Maybe a free concert at Torget was not so wise now?

COMMENT: Equinor’s 50th anniversary gift to the «hometown» Stavanger is to fly in artists from Oslo, have a free concert on Torget – and make it even more difficult for the region’s cultural life to sell tickets.

Dear Equinor!

Happy Birthday! Imagine that it has been 50 years since you established yourself here in Stavanger, just enough under a different – and understandable – name. It is definitely worth a celebration! You are important to the Stavanger region – and the Stavanger region is important to you.

It is also a nice idea to arrange a free concert on Torget on the birthday of 14 June. So that everyone can join the party, lizm.

But then there are a couple of things I wonder: When they had a planning meeting, how did they decide to fly in Dagny from Oslo, Chris Holsten from Oslo, Cezinando from Oslo, Emma Steinbakken from Oslo, Vinni from Oslo, Ramón from Oslo , Stina Talling from Bergen and presenter Ronny Brede Aase from Oslo? Izabell can take a Voi down to the Square. But what does all these others have to do with Equinor’s “hometown” Stavanger?

Why did they not invite, for example, Morten Abel, Janove, Thomas Dybdahl, Kvelertak, Skambankt, Beharie, Isah, Tønes, Stavangerkameratene, Sløtface, Tore Pang, Tøfl, Valp, Froddien, Randi Tytingvåg, Hilde Selvikvåg, Hanne Sørvaag, Nothing, Sigenting , Reidar Larsen, Dag Sindre Wagle, Olav Larsen? Or someone from the classical environment in Bjergsted, where they already collaborate with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra? What about someone from the jazz community?

Capital of Culture

The thing is, dear Equinor, that in the 50 years you have been in Stavanger, the city has changed. Stavanger is no longer just a mission capital, oil capital or energy capital. Stavanger has also become a vibrant cultural city – even the European Capital of Culture in 2008. A large and diverse musical life has sprung up here. You actually contribute to it yourself, including as a cultural sponsor. So why do not you show it, when you are arranging a free concert on Torget in Stavanger to celebrate 50 years in the city?

Maybe you asked some of the artists on my list. Maybe day could not. The weekend before the free event dives, for example, Mods will play two days at the stadium. With them are the Stavanger comrades, Tøfl, Froddien and Vestlandsfanden. That event is by no means free for the public. It would probably not be so wise for Abel & Co to compete with itself by posing for a free event on Torget a few days later. If you want to see Mods, there are still tickets left on Friday.

The same day that you, dear Equinor, offer a free concert at Torget, there is a paid concert with Judas Priest in DNB Arena. There are still tickets available. Guns´n Roses at Forus Travbane the next day has only the most expensive tickets left.

The Mablis Festival kicks off three days after your free event. There is Skambankt and Beharie on the poster, among many others. So it would probably not be wise to perform for free three days before. If the goal was to sell tickets, I mean. Mablis is not sold out.

Compete with for free

You probably know this from before, dear Equinor. But it is very difficult to compete against something that is free.

I do not know if you read the cultural pages of the largest newspaper in your “hometown” Stavanger, dear Equinor. (I take it for granted that you are a subscriber and an avid reader.) But for a couple of years, Aftenbladet has written a lot about how hard, especially the cultural life, was affected by the corona. The culture was first to be shut down, and last to be opened up.

Now it turns out that the audience is by no means back, perhaps because they have acquired new habits, the gods know. Although there are lots of musicians who want to play concerts, it turns out that people refuse to buy tickets. Thus, it has become even more difficult to get cultural life to go around financially – and it was certainly not easy from before.

Your contribution to this, dear Equinor? To offer a free concert on Torget – with Oslo artists who have zero relation to your “hometown”, Stavanger. To use your financial muscles to compete with a hard-pressed cultural life trying to get around in a difficult time.

Suggestion

Even though the idea is good, dear Equinor, I do not think you should arrange a free concert at Torget. At least not now. If you still care about your city, you should spend those millions in a different way. Sponsor several, both broad and narrow, actors who try to create a vibrant cultural life in Stavanger throughout the year. Not just a Tuesday afternoon in June.

Or how about sponsoring a cultural ticket to everyone who lives in your “hometown”, dear Equinor? So that you contribute to the cultural life you need most now: To get the paying audience back.

Then you, dear Equinor, contribute to the cultural city of Stavanger. For your “hometown” Stavanger to become a good city to live in for the next 50 years as well. For you. For your employees. For all of us.

Because this is where you live, right?