Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær

Transcription

1 Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær Feasibility Study, Tysvær Municipality January, 2014

2 Outline 1. Background, mandate and working methods 2. The Cleng Peerson history 3. Situation Analysis 4. Vision and objectives 5. Areas of opportunities 6. Financing, organization and schedule 7. Main recommendation

3 1. Background, mandate and working methods

4 Background Tysvær Municipality wants to address and concretize the opportunities from the fact that emigration pioneer Cleng Peerson came from Tysvær. We want to take emigration into our time and bring it forward. The municipality wants to be a catalyst.

5 The feasitility study s mandate The study should culminate in: A clear background description making it easy to comprehend and present the story of Cleng Peerson and the concept. An overview of the opportunities, both short and long term, for Tysvær municipality, the participants we want to recruit, and the region. Investigate how to work on realizing the opportunities, including the desired mode of operation, the municipality's role and what players it may be natural to involve in the next phases. Concretize a next future plan for the project with emphasis on possible funding and organization

6 Governance structure and working method Tysvær Municipality is the project owner. Central to this work has been the Executive Committee who has conducted seven workshops. In addition to the Chief of Cultural Affairs (manager of EC) Bjarne Håvik and Vidar Aarhus have been central to the work performed. The Mayor and Chief of Administration have participated when needed. The Executive Committee has visited Garborgsenteret at Bryne, and also interviewed Osmund Kaldheim and Westcon in Ølen for inspiration and information. The reference group was expanded from 2 to 3 meetings, and has given very important contributions to the project. During the work period, the mayor, chief of administration and the chief of cultural affairs have visited Clifton.

7 The agreement with Clifton is a platform On August 13, 2012 a cooperation agreement between Tysvær Municipality and the City of Clifton, Texas was prepared. Clifton is investing heavily and has specific plans to build a Cleng Peerson Institute for Education and Culture in Clifton. The cooperation agreement has recently been revitalized through a visit to Clifton by the mayor, chief of administration and the chief of cultural affairs in December Mayor of Tysvær Harald Stakkestad og Mayor of Clifton, Richard Spitzer

8 2. The history of Cleng Peerson

9 Cleng Peerson The father of emigration Cleng Peerson was born May 17, 1783 in Tysvær and died December 16, 1865 in Clifton, Texas. In 1821 he traveled to USA to investigate the possibilities of Norwegian emigration. On July 4, 1825 Restauration left Stavanger with 52 immigrants on board. They arrived with a newborn 53rd passenger in New York on October 9 that same year. Cleng Peerson met them in New York and brought the party to Kendall and later on to Fox River, Illinois. 20 of the 53 passengers were from Tysvær. The first group of emigrants from Tysvær was dominated by quaker sympathizers.. It is an undisputed fact that the Norwegian father of emigration, Cleng Peerson, was born in Tysvær. Tysvær is thus one of the most important places for the start of the organized emigration.

10 Cleng Peerson had a exciting personality According to Professor Gunnar Nærheim at UiS Cleng Peerson was: Multilingual Brave Knowledgeable Ahead of his time A person with wanderlust Perceived as a "helper We have many historical facts which we with high credibility can fill with positive content

11 The Cleng Peerson house Cleng Peerson grew up in this house on Hesthammar. To safeguard the memory of Cleng, the house was moved in 1983 from Hesthammar to Sandbekken where it now stands.

12 3. Situation Analysis

13 The entire region has a positive development The T-connection is in place. The region starts to look towards Rogfast which will link the North and South county. The population and the level of activity will grow significantly. Business and industry have already started to prepare for the new future.

14 Tysvær also has a positive progress Positive population growth Rapid growth and positive drive in Aksdal specific plans for further development

15 Tysvær is well positioned in Western Norway E39 og E134 runs through the municipality linking the region between Bergen and Stavanger.. Forms a central and natural hub between Bergen - Stavanger and Haugesund - Oslo. Large vacant industrial sites.

16 The tourism industry is expanding rapidly In recent years there has been a sharp and targeted focus on tourism. This is now beginning to show results. Future work will be targeted towards the cruise industry and to attract more visitors to the region. Plans for 2014 are 12 cruise ship calls to the region (7 in 2013) Work is also in process to establish a large Viking Village in the future.

