Samsen kulturhus in Kristiansand, a low pale building with a grid of brightly coloured panels along one wall, seen from the road above.
Community / arts space Other

Samsen kulturhus

One of Norway's largest youth culture houses, in a converted slaughterhouse in Kristiansand, with the Bingen Scene concert stage, four dance halls, workshops and a café.

Vesterveien 2, 4613 Kristiansand, Norway
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capacity
Open Mon-Thu 08:00-22:00, Fri 08:00-20:00, Sat 12:00-18:00, closed Sundays.
available for hire

About this venue

Samsen kulturhus is Kristiansand municipality's flagship culture house for young people and one of the largest and most varied of its kind in Norway. Its main target group is 15 to 25-year-olds, and it offers rooms, expertise and equipment for making, producing and experiencing art and culture — dance, music, art, film, photography, concerts, festivals and events. Self-organised user groups are central to what the house programmes. Its stated aim is "to create room for excitement". The building was once a slaughterhouse; the last slaughter took place in 1986, Kristiansand municipality bought the building in 1992, and it was converted into a culture house between 1995 and 2002. It has been run by Kulturarena in Kristiansand municipality ever since. Bingen Scene is the concert stage, let either for meetings or as an event package — a concert package including sound and lighting technicians costs 6,000 kr a day for the main target group and 9,000 kr for adults, or 2,500 kr a day for an event with a simple PA. Four dance halls — Slaktehallen, Lunsjen, Labyrinten and Polerommet — are free for 15 to 25-year-olds and let to over-25s running courses at 550 kr an hour or 2,850 kr a day, with drop-in rates from 120 kr. Five meeting and group rooms — Labben, Veterinæren, Vestibylen, Bakrommet and Plommen i egget — go at the same hourly and daily rates, free for self-organised youth groups and for voluntary organisations' ordinary activity, and half price for their other activity and for municipal use. Workshop and specialist rooms are let by the square metre annually. Kafé Samsen is the house's social hub, with board games, books and food at prices kept especially low for under-25s, and a range of conference packages. The house is open Monday to Thursday 08:00-22:00, Friday 08:00-20:00 and Saturday 12:00-18:00, closed Sundays.

The Spaces

Space details are available directly from the venue.

Facilities

  • Bar
  • Catering / kitchen
  • Other: Bingen Scene (concert stage); dance halls Slaktehallen, Lunsjen, Labyrinten and Polerommet; meeting rooms Labben, Veterinæren, Vestibylen, Bakrommet and Plommen i egget; photo studio, film, silkscreen and music workshops; Kafé Samsen and a gallery

Technical Specification

Music equipment

  • In-house sound engineer
  • PA system: Concert packages include sound and lighting technicians; a simple PA package is also available

Rules & Policies

  • Cancellation policy: Cancellation more than three months ahead 400 kr; later than three months 50% of the agreed sum; later than one month 75%

Location

Vesterveien 2, 4613 Kristiansand, Norway

Contact Information

+47 38 00 64 00 post@samsen.com

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