Here you will find regular updates on current events:
OVERVIEW:
5/2 Design breakfast with Lilla Textiltryckeriet at Mecano
7/3 Workshop with Lilla Textiltryckeriet at Hörsta School, Kumla
24/3 Annual meeting with Karin Sterner at Ateljéhuset F2
10/4 Design breakfast with Alex Liebert from SVID at Mecano
13/4 Lecture with garden designer Simon Irvine at Kulturkvarteret
7/5 Study visit to AvJord in Vekhyttan
13/6-14/8 Exhibition Rörelse (Movement) at Laxås nya Konsthall
Saturday, March 7.
Half-day trial workshop at Lilla Textiltryckeriet at Hörsta School outside Kumla.
Tufting for 5 people at a time. Everyone makes their own tufted piece, approx. 25×25 cm, which they then glue and finish for us.
5 people at a time go through the printing process and their printing shop, and they talk a little about pattern design/pattern repeats (drawing and cutting pattern repeats).
1 group at 10:00-12:30.
Possibly a second group at 13:30-16:00.
Cost: SEK 500 for materials and refreshments.
Register by emailing lillatextiltryckeriet@gmail.com
You can find the invitation as a PDF HERE
From Japan to Närke, from crafts to fashion, and why design skills should be shared with more people.
Tuesday, March 24, 6:00–8:30 p.m.
Annual meeting and lecture at Ateljéhuset F2 (Fogdegatan 2, Örebro).
First the annual meeting, then a sandwich cake, and then the lecture.
Please register by Thursday , March 21, at orebro@svenskform.se (preferably before March 13). Please notify us of any special dietary requirements.
All those interested in design are welcome! Free for members, SEK 50 for others.
From Japan to Närke, from handicrafts to fashion, and why design skills should be shared with more people.
Lecture with Karin Sterner. Karin is the fashion designer who became a craftsperson. She abandoned fast fashion and began to seriously see the possibilities in what we already have: the materials that have already been manufactured, the traditional techniques that have existed for generations, and the creative knowledge that we as humans possess.
Welcome to draw inspiration from different places and times, old techniques and new knowledge, and how we can combine the best of both worlds. About innovation on a small scale, impact on a large scale, and why design knowledge needs to be spread to more people for a sustainable future.
Karin has been living in Mullhyttan for three years, after spending 20 years in Stockholm. Focusing on one area has not been her thing, which is why she has experience from both design jobs at H&M and Stockholm City Mission, the world of handicrafts, teaching, and her own business in crafts and design. She is passionate about sustainability and finding solutions. She runs her business Letstig in Mullhyttan, but also shares her knowledge in courses around the country!
Monday, April 13, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Lecture with garden designer Simon Irvine at Kulturkvarteret in Örebro (Akustiken room).
For over 30 years, Simon Irvine worked as a garden designer and gardener in the Small Castle Garden at Läckö Castle. An ethical approach to recycling guided his work, which has inspired countless visitors over the years. Most of what was grown was edible, certified organic, and served in the castle's restaurants. Meeting visitors was important to him from an educational perspective.
Simon Irvine is an author and photographer who has also made a name for himself as an inspiring speaker. He has participated in garden projects such as Gunnebo Castle – Back to the 18th Century, Wij Gardens, Måltidens hus in Grythyttan, and created exhibition gardens at Rosendal during the European Capital of Culture year, Hedens lustgård in Gothenburg, Bo 01 in Malmö, Ulriksdals flower show, and Gothenburg Botanical Garden.
The lecture is being held in collaboration with Örebro County Handicraft Association and is open to everyone. No registration or admission fee required.
If you're hungry, we recommend arriving a little earlier and visiting Kulturbistron for an evening snack or something similar.
[Photo of Simon: Tina Stafrén, otherwise Jonas Linder]
Thursday, May 7, at 5:30 p.m.
Field trip to AvJord in Vekhyttan.
In a newly built hall painted with egg oil tempera inside an old barn with a work of art on the ceiling, you can learn about egg oil tempera and its possibilities. The farm also has a family-run shop called Av jords butik, where they hold courses, manufacture, and sell paint.
