Editor: Lena Jörgensson - Phone: +46-8-789 24 09 Fax: +46-8-789 24 50 E-mail: [email protected]
Editor: Lena Jörgensson - Phone: +46-8-789 24 09 Fax: +46-8-789 24 50
E-mail: [email protected]
| Maj 1998
STOCKHOLM – EUROPEAN TOURISM CHAMPION STOCKHOLM CITY HALL IN BRUSSELS THE WORLD’S BEST CITY FOR RUNNERS EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2003 ARLANDA-STOCKHOLM IN ONLY 25 MINUTES SUCCESS FOR SWEDISH GINGERBREAD MICKEY MOUSE AT THE POST MUSEUM PEACE OF WESTPHALIA 350TH ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR SAILING EVENT IN STOCKHOLM PEOPLE AND BOATS IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES NEWS IN BRIEF Blue and yellow pages on the Internet Cultural Capital year attracts more visitors PREVIOUS NEWS April '98 |
Stockholm – European tourism champion Stockholm has been given the top ranking among European tourist cities, ahead of Paris and Prague. This is the result of market research carried out by the Vienna-based Austrian Society for Applied Tourism Research on behalf of the city of Leipzig. The research shows how different tourist cities have performed between 1984 and 1996 (performance of city tourism), from which Stockholm emerges as the clear winner. Stockholm has also been given a high ranking for the number of guest-nights and number of arrivals per head. In the section covering the importance of city tourism Stockholm was in eighth place. This included the number of important cultural institutions in the city centre and how many tourists visited central Stockholm during 1996. In the section for the importance of tourism for cultural institutions, Stockholm was in fifth place (this covers a five-year perspective and visitor figures for each year have been taken into account). Stockholm was awarded third place for professionalism in marketing. Bengt Sahlberg, tel +46 (0)8-560 311 98
Stockholm has won international acclaim as a cruising city. The city was named by international cruise lines as the "Best European information provider 1997" during the important Seatrade fair in Miami. Stockholm was judged to have provided the best and most complete information among all European ports served by cruise ships. Proud representatives of Stockholm Information Service were on hand to receive the award from the cruising magazine Dream World Cruise Destinations. Maria Guggenberger-Thorell, Stockholm Information Service, Stockholm City Hall in Brussels Brussels, right in the heart of Europe, will soon have a miniature version of Stockholm’s famous City Hall, widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful buildings. A 1:25 scale model of Ragnar Östberg’s architectural masterpiece will be unveiled on 4 June at Mini-Europe in the north-west of Brussels, along with models from all the other EU countries. Great Britain will be represented by a model of Big Ben, while France will be showing its best-known icon, the Eiffel Tower, and Spain will be displaying a bull-fighting arena. The models are all highly detailed, so that every piece of ornamentation or decoration is shown. Cars, boats and planes move around between the various buildings. A visit to Mini-Europe follows a marked trail and is complemented by interactive computers to help visitors learn more about the EU and its members. The Stockholm model has been constructed by Willy Deswaene, the well-known boat-builder and model-maker, who visited Stockholm and made a detailed study of the City Hall with the help of original designs and books. Roland Berndt, Stockholm Information Service,
Early in May Stockholm Information Service is publishing a brochure in English and German highlighting some of the best excursions in Stockholm and the surrounding area. The "Runaway for a day" brochure lists a selection of the excursion packages which can be bought in the Excursion Shop at Sweden House. It will help visitors from abroad to discover more of Stockholm – the archipelago and Lake Mälaren, for example. The brochure will be available from hotels and tourist information offices in Stockholm, and also from the Swedish Travel & Tourism Council’s overseas offices. Titti Spetz, Stockholm Information Service, tel +46 (0)8-789 24 92 The world’s best city for runners Stockholm is the world’s best city for runners, and the Stockholm Marathon is the world’s best-organised event. That’s the opinion of American running enthusiasts Dennis Craythorn and Rich Hanna in their newly-published The Ultimate Guide to International Marathons. They spent two years travelling around the world to study various competitions and have now given Stockholm the highest ratings in three out of four categories: