Vortex Space

You are welcome to spend as much time as you like in the Vortex Room (Virvelrommet) during opening hours. Throughout the day, you will encounter both small and large concerts, open group conversations, discussions, and a variety of installations and presentations—featuring contributions from across the Academy, as well as guest participants.

12:00: Opening

Musical opening performance with students from different diciplines, led by Knut Aalefjær. Refreshments.

• Ingrid Lingaas Fossum (langeleik)

Ca. 12:45: Theme: Text, roles and expectations

• Marie Høgestøl (voice)
• Damiën Heemskerk (piano)
• Anja Sandvoll (flute and text)
• Åsmund Erichsen (reading)
• Eir Inderhaug (conversation participant)

Ca. 14:15: Open Stage I

• Taraf: Alessia Ardelean (vocals), Hanna Vigerust Kallestad (violin), Simen Jakobsen Harstad (guitar) and Colin Lilius Karlsen (bass)
• Tayo: Eira Elise Øverås (trumpet), Elias Vistven (guitar), Colin Lilius Karlsen (bass) and Elle Fenchel (drums)

Refreshments.

16:00: Salon Conversation with Economics Professor PierLuigi Sacco

Why is art a prerequisite for a prosperous democratic society? Socioeconomic perspectives on a conversation about the utility value and intrinsic value of art.

With participants from NMH’s artistic and research community, PhD research fellows, students, and others from Norwegian music and cultural life.

• Opening performance by Erlend Skomsvoll (piano)

Read more about the open conversation with Sacco here.

Ca. 18:15: Open stage II

• Tanja Orning (cello)
• Atle Nymo (saxophone)
• Konstantin Helmers (violin and electronics)

Sharing and reflection throughout the day – video, text and books in the room

• Bendik Giske: «Bendik Giske & Sam Barker – still untitled explorations» (text/video)
• Edvard Valberg: «will to chaos/lust for life» (text/video)
• Henning Kraggerud: «Viola improvisations and composed reflections inspired by literature» (video)
• Ingfrid Breie Nyhus/Live Maria Roggen: «Lytte etter det (u)romantiske» (video series and book)
• Sidsel Endresen: «A Piece of Work» (poem)
• Nils Henrik Asheim: «Musikken, reinkarnasjonen og å leve øyeblikket om igjen» (reflecting text)

Sign up to contribute!

Write to virvelrom@nmh.no if you want to play, share or take part in conversations in the next Vortex Space on 17 October—or in one of the next Vortex Spaces during spring 2026.

• An open stage with low-threshold bookings for musical performances by students, combined with live R&D/Artistic Research sharing by staff and fellows.
• A salon for sharing, debating, and discussing art and knowledge, featuring participants of different backgrounds, ages, and perspectives, including external guests.
• An installation and sharing space where you can present your work in formats that suit you: videos on a large screen, small video screens with headsets, reading or listening stations.

The Vortex Space concept is a legacy of the Artistic Research project (u)Romantic. The project is funded through strategic initiatives in 2025.