Everyone brings a little evening picnic that we eat together when we arrive.
Meet at Vekhyttan. If you would like a ride or can offer one, please contact orebro@svenskform.se. We will depart from Örebro at 5:00 p.m.
Visiting address: Av jord AB, Vekhyttan, FJUGESTA Find us here!
Preliminary invitation – join us and exhibit!
Summer Exhibition 2026 at Laxås' new art gallery.
Are you a member of Örebro County Craft Association and/or Svensk Form and would you like to participate in our joint summer exhibition in 2026 at Laxås' new art gallery ? – Of course you would!
The theme for the 2026 exhibition is MOVEMENT.
This year's theme fits Laxå well. The community is a hub for transportation and travel and a place in constant motion. The old Munkastigen, an ancient pilgrimage route, passes near Laxå. A reminder that people have always been on the move, for various reasons.
But we also see the word movement as important in a time of constant and ever-faster change. How does this affect us as people, and does it influence your art? What do we need in times like these? Is it comfort, calls to action, perhaps highlighting beauty or conveying a sense of calm?
How would you capture the word "movement" in your creative work? That is the challenge for those who want to participate in our joint summer exhibition.
We look forward to your participation. Welcome to register!
The summer exhibition runs from Saturday, June 13, to Friday, August 14, at Laxå Konsthall.
You can submit up to three works, and you are guaranteed that at least one will be included, but you cannot expect to have all of them included.
We will return with a detailed invitation in the spring, including information on how to register. However, to give you the opportunity to start thinking and creating now, we would like to send out this preliminary invitation.
As was the case last year, the works must be no more than two years old and must not have been exhibited in the county before. We would like to encourage you once again to create objects rather than pictures, if possible. Think about which associations you represent.
You can view and download the preliminary invitation as a PDF file HERE
EARLIER IN THE YEAR:
5/2 Breakfast at Mecano, Näbbtorgsgatan 2, 1st floor.
MariaGranlund from Lilla Textiltryckeriet visited us and explained why they started their business during the pandemic, what printing technique they use, and a little about how they create patterns.
But also why tufting became another focus for them?
There was also an opportunity to try a little tufting.
To be continued later this spring in the try-it-out workshop in tufting, textile printing, and pattern design that they offer at their premises in the old Hörsta school outside Kumla.
14/12. The last program of the year was the inauguration of "60 m³”.
A new design store in the countryside between Örebro and Närkes Kil, run by our fantastic board member. Catherine Giacomini. A lot with her own fantastic products, but also a lot of other things.
Address: 60m3, Gölafallet 710, 705 92 Örebro. Tel: 0730 52 43 97
4/12 FORMFRUKOST at Mecano with Åsa Fjellstad from lighting company Ateljé Lyktan.
FOCUS ON LIGHT
Light affects us more than we think, both our well-being and our performance. However, light is individual and depends on the task at hand. Different purposes require different types of lighting. How do we find the perfect light?
During an inspiring lecture, we cleared up the questions surrounding what often ends up in the shadows – lighting and lighting design. The training provided a basic understanding of lighting and created confidence in suggesting the right light for projects. You got answers to how much lux a surface requires and what CRI means.
We went through lighting concepts and functions and clarified the difference between general, task, and accent lighting—and which lighting is best for different environments. Most people agree that lighting has ended up in the technical field. What we should be talking about instead is the potential of light to create pleasant atmospheres.
[Photo Roine Magnusson (1st picture), others Mattias Käll]
13/11 FORMFRUKOST at Mecano with artist Mattias Käll.
Through art, Mattias explores our relationship with each other and the rest of creation. He often looks at our faltering economic system and the way we consume. It makes him think about how distance to production, lack of knowledge and social structures make us less empathetic.
What happens when we replace natural ecosystems, plants and animals shaped over tens of thousands of years with artificial, man-made systems, processes and products? And how do we mend our broken relationship with each other and nature?
Mattias often works on long projects that include travel research and meetings with researchers from other fields. He enjoys documenting processes and trajectories. Mattias often visualizes volumes, weights and quantities. Every now and then he carries things around to feel and understand. The end result is often photographic series, objects, films and sometimes performances.