attractiveness of the course, the organisation of the competition, and the suitability of the race for marathon novices. Craythorn and Hanna write: "The two circuits go mainly through the city’s central areas and use to the full Stockholm’s beautiful setting on the water. The runners pass buildings dating from the Middle Ages right up to the present day and reach the finish on tracks which have seen no less than 81 world records in athletics at Stockholm’s beautiful Olympic Stadium dating from 1912." This year’s Stockholm Marathon, being arranged for the twentieth year running, will take place on 7 June. Race organiser Tomas Enström comments that the praise lavished on the Stockholm event by Craythorn and Hanna is a perfect award to mark this year’s special anniversary. "Now we’re asking everyone to work extra hard to make the 1998 race the best ever," he comments. Tomas Enström, Stockholm Marathon, tel +46 (0)8-667 19 30 European basketball championship for 2003 One of Europe’s biggest sporting events, the European basketball championship, is to be staged at Stockholm’s Globe Arena in 2003. The unanimous decision was taken recently by the board of FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur) during a meeting in Munich. It is difficult to rank the importance of sporting events, but the organisers say there is no doubt that the basketball championship is among the most important in Europe. A total of 54 countries will compete for the 16 places in the finals, and the event usually attracts a lot of mass media interest. In 1995, for example, the championship was screened on TV in 127 countries worldwide. Jens Larsson, Svensk Basket, tel +46 (0)8-82 00 46 Arlanda-Stockholm in only 25 minutes Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport is once again served by buses to and from the Haga terminal at Norrtull, to the north of the city, after a gap of nine years. They operate every 10 minutes, and the journey to and from Arlanda takes only 25 minutes. Tickets cost 60 kronor and can be bought from the normal automatic machines at the airport and in Stockholm city centre. The taxi company "Flygbussarna/Taxi" operates to the terminal for a fixed charge. The cheapest taxi zone includes the whole of the city centre, as well as the Ulriksdal area, and the lowest price is 90 kronor from the Haga terminal to any address within this zone. Another innovation is the introduction of an add-on ticket to the normal airport bus fare, costing 20 kronor, which is valid for unlimited travel on SL buses and underground trains for one day from the time of arrival. Kjell Bergkvist, SL Flygbussarna AB, tel +46 (0)8-686 37 80 The rebuilding of the Haga terminal is due for completion in the middle of May. Travellers will then have access to a new, light waiting area plus a restaurant, café and exhibition area. There is also an information service for the Eko Park, a National City Park whose entrance adjoins the terminal. During the spring and summer various exhibitions, cultural events and many other activities are being arranged at the terminal. Annika Gylin, Solna, tel +46 (0)8-734 23 48 Success for Swedish gingerbread One of the most important ingredients of the Swedish Christmas table – the gingerbread biscuit (" pepparkakan") – has been a best-seller in the USA for many years and is now being launched in Asia. Anna’s Bakery in Tyresö, just outside Stockholm, is making a major effort to boost its export markets in the run-up to the 21st century. The thin, brown and delicious biscuits are already available in some 20 countries. The biggest importer, the USA, buys no less than 500 tonnes – equivalent to about 100 million biscuits – every year. The story of Anna’s gingerbread biscuits dates back to 1929, when the sisters Anna and Emma Karlsson started a domestic science school and bakery on Artillerigatan in Stockholm. A common Swedish saying is that eating gingerbread biscuits makes one a kinder person. Another is that someone is "as sun-burned as a gingerbread biscuit". Now we can look forward to hearing other new sayings from our gingerbread-eating friends around the world! Mickey Mouse at the Post Museum Mickey Mouse celebrates his 70th birthday in 1998. The famous figure met his admiring public for the first time in 1928 in the cartoon film "Steamboat Willie". It became an instant success and "mouse fever" broke out in the USA, and later in Sweden. Stockholm’s Post Museum is celebrating the anniversary with an exhibition of stamps, postcards and other Mickey Mouse memorabilia. It includes the personal collection of Lasse Åberg, a well-known Swedish artist, comedian and Mickey Mouse