2020 Folk Art Study Tour:

Looking Back, Looking Forward

June 16-28, 2020

This tour was canceled. We look forward to traveling with you to Norway again!

Vesterheim invites practicing folk artists and folk-art enthusiasts to join us in 2020! We will explore and study traditional and contemporary Norwegian folk art of the past, the present, and even consider future folk-art exploration.

Join us as we journey through southern Norway from Bergen to Oslo, experiencing the beauty of the Hordaland, Ullensvang, and Telemark regions, while studying both traditional and contemporary examples of knifemaking, woodworking, rosemaling, textiles, jewelry, and folk music.

The tour will include museum visits, presentations by scholars, studio visits with traditional and contemporary artists, historic sightseeing, and some unique hands-on immersive experiences. At every point along the way, we’ll delight in the spectacular scenery, delicious food, and warm hospitality that is Norway.

Mona Stenseth Erlandsen working in her Porsgrunn studio

Day 1 Tues., June 16: Minneapolis-Bergen
Depart Minneapolis for Bergen, Norway.

Day 2 Wed., June 17: Bergen (D)
Afternoon arrival in Bergen. Settle in with optional walking tour of the area with local, Ingebjorg Monson. Group welcome dinner. Overnight at First Hotel Marin, Bergen, located near the Bryggen.

Day 3 Thurs., June 18: Bergen (B/L)
Morning trip to Oleana factory for behind-the-scenes guided tour of this forward-thinking, family-owned, internationally-known knitwear business. Visit includes shopping and lunch in their beautiful fjord-side cafe. Return to Bergen for an introduction to the local Husflid. Afternoon and evening to explore Bergen on your own. Overnight at First Hotel Marin, Bergen.

Day 4 Fri., June 19: Bergen-Voss (B/L/D)
Morning and lunch will be spent in Osterøy experiencing the way of life, work, and folk arts in the region in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Learn about the Monster Weaving Project and weaving on the warp weighted looms from Vesterheim Folk Art School friend and artist instructor, Marta Klove Juhl. Continue on for a free afternoon settling in and exploring Voss. Group dinner and overnight at Park Hotel Vossevagen, Voss.

Day 5 Sat., June 20: Voss (B)
Enjoy the morning at Museum Dagestad, dedicated to the work of prominent dragon-style carver, Magnus Dagestad. Museum tour will be guided by Anneli Engeland, experienced Acanthus and dragon-style carver, followed by a visit to her studio. We will have another artist studio visit in the afternoon and the opportunity to visit the Voss Folkmuseum. Evening and dinner on your own. Overnight at Park Hotel Vossevagen, Voss.

Day 6 Sun., June 21: Voss (B/D)
Enjoy a leisurely morning and lunch on your own in Voss. Visit the Ole Bull Academy and meet fiddle maker Wiebke Lürders and learn the art of fiddle making. Experience an unforgettable concert and dinner at Finnesloftet, a medieval hall built in 1295. Overnight at Park Hotel Vossevagen, Voss.

Day 7 Mon., June 22: Voss-Utne-Dalen (B/L/D)
Travel by coach and ferry to the village of Utne for a focused tour and hands-on experience at the Hardanger Folk Museum and lunch at the charming Utne Hotel. Travel to Dalen for dinner and overnight at the beautiful historic Dalen Hotel.

Day 8 Tues., June 23: Dalen (B/L/D)
Enjoy a morning visit to a silversmith to learn the art of sølje making and then on to the West Telemark Museum for a guided tour that includes the Eidsborg Stave Church, estimated to date back to 1250-3000. Enjoy lunch at the West Telemark Museum with time to explore on your own. An optional visit to an artist’s studio collective will follow. Dinner and overnight at Dalen Hotel, Dalen.

Day 9 Wed., June 24: Dalen-Skien (B/L/D)
Head to Rauland Academy in the morning to be immersed in the transformational classes and programs they offer in the traditional folk arts of Norway. We will entertain a former Vesterheim knifemaking instructor as our guest speaker at dinner with overnight at Thon Hotel Høyers in Skien.

Day 10 Thurs., June 25: Skien-Porsgrunn-Oslo (B/L)
Spend the morning with rosemaler Mona Stenseth Erlandsen in her home and studio, Villa Frednes. Enjoy a group lunch and free time in Porsgrunn. Arrive in Oslo in time for dinner and an evening on your own to explore this wonderful capital city. Overnight at Thon Hotel Bristol located near Karl Johans gate, with its wide sidewalks to enjoy a walk, outdoor cafes, and interesting shops.

Day 11 Fri., June 26: Oslo (B/L)
Your day begins with a guided tour at the Norsk Folk Museum. It continues with lunch at Café Arkadia and an afternoon artist talk with Siri Berrefjord, a jewelry maker who explores the traditional art of sølje through contemporary non-traditional materials. Dinner on your own and overnight at Thon Hotel Bristol.

Day 12 Sat., June 27: Oslo (B/D)
Begin the day with optional excursions–a walk to the Oslo Opera House designed by internationally-renowned Norwegian architects Snøhetta, designers of Vesterheim’s New Master Site Plan; a visit to the shared studio of local fiber artists; or a day on your own for last minute shopping, exploring, and relaxing. Closing group dinner and overnight at Thon Hotel Bristol, Oslo.

Day 13 Sun., June 28: Oslo (B)
Mid-morning coach to the airport for return flight to the USA.

Tour costs:
Price $5,595
Single supplement $745
Land only $4,668

Minimum of 25 participants
Maximum of 35 participants

Price Includes (as listed in this itinerary):
• Round trip airfare, taxes, and fuel surcharge on Icelandair from Minneapolis
• 11 nights hotel accommodations
• Daily breakfast (B), 7 lunches (L), and 7 dinners (D)
• Hire of first-class tour coach, including English-speaking driver
• All domestic ferry crossings and tunnels for coach and passengers
• Admission fees to all attractions
• Gratuity for bus driver and guides
• Comprehensive Information kit with brochures and maps
• Vesterheim travel gift with luggage tags

Please read “Tour Terms and Conditions.”

Reserve Your Spot on Tour

Download the form below, print and send it, with a $500 deposit per person, to:

Vesterheim, P.O. Box 379
Decorah, IA 52101

For more information about upcoming tours:

Katherine Johnson
563-382-9681, ext. 240

Tour Guide and Leader

GUIDE: Ingebjørg Monsen

Ingebjørg has guided every Vesterheim textile tour since 2003 and we are excited that she has expanded her knowledge into Norwegian folk arts to guide this 2020 folk art tour. She was an electrical engineer by profession, but enjoys a second career of teaching weaving and sewing classes with a specialty in constructing men’s folk costumes. She has been president of the Bergen Handcraft Association and planned and led tours for that group.

LEADER: Lea Lovelace

Lea brings over a decade of museum education experience to her position as Vesterheim Director of Folk Art Education, including working at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Lea co-founded ArtHaus, Decorah’s home for visual and performing arts, in 2008 and served as co-director until 2014. Most recently she served as adjunct faculty for Luther College, teaching in the Visual and Performing Arts Department where she had the opportunity to develop and co-lead several month-long study courses abroad.