Kilden Theater and Concert Hall

Kilden teater og konserthus - Performing Arts Centre - in Kristiansand is the home of Agder Regional Theatre, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and Opera Sør (the regional opera company). The centre also hosts an array of other cultural events. Kilden is Southern Norway’s cultural powerhouse, moving and enthusing audiences.

With a gross area of 16,500 square metres, it is difficult not to notice this cultural landmark. Inside you will find four unique venues. Among them the Concert Hall (1170 seats), this is one of Scandinavia’s finest concert halls with state-of-the-art acoustic technology.

The architecture

Kilden’s magnificent architecture has been met with both national enthusiasm and international recognition. The architectural style is recognisable and unique, firmly grounded as it is in the centre’s productive content, the harbour setting and the meeting between artists and the public.

The varying shapes and sizes of the halls are covered by a curved wooden wall. This abstract and monumental wall, dressed in local oak, distinguishes fantasy from reality. It expresses the diversity of artistic achievement in the building. The wall, which is made of wedge-shaped boards, is not merely a disguised theatrical effect, but a concrete tactile element which improves the acoustics and also refers to the oak export industry that was based in this port in the 17th century.

Kilden’s wonderful acoustics are as celebrated as its architecture, ensuring it a place among the very top international venues.

Architects: ALA architects Ltd (Helsinki, Finland) in cooperation with SMS architects AS (Kristiansand, Norway)

The artwork in Kilden

Kilden is a meeting place for the arts – for theatre, music, opera, dance and ballet all come together here. This is complemented by the many different works of art both inside and outside the building.

Kilden Performing Arts Centre has a major impact on the cultural identity of the city of Kristiansand, as well as the whole region.