fan. Åberg, who created the Stockholm Information Service "Beauty on Water" logo, has built up his collection over many years, and mice are a frequent theme in his art. The exhibition continues until 4 October 1998. Post Museum, tel +46 (0)8-781 17 55 This summer’s exhibition at the Strindberg Museum, "Strindberg in Berlin", focuses on the author August Strindberg’s stay in Berlin in 1892-93. It was a legendary time of his life, not least because of his many paintings of the carousing at his favourite inn, "Zum schwarzen Ferkel". His stay in Berlin was an unproductive time in Strindberg’s career as an author. Instead he concentrated on his chemical experiments, painting, photography and music. The exhibition includes Strindberg’s spectroscope, a re-created setting of the Ferkel inn, contemporary pictures from Berlin, and Max Reinhardt’s pioneering productions of Strindberg’s plays, as well as graphic designs by Akseli Gallen Kallela and Edvard Munch. The exhibition continues until 1 August 1998. Strindberg Museum, tel +46 (0)8-411 53 54 Peace of Westphalia 350th anniversary This year marks the 350th anniversary of peace breaking out at the end of the Thirty Years’ War, the so-called Peace of Westphalia. The anniversary will be marked in several European countries, and in Stockholm there will be two exhibitions, one at the Vasa Museum and one at Skokloster Castle. The Vasa Museum’s exhibition, "The diplomat, the Queen, and the peace", looks at the armistice from several points of view and describes the role of Queen Kristina as a peacemaker. Visitors will see how the long war had devastating effects on ordinary people and their destiny. They will also meet the people at the centre of power who were involved in the negotiations that ended the war and helped to shape the new Europe. The exhibition runs from 7 May till 10 January 1999. Skokloster Castle’s exhibition focuses on the war and on Count Carl Gustaf Wrangel, lord of the manor at Skokloster and governor-general of Swedish Pomerania. The exhibition shows how the war was waged and peace finally achieved, as well as describing how Wrangel simultaneously managed to build up an information network and introduce the latest luxury goods from Europe. It runs from 6 May to 31 October 1998. Vasa Museum, tel +46 (0)8-666 48 00; Skokloster Castle, The archaeological excavations and research on the Viking island of Birka have been safeguarded for a further three years through a sponsorship agreement between Stockholm University, the Strömma Kanalbolaget sightseeing tour operator, and other companies. The agreement involves new methods of displaying archaeological and research activities. Visitors are first invited on a special guided tour of the Viking Museum with guides from the Swedish Department of National Heritage. The guides will also take visitors to the top of the Borgberget hill, where they will be able to meet and talk to archaeologists in the excavation area. In this way visitors will have a much better idea of the work than it has previously been possible to offer on Birka. This year’s excavations will be carried out in the fortress area for the first time, as well as in the garrison area. Strömma Kanalbolaget, tel +46 (0)8-587 140 49 Spectacular sailing event in Stockholm About 100 yachts and other craft will sail into Stockholm for the Sail Stockholm 1998 festival which takes place between 16-20 July. The event forms part of the Cultural Capital year programme, and for the first time visitors will be able to take part in sailing trips. Among the visitors will be the world’s largest sailing vessel, the four-masted Russian barque Sedov, the three-masted Statsraad Lehmkuhl and Europa, plus the full-rigged Khersones, Sørlandet and Christian Radich, well-known from the TV series The Onedin Line. On 19 July there will be a Sail Parade in which all 100-plus vessels will take part. In conjunction with the event a maritime festival will be held in the city, based on Stadsgården and Skeppsbron. Stockholm Marketing Ltd, tel +46 (0)8-785 80 06 People and boats in the North of Europe Twenty traditional working boats in their original condition from all parts of the Nordic countries, 20 stories of human destiny linked to boats, and 20 impressions of coastal culture and environment. This is the theme of the National Maritime Museum’s biggest-ever temporary exhibition – "People and boats in the North of Eruope". The exhibition is part of the Cultural Capital programme and includes boats from Greenland in the north-west to Estonia in the south-east, with photographs and text about human life and culture. Outside the museum there are demonstrations of building wooden boats by traditional methods, and during the summer visitors will be able to go on a rowing trip on one of these replicas. National Maritime Museum (Sjöhistoriska
