Stockholm: Culture with a capital C

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - All that's missing is someone yelling, "Action!"

For only on a movie set would you find a city centre with such unsullied cobblestone streets and pristine pastel facades. Stockholm is a well-preserved time machine where the new millennium takes a back seat to architectural and cultural triumphs of the past.

And for 1998, the Swedish capital was also Europe's designated Cultural Capital.

Since 1985, Europe's culture ministers have gathered annually to honour one city. That city then assembles a rainbow of activities and in return it receives an income-generating year in the tourism limelight. Past winners include Glasgow, Scotland, Antwerp, Belgium, and Thessaloniki, Greece, destinations that could use the attention.

But in the last years the award amounts to overkill. As far as Stockholm was concerned, adding more than 1,000 events to this capital's cultural attractions was like pouring sugar on a sundae.

Not many cities of 1.2 million boast 55 museums (including a new modern art museum), 70 theatres (among them the ornate Royal Opera House) and a 19th century cityscape that would make an architect weep (World War II bombs spared this burg).

That's not to say Stockholm took its Cultural Capital honours lightly.

Besides the unveiling of its $56 million art museum, the city was busy ripping up and re-laying acres of cobblestone along popular promenades. And Stockholm '98, the event organizing committee, had spent four years sifting through proposals to come up with a truly international meeting of artistic minds.

All of which was music to Rikard Bergsten's ears.

"Being the Cultural Capital will give us a boost," said Bergsten, the city's marketing director, in an interview in 1998. He noted that Copenhagen, Denmark's reign in 1996 saw tourism grow 12%.

"In the past four years alone," he says, "we've doubled the number of cruise ships who pick up and let off passengers here."

Not only is water central to Stockholm's tourist trade - the majority of U.S. vacationers arrive by ship via the Baltic Sea - it's also its charm.

Stockholm recalls Venice for its ever-present water views; the city is built on 14 islands connected by 54 bridges. Stockholm County also includes an archipelago of 24,000 islands, accessible for the tourist season beginning April 18 by a variety of pleasure boats that dock downtown.

Surprised to find a cultural gem in a land known in the USA for '70s pop group ABBA and populist home furnishings retailer Ikea? Don't be.

"Swedes have always centralized in Stockholm," says local investment manager Daniel Sachs, noting that most of the country's 8.8 million citizens live in a rural setting. "That means the best minds, whether actors, musicians or businesspeople, all come here."

Sachs is typical of most Swedes in being fluent in English and possessed of a relaxed charm most often associated with Mediterranean cultures. Consider that Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustav often is spied driving himself to his office at the Royal Palace. Today, Sachs is enjoying breakfast at the Grand Hotel's café overlooking a flotilla of tour boats. Centrally accessible to Gamla Stan antique shops, Stureplan nightspots and the Kungsträdgården pedestrian mall, this grande dame is where Nobel Prize winners stay each December when in town to pick up their coveted awards. It's also an ideal place to begin a cultural tour of Stockholm.

Walk south from the hotel across a narrow bridge and you're on Skeppsholmen, a small island that is home to the city's new "Moderna Museet".

Designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, the art museum's exhibits run from the outrageous Englishman Damien Hirst (his work features flies killed by jolts of electricity) to the legendary Andy Warhol.

Quite valuable is a trip to the museum's café, whose waterfront views alone are worth the admission.

If one imagines Skeppsholmen island at one end of a horseshoe, at the other end rests the island of Gamla Stan, Swedish for "Old Town."

Packed with three- and four-story pastel-coloured buildings that date to the 16th century, this island is where the Baltic Sea meets Lake Mälaren. Here for centuries customs were levied from visiting frigates, and marauding pirates often faced volleys of cannon fire.

It takes little to conjure up those days, so well-preserved is Gamla Stan.

"The wonderful thing about living in Old Town is that it's like living in another world," says former resident and sometime tour guide Gunnilla Åström.

Next up: a 5-minute ferry ride to the Vasa Museum, home to a Titanic from an earlier era.

Built in 1628, the Vasa was the pride of the Swedish fleet but sank on its maiden voyage, less than a mile out of port. In the 1960s, Anders Franzen led a salvage effort to bring the wooden ship up from its muddy grave. It is the world's only surviving 17th century warship.

From the Vasa, walk northwest toward the hip neighbourhood surrounding Stureplan Square, a bustling fun zone of movie theatres, bars, coffeehouses and restaurants. One of the city's most popular eateries is on the square itself, the century-old Sturehof. Here, fish and fauna dominate, from herring fillets to smoked reindeer.

One final jaunt is in order, this one due southwest, back toward the water and into Stockholm's impressive City Hall.

Opened in 1923 but built in a style meant to be reminiscent of the Venetian Renaissance, all arches and narrow windows, this landmark is a fitting finale to a tour of 1998's Cultural Capital of Europe.

For it is here, within its expansive Blue Hall, that each Dec. 10 the Nobel Prize winners in the arts and sciences are feted with a lavish dinner.

Being part of this meal is one way to feel surrounded by enlightenment and creativity.

Another is to simply grab an ice cream cone and walk along a Stockholm canal, its mirror finish reflecting a capital city that never has needed a title to consider itself cultural royalty.

Based on an article by Marco R. della Cava, USA TODAY

Stockholm’s School of Culture

The biggest of its kind in the Scandinavian countries; it offers an arena where all children and teen-agers 6-20 years can take part and evolve their creativity in painting and form, dance, music and theatre. What receives the focus is children’s and youth’s learning as a life-long lust for a creative process in respect and understanding of different various cultures. The students, acting for themselves, evolve their self-confidence and are stimulated to seek their own active cultural engagement.