17 It is currently about 15% immigrants in Norway Norwegians emigrated to the US. There are now about 5 million people of Norwegin decent, mostly 4th or 5th generation. Today Norway has about immigrants, whereof are first generation immigrants. The largest group is from Poland.

18 Large regional businesses employ many immigrants Businesses in the region, like Westcon in Ølensvåg and Aibel in Haugesund, have in periodes close to hired laborers from Eastern Europe. The immigrants can be devided into two gropus: Those who are here just to work and then move back home Those who want to live in Norway Many of those are staying, and many want to become permanent residents. Some are now 2. generation immigrants.

19 Companies in the region are using targeted resources to adapt the workplace. For instance, Westcon has employed one person who works to adapt the workplace to hired workers. They have as of today little cooperation with other people in similar situation, but have considerable expertise gained over many years. Language and cultural belonging is important. Work to facilitate activities when they see commitment and desire. Many socialize and learn from those who are already here.

20 Number of immigrants are increasing

21 No one is combining the emigration and immigration expertise Many are currently working diligently to create meeting places for immigrants. According to our information, no one has established a center with links to both immigration and emigration. Empirically people often starts and makes something bigger than the economy dictates. The responsibility for immigration and immigration issues is distributed among many different agencies and ministries. It is difficult to get the full overview. A lot of research has been done in this field, and it is said that there is at least as much research on immigration than on emigration. One person that it is relevant to contact is Trygve Nordby, director of Utlendingsdirektoratet. There is often little money, big problems, little interest. The uphills are long and steep (Source: Osmund Kaldheim)

22 Cleng Peerson Institute in Clifton is investing considerably During 2014, the breaking ceremony for a new and considerably larger center will take place in Clifton with a focus on: Cultural development Education and research Prepare future generations on leadership, education, business and public services.

23 Tysvær already has much to build on The exhibition Promise of America The Quaker house Cleng Peerson House School camp with focus on emigration Access to the emigration ship Restaurationen People with high credibility, knowledge and interest in Cleng Cooperation agreement with Clifton Locale enthusiasts Access to tourists Memorial stones remembering Cleng Peerson is situated in Hesthammar and Tysværvåg Book collection

24 4. Vision and objectives

25 People migrating Platform It is an undisputed fact that the father of Norwegian emigration, Cleng Peerson, was born in Tysvær. Tysvær is thus one of the most important places for the start of the organized emigration. Vision Tysvær wants to consolidate its position as the place where the exodus started. This means taking emigration into our time as the basis for current national issues related to migration. Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær will be central in this effort.

26 Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær Short term (1-3 years) Get financing, organization and structure of the work for Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær Conduct more and more activities related to migration, and anchoring those in Tysvær in a way that supports the long-term goals and vision. Utilizing the power of collaboration with Cleng Peerson Institute in Clifton and the Clifton environment. Digitalize the commitment Long term (within 2025) Open Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær in Aksdal. Create new jobs with ripple effects for existing businesses Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær will be a key player for those dealing with emigration and migration issues in Rogaland. Tysvær Municipality should be a key player in connection with the emigration anniversary in 2025.

27 5. Areas of opportunities

28 Three strategies 1.The short term strategy (phase I) will be to develop a multitude of targeted activities in the cultural sector to mobilize volunteers and to increase attention on consolidating the position as "The place where the emigration started. 2.The long term strategy (phase II) will be to build the World Clock as a significant landmark building in close association with the future library service in Tysvær. 3.Later (phase III) and when we can see the outline of a "World Clock" starting to fill the World Wheel with content towards the modern migration - a people migrating Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær Migration The World Wheel Cultural Activities

29 The World Clock will be the core of the Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær Build a national Cleng Peerson Center in Aksdal which will be the center of migration. A natural location will be Aksdal. It is natural to think of the World Wheel against the future library as a central body in culture dissemination. The content will be packed with activities related to "migrating people" Modern digitizing methods will be used to visualize and activate the audience. Completed no later than 2025

30 Platform Cleng Peerson s personality should be a core value " in Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær

