The council replaces the floor in the cultural centre

After 16 years of concerts, performances, conferences and visits from both royalty and ministers, the time has come to give the cultural centre a lift.

The old floor is now to be replaced, and before long audiences can again gather on a shining new wooden floor.

Property manager Daniel Ødegård said the timing of the replacement is not accidental.

"When we are replacing the floor in Svalbardhallen as part of the renovation there, there is a lot to gain by doing the job in the cultural centre at the same time. Specialists, equipment and materials are now in place, and with good coordination the work can be done both faster and more cost-effectively," said Ødegård (translated).

Cultural centre manager Are Nundal is very glad that the cultural centre is finally getting a new floor.

"The floor has served us well since the cultural centre opened 16 years ago, but now it is simply worn out. The specialists tell us it cannot be sanded down any more times, so now the time has come to replace it," said Nundal.

And it is not just any floor that is now to be retired. Over the years it has witnessed big and small moments in the local community. There have been concerts, conferences, a royal dinner and ministerial visits. The floor has even withstood a snowmobile fair where snowmobiles with studded tracks were driven indoors.

"Naturally, that left its mark. After that fair the floor had to be sanded, and it was the last time we arranged anything like that in here," said Nundal with a smile.

In recent years the cultural centre has been used more and more with a flat floor, after most of the film screenings were moved to Nordover. This has made room for more concerts, events and meeting places, but has also led to increased wear. Together with the fact that there is no longer a ban on shoes in the hall, this has left its mark on the floor.

While the work is under way there will be a short pause in events, but later this autumn the programme is already ready for new experiences.

"We have a lot to look forward to. The autumn programme starts with the TV-aksjonen and a fundraising concert, before it continues with KC Club Arctica, the Blues Festival, a concert with Lille Caesar, the big band evening, a Telenor concert and a film evening with Fri Flyt," said Nundal.

The aim is for the new floor to be fully laid, varnished and cured well before the fundraising concert.

Both Ødegård and Nundal follow the work closely and hope everything goes according to plan.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed that no delays occur. It will be very nice to welcome audiences back to a renewed cultural centre," said Ødegård and Nundal.