Mattias has worked with themes such as food waste, packaging plastic, fast fashion, permafrost, industrial animal husbandry, biodiversity, the forest as a carbon sink, migration and small-scale agriculture.
During the design breakfast, he will show a number of projects and talk about his journey from working as a graphic designer at an advertising agency to working with art with a critical perspective on consumption and growth.
[Photo Jonas Sellberg]
On November 5, we were invited by Örebro County Craft Association to join a study visit to the Crematorium, Northern Cemetery in Örebro.
We got to meet the weaver Elisabeth Johansson who has woven large paper rhymes for the Chapel of Hope and also Anneli Linder who has contributed with candle holders and decorations in metal and wood. Thorleif Örn, former head of the Cemetery Administration, showed us around the premises and also their new relatives' room.
6/10 we celebrated FORMSLAGET at Mecano with the crowning of this year's Form Bearer, which was bookbinder Lena Hällzon.
During the evening Lena came to tell us about herself and her work. In addition, we got to participate in a workshop where we get to try to make our own little bound notebook.
We also offered refreshments and yellow birthday cake, as the association turns 180 years old this day.
MOTIVATION
This year's Mold Bearer in Örebro County is a person who never seems to stagnate, who is constantly looking further and digging deeper into his artistry. Who tests himself and finds new expressions with an anchorage in the origin.
It is the book and its design that are central. How was it done in the past and how can we think about what a book is today? There is a breadth and depth that captivates our form bearers.
Through exhibitions, courses, lectures and workshops, our form carrier also wants to spread interest in the craft and what is included in the concept of book and bookbinding.
On October 6, at 18.45, Form Bearers will be crowned throughout the country by Svensk Form's regional associations. These are people, organizations, companies, phenomena or initiatives that have contributed to development in the region through design. The appointment takes place in connection with Svensk Form's birthday.
You can read more about the entire Formslaget and all the country's new form bearersHERE
6/9 Mold excursion to Frövifors Paper Mill Museum
We visited together the then ongoing exhibition "Arne Högsander - Papier-maché, dolls, masks and memories".
First we got an introduction from Museum Director Mikael Tiderman before we went around and visited the exhibition. Then we had time to look at the museum's basic exhibitions and the old machine hall.
Arne Högsander - Papier-mâché, dolls, masks and memories.
This is this year's major paper art exhibition at Frövifors, where visitors can step into the imaginative world of the puppet maker Arne Högsander and take part in the process behind how he creates his puppets and masks. The exhibition runs from June 18 to October 31.
Read more about Arne and the exhibitionhere
[Photos Klara G]
14/6-22/8 Summer exhibition GLÖD in Hällefors.
For the 4th year in a row a member exhibition we do together with Örebro läns Slöjdförening. This time in the exhibition hall of Hällefors library.
Exhibitors are: Regina Schoffa Andersson, Ida Rozén Branzell, Nina Christensen, Karina Eklund, Lisbet Engwall, Inga Eriksson, Margareta Fintling, Birgitta Fyrsten, Ingrid Grip, Ingegerd Gyrulf, Kerstin Hellmark, Hällefors Folkhögskola, Kerstin Jennebo, Barbro Landström, Johan Ledung, Anneli Linder, Jonas Linder, Vendela Linder, Inger Lundström, Else Månsson, Margaretha Olstam, Larisa Raushkina, Anna-Karin Renström, Ann-Charlotte Svensson, Siv Wiberg, Lotta Winkler & Lena Åman.
17/5 Member trip to Värmland
This year Svensk Form Örebro County's spring excursion went to Fryksdalen in Värmland by bus and there toAlma Löv and Färglabbet.
At Alma Löv in Östra Ämtervik, we were guided by Stella Broos in the permanent exhibition, but we also had the opportunity to visit Karin Broos' studio. Then lunch at Saffran och vitlök in Sunne and then a visit to Färglabbet in Sunne and there Jeanette Engkvist (former SF member in Örebro). She told us about the business and we got a workshop in risography. www.almalov.se & www.farg-labbet.se
29/4 Formkvällsmacka at F2. "MEDSKICK to community spaces".