31 What products/opportunities can be developed in the meeting place between immigration and emigration? Combine the link and expertise between immigration and emigration and build on Cleng Peerson s core values Emigrants needs The core i Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær Immigrants needs To find out where their ancestors came from, and how they felt and why did they emigrate. Find current family members Find the place where they were born and grew up Community and affiliation Develop a physical and digital meeting place that can serve as the visible meeting place between emigrants, immigrants and the local/regional population. Develop a Center of Competence for national and regional businesses as a resource for immigrants. Develop a Center of Competence for immigrants. Community and affiliation Language Cultural understanding Safeuarding their rights Find like-minded Joint meetings Get a job Appear as a resource Understand their situation Avoid crime and social dumping Joint gatherings such as festivals, conferences

32 Annual Cleng Peerson day in Tysvær Examples of activities Hiking - follow in Cleng Peerson s footsteps Cleng Peerson Seminar Cleng Peerson sporting events (marathon/bike ride etc)

33 The Promise of America is dead live the promise! The current version of the Promise of America does not justify today s use of resources. The Promise of America is being packed away in anticipation of a new and improved version. Before this is done, the exhibition will be filmed and will be available as a filmed/digital version at the library in Tysvær and online.

34 School camps All 10 year olds are offered one day school camp on emigration.

35 Teacher exchange with Clifton An opportunity of teacher exchange between Tysvær and Clifton to strengthen the close ties and to focus on the knowledge of emigration.

36 Recourse Center for the Business Community Using the Cleng Peerson Center in Tysvær as a facility for integration of the foreign workers that the companies employ. Activities and products could be: Joint meetingplace Language training Cultural Adaptation Food Film and book exchange Overview of sources Resource center for persons working with the adaptation of foreign workers

37 6. Financing, organization and schedule

38 It is natural to take the development in stages Visit by His Majesty King Harald in Tysvær (2015) Tysvær historical society participation in Christmas Festival i Clifton (2015) The first Teacher Exchange (2015) Cleng Peerson Day in Tysvær (annually) from (2014) 200 year celebration of the first Norweg emigration(2025) Opening of Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær (2020)?

39 Organization The Chief of Administration as the municipalities formal person is the owner of the project. Chief of Administration It is proposed to hire a person as a project manager on a project basis. This person reports to the Chief of Culture (which reports to the reference group and the Chief of Administration ). Reference Group Chief of Culture Project Manager Driving Forces Projects led by project manager will be created. The projects will be staffed by volunteers (mainly) and to some extent also hired special resources. The projects are divided into two main groups: Cleng Peerson Center (content, financing and construction) Activities (culture, education and business) Project - Content Project - Financing Prosjekt - Construction Project - Culture Project - Education Project - Business x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

40 Financing Main principles Final decision Cleng Peerson Center Tysvær Suggestion to set aside 1 million annually Project Manager NOK x 3 = NOK Cultural activities are self-financing

41 Suggested Partners HSH UiS Norsk Utvandrersenter Migrasjon Rogaland Haugaland Vekst Haugaland Travel Lokalt næringsliv Garborgsenteret Mediafarm Snøhetta Fylkeskommune Kulturdepartementet

42 7. Main Recommendation

43 Main Recommendation The project has great potential. Cleng Peerson was unique, and to increase the credibility and build a good platform, we propose to use Cleng s very good attitudes as a platform for the project. We propose to proceed cautiously and to utilize volunteering, and the initiative that is already in place in both Tysvær, the region and Clifton, but also to have and demonstrate big ambitions. This must be combined with the fact that the region in this period will be substantially larger, both geographically and mentally. We further propose to utilize the volunteering and the initiative power in Tysvær to prove that the project is viable. The municipality wants to be a catalyst. We suggest to engage a project manager for the next three years, and by the end of 2016 make a final decision to implement Cleng Peerson Center and fill the World Clock with content. It is important that the work that is started does not stop. We think the project should be divided into phases. Starting with the cultural projects, then focus on the World Wheel and then fill the Center with modern immigration solutions. It is important to take into account the fact that the proposed project phase is long and large, and especially on the technology we will see a lot of changes in the future.