The West Norway Jazz Center is a regional institution organized in the form of a foundation, established formally January 1st. 1998. We receive our funding from the Norwegian Government , the City of Bergen, The County of Hordaland , the County of Rogaland and the County of Sogn & Fjordane. In addition we receive various amounts from other institutions and from sponsors along with funds from the Norwegian Jazz Federation.

The establishment of the West Norway Jazz Center was preceded by a planning process over a number years, and our strategy and aims are set out in a comprehensive document - PLAN FOR VESTNORSK JAZZSENTER (not available in English). As set out in this plan, we are a concert organizer of top quality concerts, a project coordinator and fund-raiser for jazz music, as well as a regional tour coordinator and service center for musicians and the general public.

Since the year 2000, when the City of Bergen was appointed European City of Culture along with eight other European cities, we have become increasingly involved with projects abroad, and. We are a member of the Europe Jazz Network and a partner in the Europe Jazz Odyssey project, a three-year project with funding from the Culture 2000 program, and have recently formed a cooperative association with 5 other organizations on the West Coast of Norway (Vossa Jazz, May Jazz, Night Jazz, Stavanger Jazz Forum and Kjell Kalleklev Management) with the aim of producing concerts with Norwegian artists abroad.

We are at the present time employing a Chief Executive and a Producer. Our Board of Directors include regional politicians, and representatives for the Norwegian Jazz Federation and Norwegian jazz musicians. We are an affiliated member of the Norwegian Jazz Federation.

In cooperation with the Bergen Jazz Forum, we present 30-40 concerts annually at our main stage at the USF Culture Center in Bergen. Our profile is top quality international and national artists.. We help funding approx. 100 jazz concerts in Bergen annually in cooperation with other arrangers. We also work closely with other regional arrangers and fund concerts and events in other cities on the West Coast.

The USF Culture Center is Norway’s leading center, with three fully equipped stages ( capacity: 800 - 450 - 100), a cinema, a restaurant and about 300 people working with artistic expressions such as Dance, Sculpture, Painting, Music, Films etc. etc. The center also uses a nearby hall with a capacity of 2000. The Center is the scene of Nattjazz (Nightjazz) - one of Norway’s leading festivals. The Nattjazz and Jazz Centre share office space, but are separate organizations. Our producer also works for the Nattjazz festival. The Bergen Jazz Forum and Nattjazz have been working in Bergen since the early 70’s and the establishment of the Jazz Centre is therefore part of a history spanning three decades.

We are also at the present time helping develop a multifaceted Autumn Arts Festival i Bergen, during the months of October/November .


For The West Norway Jazz Center
Bo M. Grønningsæter
Chief Executive

 

Location:	Center of Bergen.
Address:	USF, Nordnes, Bergen.