An exhibition commemorating Norwegian Explorer Roald Amundsen’s epic adventure to the South Pole will be held at the Norwegian Church.
Cold Recall: Reflections of a Polar Explorer will be officially opened on Sunday, November 27 by Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture and Tom-Christer Nilsen, the County Mayor of Hordaland. Hordaland is the Norwegian County twinned with Cardiff.
The opening of the exhibition will coincide with the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, held annually at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre.
This year marks the100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen’s journey to become the first explorer to reach the South Pole. A photo exhibit commemorating the event will go on display at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre from Friday, 25th November 2011.
The exhibit, Cold Recall: Reflections of a Polar Explorer, is on loan from Norway’s Fram Museum and was secured through the special partnership between Cardiff and the Norwegian Embassies in London and Dublin.
Roald Amundsen led the featured South Pole expedition from 1910 to 1912. The main objective of the exhibition, which will be on display in the Dahl Gallery until Sunday December 18 will show visitors images from the lantern slides used by Amundsen in his talks and public lectures. In addition the exhibition will illustrate the challenges of arctic exploration in the early 20th Century, and provides a unique look at the daily lives of polar explorers.
On Sunday, November 27 the exhibition will be officially opened, in conjunction with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony with Christmas music and entertainment from 4pm.
A Christmas tree has been an annual gift to the Norwegian Church from the people of Hordaland. This year a permanent Tree of Remembrance will be planted alongside the Hordaland Terrasse, to remember those who died in the attacks in Norway earlier this year. Deputy Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Jayne Cowan will accompany Tom-Christer Nilsen and Reverend Torbørn Holt in leading the Tree Lighting Ceremony, which commences at 5pm.
November marks six months since the Church reopened, following a substantial refurbishment programme. Thousands have come to enjoy the Church as a peaceful haven on the waterfront. Norsk, the cosy coffee shop is proving extremely popular, and will be open throughout the winter months for people to enjoy a hot drink and place to warm up out of the winter weather.
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, who is also the Chair of the Norwegian Church Advisory Committee, said: “Every year we celebrate the annual tree lighting with guests from Norway, so it is fitting for the Tree of Remembrance to be accompanied by the exhibition opening; both highlighting the courage of the Norwegian people.”
