has established itself in the cityscape. This is a place for everyone, and a stage where especially new and promising musicians can show themselves. Eldbjørg recommends this as a place where you sit down, relax and let yourself be impressed by new music. Cozy small tables surround the eye-catching container stage where you can listen to jazz talk and experience various musicians. Saturday's big bet, Serendip, is a festival within a festival with the jazz talents of the future and every possible reason to come along. Here, 5 of the festival bands from the Norwegian Academy of Music's own jazz festival will be on stage from 14.00 Saturday afternoon.
Eldbjørg Tveit goes on to talk about the decor and set-up of the stage, and she cannot boast enough about the collaboration with Fontenehuset. Since last year's festival, there have been monthly meetings between members and staff in Fontenehuset and the management of the Jazzbox. This collaboration has led to clerks from Fontenehuset helping out in the Jazzbox daily.
An exciting arena for various meetings
This year, Fontenehuset Kongsberg has recruited 23 employees and clerks for the festival. Festival manager Kai Gustavsen pointed out during the press conference that it is not possible to lift an event as large as a jazz festival without experience. Marit Brudevoll Lauvlid lives up to this when she tells about how members of Fontenehuset Kongsberg have gradually become involved in the work with the festival. Lauvlid points out that we all have mental health and participating in the festival has positive ripple effects. Fontenehuset's contribution is, among other things, to highlight that jazz has a place for everyone, where everyone can use their resources for the good of the community. Showing up and contributing for just a few hours can be a big step to take for many.
A sense of community is a key word, both for Fontenehuset and for what the Jazzbox wants to contribute to the festival environment. In the last few days, the stage has been rigged, painted, furnished, decorated and made ready for the party. Every night there will be a DJ and the Jazzbox is a good option for meeting, talking or listening to cool music. Or simply a good place to end a long day of jazz.