Museet), What does Stockholm sound like today? The changing of the guard at the Royal Palace with the clatter of horses’ hooves, the toots of the Waxholm boats, the underground trains squeaking round the curves, the gulls, church clocks and the water – all of these and more are typical city sounds and Stockholm, like all cities, has its special sound signature. During the Cultural Capital year a variety of "sound happenings" will be arranged. Over the weekend of 29-31 May the city will be invaded by 10,000 young people from the country’s musical and cultural schools. There will be a parade through the city, concerts and a host of artistic, musical, dance and theatrical events at about 100 venues. "More sound please, boys" ("Mera ljud i baljan, boys") is a night-time open-air concert with electro-acoustical sound waves. It will be staged at Riddarfjärden on 14 June, and the auditorium will be the Old Town. A spectacular concert will be held on Sunday 14 June at 23.00 with a specially-composed work in which all the church bells in the inner city will be the instruments and Stockholm itself will be the concert hall. From 13 June to 9 August the Music Museum will stage a sound exhibition: "Soundscape". It will be an exhibition with a difference about resources in sound and about everything from the sounds within ourselves to the constant noise of the city. Between 3-7 November there will be an electronic music festival, "Sound and Space XX", with sound installations on various stages. Stockholm – Cultural Capital of Europe
1998, The successful British magazine Wallpaper, which is published six times a year and is aimed at an international readership, has already produced several features about Stockholm since it was launched in 1996. The founder-editor, Tyler Brülé, is a warm friend of the Swedish capital and its "fantastic archipelago", where he likes to spend his own holidays. In the forthcoming May/June issue of Wallpaper no less than 60 pages are devoted to Stockholm, including the front cover, and the circulation will total 180,000 copies. The coverage includes a review of Stockholm architecture from the 1930s to the 1960s with plenty of "namedropping" of graphic designers, glass artists, architects and industrial designers, as well as leading figures in the fields of fashion, advertising and the media. Some of Stockholm’s leading chefs and restaurateurs are also featured, and the "grand finale" of the coverage is a 10-page reportage on the Stockholmers’ timeless gem, the archipelago. Wallpaper has achieved its international readership mainly through its lavish photographic reportage. The magazine’s editors gave local Stockholm photographers the task of portraying their city, providing them with a springboard for the international recognition of their skills. Sylvie Kellin, Stockholm Information Service,
The trend-setting magazine Stockholm New, which is now in its seventh year, continues to attract international successes, the latest at the "fair of fairs" in Milan in April. Stockholm New was on show at the former Armani premises, which were quickly renamed "Living in Sweden". The stand presented a complete picture of Sweden with furniture design, rock artists, confectionery, Saab cars and Swedish food. The Sturehof Restaurant challenged the local pasta with pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese by providing Swedish delicacies like salmon, eel and herring served in various classical ways. Swedish lifestyle was reinforced by the clothing manufacturer Ellegal/Illegal whose trademark, according to the designer Thomas Håkansson, is synonymous with simple lines and a sensual feel. Stockholm’s No. 1 soul queen, Titiyo, provided the entertainment along with the Koop group, and the centrepiece of the event was provided by the front-cover picture of a Swedish blonde in the latest issue of Stockholm New (No. 6). Copies can be requested from: Cecilia Berlin, Stockholm Information Service,
