Kilden – LIVSKUNST

LIVSKUNST uses art as a pathway to improved pupil wellbeing, a stronger sense of belonging and personal growth in schools.

About the project

Norwegian schools are facing significant challenges related to pupils' wellbeing, mental health and sense of belonging. Growing numbers of pupils report stress and declining motivation, while research shows that approximately 50 percent of teaching in practical and aesthetic subjects — such as music, art and craft — is delivered by teachers without formal subject qualifications. This limits schools' capacity to use the arts as an arena for community-building, mastery and social-emotional learning.

LIVSKUNST is a three-year pilot project (2026–2029) that gives pupils in fifth grade three hours of arts-based teaching per week throughout the school year, integrated into the regular timetable. Teaching is led by professional arts educators from Kilden Performing Arts Centre in close collaboration with the pupils' own class teachers. Through music, dance, drama and creative writing, pupils work towards shared goals — building social skills, self-confidence and a stronger sense of belonging.

The pilot begins with one school and expands to three schools over the course of the project. Approximately 150 pupils participate directly in the weekly programme, while around 2,000 pupils are involved through «Den store sangfesten» (The Grand Singing Celebration) — a concert at Kilden with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, where pupils from the participating schools perform as a joint choir. The project is implemented in partnership with the Municipality of Kristiansand, Knuden School of Music and Arts, and the University of Agder, and includes a feasibility study to inform potential future scaling.

How will Kavli Trust's funding be used?

Kavli Trust has awarded a grant of NOK 4,250,000 allocated to the first 18 months of the project — a critical phase covering the development of the pedagogical model, the recruitment and employment of professional arts educators, the establishment of the collaboration structure between Kilden and participating schools, and the launch of arts-based teaching at the first pilot school.

Part of the grant is allocated to research and evaluation. The project includes a feasibility study assessing implementation quality, pupil engagement and conditions for scaling, led by Kilden's Research Manager in collaboration with the University of Agder. In addition, a continuing professional development programme (CPD/EVU) for teachers and arts educators is being developed at the University of Agder — based on the LIVSKUNST model — to ensure that the methods are sustained in schools beyond the project period.

The remaining project costs are covered by Kilden Performing Arts Centre and the Municipality of Kristiansand through their own resources and other grants, with a total project budget of approximately NOK 13,500,000 over three years.

About the organisation

Kilden Performing Arts Centre is a major regional cultural institution and a leading centre for music and performing arts in Southern Norway, based in Kristiansand. Under one roof, Kilden brings together the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, Kilden Theatre, Kilden Opera and Kilden Culture — presenting approximately 900 performances and events annually to over 200,000 audience members. Around 240 staff work across artistic and administrative disciplines.

Kilden has extensive experience in participatory arts projects where co-creation and inclusion are central methods, through initiatives such as Fargespill, Spor and Kilden Dialog. LIVSKUNST builds on this tradition and represents Kilden's most systematic investment in arts-based learning in schools to date.

The project is implemented in partnership with the Municipality of Kristiansand (school sector), Knuden Kristiansand School of Music and Arts, and the University of Agder. The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra participate in the advisory structure, contributing knowledge and experience from comparable initiatives.