 The school’s programme consists of a wide range of high quality activities in the whole of Stockholm, divided in the regions of Downtown, West and South Stockholm. Here, approx. 23,000 children and teens realize their dreams. To the School of Culture also belong a centre for children and teen-agers with functional handicaps and a Music Institute that provides music education to a professional level.

ABF

ABF is Sweden's biggest Educational Association with almost 60 organisations as members and 1 million participants in various study circles every year.

ABF’s foundation stone regarding the way to see people – equal value to all – is one of its out points.

ABF in Stockholm guides citizens to participate in study circles and  attend lectures in widespread areas.

One can choose among 30 languages, politics and society, navigation and sea life, music, song and dance, art and handicrafts, literature and humanities.

Museums and Sightseeing in Stockholm

The Mediterranean Museum (Medelhavsmuseet) in Stockholm is an archaeological and cultural historical museum specialized in collections from Mediterranean countries and countries in the Near East. Since 1982, the museum’s collections are on show in the old premises of Inteckningsbanken by Gustav Adolf’s circus in Stockholm. The Museum was created in 1954 through an integration of two pre-existing museums: the Egyptian museum and the Cypriot Collections. The Egyptian Museum was established in 1928 in the Old Parliament House by the Järntorget in Gamla Stan (the Old Town). As a basis for it the State Collections were used, which were formed by donations by diplomats and travellers since the beginning of the 19th century. During 1930-1940 the museum made considerable purchases from the Egyptian Government and private collections. The Cypriot Collections come from The Swedish Archaeological Expeditions’s great scale excavations in 1927 - 1931 under Einar Gjerstad. It is the most important collection of cypriotic excavation findings outside Cyprus.

East Asiatic Museum (Östasiatiska Museet) in Stockholm.Visiting address: Tyghusplan, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
To get here: take Bus 65 from Stockholm Central Station and get off at af Chapman, or take the underground to the Kungsträdgården station
The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities holds unique collections from Asia. The main focus of the collections is on the archaeology and art of China, Japan, India, Korea, and South Asia.
The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities is part of the Swedish Museums of World Culture.

The Royal Coin Cabinet (Kungl. Myntkabinettet ) The Royal Coin Cabinet is centrally situated on Slottsbacken 6 in Stockholm- right opposite the Royal Palace and the Museum of Royal Armour.
The museum is best reached by one of the bus lines: 46, 55, 59, 76 or 43, the name of the bus stop is Slottsbacken.You can also take the underground and get off at the Gamla Stan (the old town) station. The Royal Coin Cabinet is part of the organisation of the Museums of National Antiquities. It is a specialized museum with a national responsibility in areas such as the history of money and finance as well as medals. The collection contains coins and other means of payment as well as medals and other objects with numismatic connection from all of the world. The museum is in charge of keeping the national register of coin hoards up to date. The exhibitions of the Royal Coin Cabinet display the history of money, banks and medals. You will not only find coins and medals here, but also bank- notes, tokens, shares, savings- boxes, bank material etc. The first bank- note of the world, the worlds biggest struck coin and the history of the oldest, still existing, central bank (all originated in Sweden) are shown in the exhibitions.

The Zorn museum  Anders Zorn, one of the most emminent Swedish painters and sculptors (born on the 18th of February, 1860) died in Mora, on the August, 22nd, 1920. In his will, he made it very clear that all of his belongings and his art collection were to be placed in the hands of the Swedish state, and included instructions and means for a cultural institution called the Zorn museum. He also made sure that the building in Stockholm, where he held his studio, was restored and prevented from ever being demolished.
Today, the museum includes his home, a new building that was raised for his paintings, his forrest cottage "Gopsmor" and other local landmarks. The Zorn museum is a two-storied rectangular brick building in the classical style. In 1982 a stairwell in glass, designed by the architect Torbjörn Olsson, was added to the west facade. A new wing in glass, designed by the architect Gunnar Nordström, was inaugurated in 1996. This contains the reception area, library and staff rooms.
The Zorn museum displays for the most part work by Anders Zorn and examples of his artistic variety - oil paintings, water colours, etchings and sculptures.

Aquaria Watermuseum
Address: Djurgården, Falkenbergsgatan 2, 115 21 Stockholm INT + 46 8-660 90 89       info@aquaria.se
Opening hours:   Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-16:30
Tickets: Adults: 60 kr, Children 6-15 years: 30 kr, Pensioners: 50 kr
Free entrance with Stockholm Visitors Card and and À la Carte card.
Guided tours: To book a guided tour in English call INT +46 (0)8 - 660 90 89.
Café: Enjoy a cup of coffee and a magnificent view of Stockholm. Light lunches, fresh baked bread, cakes and cookies.
Party arrangements: You can book our café for parties or other arrangements at: www.mariahissen.se/aquaria
Souvenir shop: The perfect place to find fun gifts for your friends, family and yourself.
Aquaria film: Get more out of your visit! Film show with English subtitles guides you through the museum and behind the scenes.

The Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet) is Scandinavia's most visited museum.
The Museum was inaugurated in 1990. In the large ship-hall stands the warship Vasa - the only remaining, intact 17th century ship in the world. The lower rig has been rebuilt, complete with masts, stays and shrouds. Just like the Vasa would have looked like when set for winter in harbour. The wreck, salvaged in 1961, is now once again a complete ship.
Surrounding the ship are several permanent exhibitions, cinemas, a shop and a restaurant.
 

Opening hours: August 21 to June 9: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m
June 10 to August 20:  9.30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Closed: May 1, December 23-25, December 31, January 1.
Admission 2003
Adults - 70 SEK Adults: Wednesdays 5-8 p.m. - 50 SEK Students - 40 SEK
Children, 7-15 yrs - 10 SEK Children, 0-6 yrs - free
Groups (of at least 15 persons) 50 SEK
Guided tours in English: