“Students and staff - academic and administrative - are the driving force of the faculty and together we have the opportunity to create a new, unique and internationally-oriented institution at the University of Bergen, said the New Dean, Frode Thorsen, to the audience, who for the first time was gathered in the magnificent project hall within the building, the Øvre hall.

Perfect timing
Thorsen drew historical lines on a historic day: From the foundation of the Bergens Musikakademi in 1905, the Bergen School of Applied Arts in 1909 and the National Academy of Fine Arts in Bergen in 1973. To 1 January 2017, when the Bergen Academy of Art and Design entered the University of Bergen, forming the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (KMD) together with The Grieg Academy - Department of Music.

"This constellation is, seen in light of international development, both natural and at the perfect timing. Now it is in our hands to develop the faculty further. We must jointly form new ideas and new visions! New art, new music, new design and new approaches to research and education must be at the core”, said Thorsen.

Passion for the disciplines
"Those of you who are new will soon discover that you have come to a faculty where the staff are passionate about our area of expertise. This applies whether the subject area is performance, typography, improvisation, music therapy or textile," said Linda Lien, Vice Dean of Education and Internationalization, to the nearly 200 new students who start at KMD this semester.

Lien emphasized the close link between research and learning at KMD.
“Students learn through research-based study programs, and the staff learn from inquisitive students. Both in education and research, experimentation and critical reflection are central”, she said and emphasized the point of the new Vice Dean of Research and Dissemination Anne-Helen Mydland:

“The Grieg Academy and the Bergen Academy of Art and Design both had excellent research milieus with remarkable results. As KMD we will work for this, not only to continue, but to give you all new opportunities and redeeming a new potential. An important factor in this is to have good candidates and our approach with research-based study programs is essential. We have been fearless and innovative - and we will continue to be so", said Mydland.

High expectations
"I'm looking forward to start. Everything here is new. It feels great, says Håvard Kranstad, who is a new student of art. He attends the opening together with Anine Aasen, Maria Vallevik Borg and Marie Vallestad, new art students as well, and Susanne Strand, new to design.

They know each other from the Einar Granum School of Fine Art in Oslo. Everyone has applied several other campuses, but had Bergen on the top of the list.

-It was so pleasant to be here when we were here for the interviews. It is also nice to move to a new city. None of us are from Bergen, says Marie and Susanne, who have high expectations for their years to come at KMD.
"We are looking forward to state-of-the-art workshops, good teachers and supervisors. We believe we will have a terrific time, "they say.

Not all the new students at KMD move into the new building. The music students will still have to wait another few years for the faculty to realize the plans for a new building for The Grieg Academy in Møllendal. Joar Simarud Stabell, who is going to study classical song and Anders Hjemmen, who will study jazz, are not especially sad about that.

-I think it will be fine. I am looking forward to my studies, says Stabell. He is from Bodø, but already knows Bergen through a choir he attends here. Hjemmen applied for The Grieg Academy after jazz studies in England.
"I look forward to study in Bergen. I have heard that there is an open jazz scene here, he says.

The new building of the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design will officially open on 11 October. Read more about the opening here.

Images from the opening: