The Relæxt Project

Studies show that potentially vulnerable groups such as children and young people with disabilities rarely get the opportunity to participate in cultural activities. There is thus a gap between statutory rights to participation in cultural activities for the entire population and the actual offers for groups that need adaptations in order to participate.

Hålogaland Theatre (HT) aims to become Norway's leading theater in terms of accessibility for all residents, including children and young people who need facilitation as a theater audience. The RELÆXT Theater project was established in 2020 as a permanent part of HT as an inclusive theatre. 

 The RELÆXT project includes a collaboration with RKBU Nord and professor Anita Salamonsen on quality assurance of content, implementation and user participation. The research and service support project RELÆXT: Development of accessible theater for children and young people in need of facilitation contributes with research-based input to the development of the content of RELÆXT theatre and evaluation of the offer. Other important collaboration partners are Habilitation for children and young people - University Hospital in Northern Norway department Tromsø (HABU, UNN Tromsø) and the user organizations Funksjonshemmedes Fellesorganisaison (FFO) and Norges Handikapforbund (NHF). 

The RELÆXT methodology are now being transferred to other cultural institutions in Tromsø on a permanent basis: RELÆXT For alle som liker litt løsere rammer |HT - Hålogaland Teater (halogalandteater.no). The project has received two awards, one in 2022 and one in 2023.