About the school
We are a creative community where you can develop your skills alongside teachers and fellow students.
We welcome all students, regardless of world-view, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, political views, or socioeconomic background. Here, people meet with openness and respect, free from prejudice. We are a creative community where you can develop your skills alongside teachers and fellow students.
The school offers many hours of specialized coursework each week, allowing you to focus on what you are passionate about. The knowledge and experience you gain here will be valuable for your further education and career choices. Find your dreams!
Our creative programs share many points of intersection. You will have ample opportunity to draw inspiration from and collaborate with students and teachers on the development of games, street art, performances, film productions, art installations, and concerts.
This is what we stand for:
Sunnhordland Folk High School is non-denominational. This means you are warmly welcome regardless of your world-view, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or background.
We focus on:
- Personal development alongside others who share your interests
- Professional development and in-depth study
- Creative collaborations
- Experiences and well-being in a great environment
Collaboration
Interprofessional approach
The ability to collaborate across professional disciplines is a skill you will develop here. This is a unique opportunity that you do not encounter to the same extent at university colleges and/or universities.
For example, as a student in the Game Music course, you will find yourself creating music for a video game where the Game Design students have developed the game, the Game Art students have created the visuals, and you have composed the music. Acting students collaborate with the Art+ program on productions, and the Game Music and Music students do the same.
Core subjects
At Sunnhordland Folk High School, you get to spend a lot of time working on your chosen course—an average of 22 hours a week. During this time, you mostly work with your own group and, potentially, a collaborating group.
We place great emphasis on collaboration and social participation here at the school; consequently, the core subjects are classes attended by everyone, regardless of their specific course. They are designed to foster a sense of community, personal development, and general education. The goal is to strengthen collaboration, reflection, and engagement—not to assign grades or hold formal exams.
Saturday Theme
We hold classes on Saturdays. The program alternates between seminars, excursions, activities, and specialized track instruction.
Morning assembly
Every morning, we gather in “Løa” (the Barn). All students present at the school meet there, along with some of the staff. Here, we hear a few words for the day—often presented by a teacher, a staff member, or a student group. We sing and simply start the day together. Singing is important because it stimulates the brain and fosters creativity. Many students arrive at the folk high school thinking they cannot sing. At the morning gatherings, you can sing as loudly or as softly as you like. Sometimes you might not know the song and sing the wrong notes, but that, too, is part of the morning gathering.
The morning gathering is important because students from different study tracks meet and hear about what is happening in the other groups. Many find that the morning gathering sparks an interest in something they want to explore further; at other times, it is simply nice to listen and be informed before diving into one’s own creative processes.
Example of content:
- Important messages from the school and students
- A post from a student or staff member about a topic that the author is passionate about.
- Discussion of key events and news
- Celebrating birthdays and other important events
- Morning Song
The School Hour
During the “School Hour,” the assistant principal and principal keep the proceedings on track, and the session sometimes focuses on sharing information. The School Hour is intended to give students the opportunity to have a say in their daily school life and to experience democracy in practice . It is a unique forum designed for the students, and it is often led by the students’ elected representatives.
See the attached item from the folk high school office: “Everyone talks about strengthening democracy. Folk high schools are doing something about it.“
Active
The goal of Active is to get the body moving, free the mind from screens and work, and release energy in a healthy and positive way.
The activities can range from ball games to yoga, hikes, and strength training.
Gjermund is the teacher for this subject. He enjoys being outdoors, so you should be prepared for some trips out into the fresh air.
Weekly lunch meeting (Dormitory group meeting)
The group you live with has a weekly lunch meeting with its contact teacher. The living group eats lunch together, enjoys hot cocoa from the kitchen, and—together with the teacher—discusses various matters, large and small, that are important to the community.
The dormitory group lunch is on Wednesdays at 12:30 PM.
