Minister of Education and Culture Katrín Jakobsdóttir has suggested that the Icelandic Concert and Conference Center, which is currently under construction at the Reykjavík harbor, be used to house other art forms as well, the Icelandic Opera and the Iceland Dance Company.
The Iceland Dance Company. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
“We want to make the most of this building, not just the musical aspect, but the conference aspects as well. There are possibilities for profit involved,” Jakobsdóttir told Fréttabladid.
Director of the Icelandic Opera Stefán Baldursson said he had looked at the facilities in the concert center and that he was pleased with what he saw.
“The ministry and Austurhöfn [the state-owned company responsible for the construction] came to us and considering the circumstances the board decided to react positively to their request,” Baldursson said.
It seems to us that an opera house in Kópavogur will be pushed into the future and although the building at the harbor isn’t designed for opera and stage performances anything is possible if we want it to be,” Baldursson added, referring to a planned opera house in Kópavogur, a neighboring town of Reykjavík.
Managing director of the Iceland Dance Company Ása Richardsdóttir said the matter is still being discussed. The facilities and drawings have been looked at, but not a single króna has been mentioned yet.
“There weren’t any plans to have a dance group in the building originally so it is obvious that some changes will have to be made if its needs are to be met. The main issue is how much they will cost and what the artistic possibilities are,” Richardsdóttir said.
Anna Kristín Einarsdóttir, the musical director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, said she is excited about having others in the center.
“It is just positive. As far as I’m concerned I’ve always thought it strange that the opera wasn’t included and I have absolute faith in cooperating and that everyone takes advantage of this grand building,” Einarsdóttir said.
Click here to read more about the Icelandic Concert and Conference Center.
