The Rackstad Colony
The Rackstad Colony was founded around 1900 and would go on to become Sweden’s foremost artist colony. The Rackstad Colony consisted of a group of artists who moved to the lake Racken north of Arvika. Christian Eriksson who was a woodworker with an interest for art, grew up in the area. Christian had built a workshop and studio in Arvika and convinced his friends Gustaf and Maja Fjæstad to move there. During the years, more artists such as Björn Ahlgrensson, Fritz Lindström, Ture Ander and Bror Lind moved to the area with their families.
The Rackstad Colony worked in many different kind of art forms – painting, sculpturing, graphics, textile, woodworking and more. The Rackstad Colony was inspired by the National Romance era, and the nature surrounding Arvika and Lake Racken. Arvika could offer the artist cheap accommodation and a direct access to the inspiring nature.
The Rackstad museum
För att lyfta fram Rackstadkolonins alster byggdes Rackstadmuseet som öppnade sina dörrar 1993. Här kan du beskåda konst och konsthantverk från Rackstadkolonin i absolut högsta klass! Varje år arrangeras även flera tillfälliga utställningar utöver den ordinarie utställningen. Information om aktuella och kommande utställningar hittar du på the museums home page.
Oppstuhage, the studio built by Christian Eriksson is located on the grounds of the museum. The studio is well preserved and a visit here gives insight into the Rackstad Colony, how they worked and lived, and their inspiring surroundings. In the museum shop you’ll find locally produced goods and handicraft. If you get hungry during your visit, Café Elis offers light lunches and traditional Swedish fika. The café is named after Elis i Taserud, brother of Christian Eriksson and well known in the area surrounding Arvika for his wit and anecdotes which are still told to this day.
Rackstadmuseet har en mysig parkliknande trädgård.
På museet kan du se fantastisk lokal konst!
Hos Café Elis på museet finns alltid god fika.
Arvika Konsthantverk
1922 var Maja Fjæstad från Rackstadkolonin med och startade Arvika Konsthantverk, en butik som fungerade som ett konsthantverkskooperativ. Butiken är fortfarande öppen och är idag Sveriges äldsta konsthantverksbutik! Här hittar du lokalt producerat konsthantverk såsom keramik, textil, smide och mycket mer. Under året visas utställningar av både medlemmar och gästutställare och mer information finns på Arvika Konsthantverks website.
Galleri pi
Galleri Pi is located in the central parts of Arvika and displays both local, national and international artists. The gallery curator Per-Inge Fridlund was one of the initiators for Rackstadmuseet and has previously worked as the director of both Oppstuhage at Rackstadmuseet and Arvika Konsthall.
Klässbols Linen Weaving Mill
Klässbols Linen Weaving Mill weaves, among other things, the tablecloths and napkins for the Nobel Banquet.
Klässbols Linen Weaving Mill
Klässbols Linen Weaving Mill is the only linen factory in Scandinavia that uses a technique called damask, and it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in Värmland. The factory has been active since the early 1920s and much has happened since then. They are the Royal Court Supplier with deliveries to the Swedish Royal family and the Nobel banquette, amongst others. Besides all the finds in the store and outlet section, the factory is also open to view in process. Read more at Linneväveriets website.
Sculptures in town
When walking in Arvika you will notice a lot of scupltures all over the city - many of them made by local artists! If you want to learn more, pick up a folder about the sculptures at Arvika Tourist Information Center located at Storgatan 22.