Before you take a look at these initiatives, we want to mention the best thing of all: All these new places and experiences are the result of Gothenburgers’ own ideas and thoughts about how they want Gothenburg to evolve. So it’s their dreams that together have come true. Isn’t that great? And now on to Gothenburg’s new gems!
1. The Park Jubileumsparken in Frihamnen
Let’s start with the park that has had the honour of being named after the anniversary. Jubileumsparken – or ‘the Anniversary Park’ – is not a typical park filled with large grassy areas and plants. While there are some green elements, the main focus is on water. Here, you can swim in several pools filled with salt water from the sea or freshwater, relax in a sauna made only from recycled materials (currently closed for renovation), sail a dinghy or canoe in the river. Would you rather stay on dry land? Check out the new playground, featuring around twenty sculptures that blur the borders between art and play. Various activities are arranged in the park every day. You can find out about these – and much more besides – here.
2. More art throughout the city
You can combine art, fresh air and exercise by spending an hour cycling between the cultural centre Blå Stället in Angered and the Röda Sten Art Centre in Klippan, to experience the 23 km of Art-trail (23 km Konst). There are streets, tunnels and walls covered with murals created by local and international artists. If you don’t feel like cycling, you can of course enjoy the art whenever and however you like. On the green streets in Majorna, for example, you can walk on Hanna Kastl-Lungberg’s 220 metre long ground painting and read children’s answers to the question “What should we do to create the best world possible?”. Some of their answers are surprisingly wise.
During the street art festival Artscape 2016 and 2021 in Gothenburg, several new murals were added to the city. At Landvetter Airport, you can experience the artwork “Embrace for Landing” by the British artist D*Face, and on Magasinsgatan there are botanically inspired artworks by Sophie Mess. All artworks from 23 km of Art and Artscape are collected on WSSAT – West Sweden Street Art Trail – a website that guides you to the world-leading art gathered in the region.
3. A more accessible archipelago
The initiative contributes to increasing the connections between the city centre and the archipelago. With more departures to and from Stenpiren with the boat Kungsö during the summer, as well as spring and autumn, you can more easily travel between the city center and the islands.
4. The Cultural Centre Kulturhuset Bergsjön
Gothenburg has gained a new cultural centre! Kulturhuset Bergsjön is almost 3,000 m² in size, and houses art studios, a ceramics studio, a music studio, an exhibition hall and a stage for music, dance and drama. This is the perfect place to visit if you want to experience culture. Take a look at the centre’s programme, as there are activities for all ages almost every day. These include meet-ups for senior citizens, concerts and Friday clubs, which are open studio sessions for children who want to create together with artists. Sounds like fun? Kulturhuset Bergsjön is open every day and is free to visit.
5. The Rain Playground
What could be fun for kids than splashing around with water and jumping in puddles? Next time it rains, dress your children and yourself in waterproofs and head for the rain playground in the park Renströmsparken by the pond Näckrosdammen. And then just have fun! There are all kinds of wet activities to enjoy.
6. Land Art
Last but not least, there’s the Land Art anniversary initiative. Natural art works, or installations, have now been created at several locations around Gothenburg for everyone to enjoy. Why not visit the park Bergkristallparken and take in the fantastic natural artwork The Golden Tree? Here, Japanese artist Tetsunori Kawana has used a rotting tree and lots of wooden boxes to create his declaration of love for nature, creativity, art and life. Below is a list of all the natural artworks that have been created to mark the anniversary.
The park Positivparken in Askim/Frölunda/Högsbo: The Way of the Heart/LandHeArt by Helle Nebelong
Torsviken on Västra Hisingen: Svanbon by Gunilla Bandolin
Eriksbo/Lärjeåns dalgång in Angered: Touchstone by Monika Gora
Art projects in Bergsjön: Healing Our Stories by Marie Gayatri
The park Bergkristallparken in western Gothenburg: The Golden Tree by Tetsunori Kawana
About Gothenburg’s 400th anniversary
Visit goteborgco.se to learn more about Gothenburg’s 400th anniversary.
