Gerlesborgsskolan (The Gerlesborg School of Fine Art) is an art institution with a prestigious history of more than 70 years. It is situated both in Bohuslän, between Göteborg and Oslo on the west coast of Sweden, on an attractive site at the seaside. And in Hjorthagen, in the centre of Stockholm.
Gerlesborgsskolan has three main activities:
– Basic university training in fine arts.
– On-goin training for artists and other groups.
– A wide range of additional activities such as exhibitions, concerts, seminars, open lectures, film screenings and pedagogical workshops for children and youth. In addition the school also provides residential facilities for students and visitors. In all, 30.000 people visits Gerlesborgsskolan in Bohuslän each year.
Because of its pedagogic proficiency, its attractive locations and its proximity to the public, the school has a reputation of being at the forefront of art and visual teaching in Scandinavia.
Gerlesborgsskolan in Bohuslän rests in a mountainous landscape, typical for the western part of the country. In teaching the emphasis is placed on sketching, painting, drawing, sculpture and graphics. Nowadays also in digital visual expressions. In addition the school offers an extensive programme including lectures, exhibitions and concerts all of which contribute to the schools atmosphere of a thriving meeting place of cultural activity.
The school commenced in 1944 with a course in landscape painting which was held by Arne Isacsson (1917-2010). The art historian Hans Fromén and the artist Jöran Salmson were also teachers at this time.
The activities expanded rapidly leading to the purchase of a boarding house at Gerlesborg by Isacsson and Fromén. In 1948, the college held its first course in Provence, France. This was held in collaboration with Georg Suttner (1922-2014) who in 1953 became a member of staff as tour leader and teacher, and later as vice director and principal of Gerlesborgsskolan in Stockholm.
By the beginning of 1950 the school had become established and the basis of the current well-known artistic and cultural centre had been laid, both nationally and internationally.
In 1958 Gerlesborgsskolan in Stockholm was formally founded with Georg Suttner and Staffan Hallström (1914-1976) as head teachers. Since 1993 the college has been housed in a former elementary school in Hjorthagen.
In 1963 the foundation was constituted and it was granted governmental subsidy. By 1969, 25 years after its foundation, it was considered to be the largest free art school in Scandinavia. And still is today.
Gerlesborgsskolan is today supported by Myndigheten för Yrkeshögskolan (Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education), Kulturrådet (the National Council for Cultural Affairs), Västra Götalandsregionen (The Region of Västra Götaland) and the municipalities of Sotenäs and Tanum.
Contact:
Gerlesborgsskolan
Gerlesborg 1
SE 457 48 Hamburgsund
Ph: +46 523 517 10
E: info[a]gerlesborgsskolan.se
Director of studies Bohuslän
Johannes Bergmark
E: johannes[a]gerlesborgsskolan.se
Director of studies Stockholm
Katarina Nitsch
E: katarina[a]gerlesborgsskolan.se
Curator, public cultural program
Linnea Jardemark
E: linnea[a]gerlesborgsskolan.se