NEWS IN BRIEF A film festival is being organised in Stockholm for the second year running under the appetising title Popcorn. This year’s festival has been moved from the autumn to the early summer, from 30 May to 6 June. Some 70 full-length films from all over the world will be screened during the festival, many from film events held during the spring at the Rotterdam, Berlin, Sundance and American Film Market festivals. This year’s programme is complemented by short films and video productions. The festival centre will be located at Östermalmstorg, and all the screenings, lectures, parties and other activities will take place in the area around Stureplan and Humlegården. A festival atmosphere is guaranteed. Per Strömbäck, Popcorn Festival, tel +46 (0)8-611 06 26 The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities is currently staging a major exhibition of oriental carpets from Swedish collections. They include two gems: the so-called "Marby Carpet" from the 15th century and a magnificent carpet with a hunting theme from Stockholm’s Royal Palace. Skokloster Castle’s world-famous collection of antique oriental carpets is also on loan for the exhibition, which reflects the history and design of oriental carpets, particularly in Turkey and Iran. It also focuses on the traditional interest of Swedish collectors in oriental carpets and their influence on Swedish art. There are guided tours in English, theme days and activities during which visitors can see how carpets are made from start to finish. The exhibition runs from May till October 1998. Karin Ådahl, Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities (Medelhavsmuseet), tel +46 (0)8-783 94 43 About 70 different nationalities are currently represented in the Stockholm suburb of Tensta, which is a meeting place for various cultures, opinions, private individuals and businesses. A special exhibition project is being arranged to underline this cultural diversity under the title "Our world heritage in Tensta". It includes about 70 giant-sized colour pictures printed on fabric which are decorating the façades of public buildings and the shopping centre. The themes are derived from the UNESCO World Heritage list and include the Acropolis, the Taj Mahal, Stonehenge, the Victoria Falls etc. The exhibition is complemented by music, dance, art, theatre and architecture. Performances, seminars, lectures, discussions and guided tours in several languages will be arranged from 9 May till 15 October 1998. Sirpa Rydh, "Our world heritage in Tensta", tel +46 (0)8-761 47 45 The Visa credit card company is offering discounts at museums, restaurants, hotels and shops in Stockholm to its cardholders living outside Sweden. The scheme started on 1 April and continues till 31 March 1999. Special VIP Passes are issued to cardholders visiting Sweden, entitling them to reduced prices at a number of outlets, including the Royal Coin Cabinet, Millesgården and Gröna Lund, as well as restaurants like Lisapåtorget, Fem Små Hus and De Fyras Krog. Also participating are the Strand Hotel, the Svensk Hemslöjd handicrafts centre and Bruka Design. Margareta Larsheden, Visa Sweden, tel +46 (0)8-20 16 15 Unique design exhibitionA selection of the best in Swedish design is on show this year in 10 separate design installations in the terminals at Arlanda Airport. Each installation has an international theme to represent the special characteristics of Swedish design like: functional, clear, timeless, sensible, time-saving, sensual etc. The installations are spread around the terminals. Swedish Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartsverket)
information Blue and yellow pages on the Internet Now the whole world can see what Sweden can offer to its visitors. The Swedish Travel & Tourism Council has launched its own home page on the Internet, the Global Visitor’s Guide to Sweden (www.visit-Sweden.com). The Council describes the new facility as "an excellent way to tell the rest of the world what a great country Sweden is to visit". The Stockholm Information Service home page (www.stoinfo.se) is linked to the STTC home page. Ingemar Eriksson, Swedish Travel & Tourism Council, Cultural Capital year attracts more visitors Stockholm’s year as Cultural Capital of Europe has already left its mark on the visitor statistics. In January the number of guest-nights at Stockholm hotels increased by 9% compared with the same month last year. Arlanda Airport reported a 3.1% increase in arrivals during January, and February’s increase was even higher at 5.2%. And so far this year Destination Stockholm AB has increased sales of its Stockholm Package by 34% compared with the same period in 1997. During January and February the tourist information office at Sweden House had 61,100 visitors compared with 55,900 in the same months of 1997. Between January and March 2,900 articles on the Cultural Capital year were published in the Swedish press compared with 510 in the corresponding period last year. Eric Sjöström, Stockholm – Cultural Capital of Europe 1998, Editor: Lena Jörgenson Translated by Philip Ray | This is SIS | Navigation page | Contact me | |