Lecture and in-depth discussion about the exhibition"One last message - greetings from Varberga" by project manager Anna Maria Hellner from ÖrebroBostäder.
Based on the urban development project in Varberga Centrum, new questions are asked about how early art can enter a construction project. About site development where art, design, architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture and garden co-create in the public space.
A group exhibition "Ett sista medskick- hälsningar från Varberga", which runs between April 25 - May 19, with the artists Ruben Wätte, MASU (Susanne Westerberg and Mattias Gunnarsson) Jenny Käll, Tina Macha and Sabinaz Hakimi. Curated by Veronica Hejdelind and Anna Maria Hellner. With it, they want to highlight how and why art and the artist should be involved at an early stage.
Based on the transformation of Varberga Center, a number of parallel art projects have taken shape. Questions that have arisen during the work have been about:
How early can art enter a construction project? And what should art do in the early stages? How can everything that is said during a citizens' dialogue, meetings with children and young people be conveyed, passed on, to other important social functions for discussion and decisions? What do we need art for?
See the attached poster. It and the program sheet for the whole project can be found here & here.
11/3 Annual meeting at ÖBO with lecture on Livstycket with Birgitta Notlöf
After coffee/tea and sandwich cake and the usual annual meeting negotiations, we received a lecture on the business Livstycket by its engine Birgitta Notlöf. Location: ÖrebroBostäder, Fredsgatan 20A. Come on time because at 18 the doors are locked.
Can integration work?
Birgitta Notlöf talks about her book Livstycket - Hela livet i en väska. It is the story of the 27 years she worked with Livstycket in Tensta.
Thousands of women from all over the world have participated in the association's activities, designing patterns and creating textile art, while studying Swedish and social studies.
"I have seen that it is possible to feel community and belonging. That it is possible to feel welcomed and included in Swedish society. I hope the book can be an inspiration to others who want to make society better for everyone," says Birgitta Notlöf.
The bodice is a garment used by women in Sweden in the past, to provide warmth and support. This is how we wanted our association to be. A warm, safe and supportive place for women, who may not have had access to any other such place outside their own home, and sometimes not even there. We also wanted to be a bit cheeky, colorful and curvy and challenge society's view of immigrant women as a group, Birgitta writes.
6/2 Formkvällsmacka at Konsthantverkarna Örebro and Jeanette Rapp.
This evening we were invited to Konsthantverkarna Örebro, to meet, see and hear about their business. And to see the then ongoing exhibition with Jeanette Rapp, who will also present herself during the evening.
Konsthantverkarna offers unique design and modern design in many different materials. In the shop you will find objects related to everyday life, celebrations and the body. An exciting mix of objects created by hand with craftsmanship.
The cooperative was born in 1991 and consists of about 20 members, professional craftsmen with studios and workshops in Örebro and the surrounding area.
To get as wide a range as possible, they also invite selected craftsmen to sell with us on commission.
Adjacent to their shop is a gallery where they conduct exhibitions. Their aim is to offer exhibitions with new and exciting crafts of high quality.
Konsthantverkarna is also one of Svensk Form's "Benefit Friends", which means that members have a 10% discount there.
Formbärare
The 2024 Shape Bearer of Örebro County is Saga Melina Gevargez.
Motivation: An accident changed Saga fundamentally. Rehabilitation through creativity and creation became the path to a whole new life. This led Saga to train as a silversmith and jewelry designer. That's where the SAGA MELINA brand was founded.
SAGA MELINA stands for quality and design with craftsmanship and functionality in focus.
All jewelry is made by local craftsmen in Sweden who work with traditional methods of making jewelry by hand. The company also offers courses where you can make your own jewelry.
SAGA MELINA is a local actor who has received great national attention. Her jewelry has been featured in ELLE, Plaza Kvinna, Damernas värld. They have been seen at the Nobel Festival, Stockholm Fashion Week, Idol, Melodifestivalen and more.
We are proud and happy to recognize Saga by naming her and her company as the Shape Bearer of the Year 2024.
Congratulations Saga!