Inspiration

Explore exciting perspectives, projects and ideas related to hospitality, culture and society. Here you will find webinars, articles and initiatives that will give you insight and inspiration.

Webinar: what happened to hospitality?

Experience a thought-provoking lecture with Thomas Hylland Eriksen, professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo, and one of Norway's most prominent social debaters. The film is part of our webinar series inspired by the dramatic journey of Pietro Querini and his crew, who in 1432 were stranded on Røst after months at sea.

In this lecture, Hylland Eriksen takes us on a journey through time and the history of ideas, from Håvamål's wisdom to the values ​​of neoliberalism, and questions what has happened to hospitality in the long historical perspective.

With his sharp communication skills and deep knowledge, Eriksen provides new insights into identity, community and the development of society.

Pietro Querini's stories

Lecture with musical highlights, about the dramatic incident where Captain Pietro Querini and his crew were shipwrecked in the North Sea and ended up on Røst , a cold January day in 1432. Mediator Hildegunn Pettersen is also the initiator and artistic director of Røst -society's Querini opera. The recording is from Rana Library, November 6, 2024.

a page of a book with a title in a yellow box

Insight into the sources of Pietro Querini's journey: Texts, interpretations and historical perspectives

Via Querinissima International Association has published the first edition of its new e-book series. The publication makes key historical sources and scholarly perspectives related to the Querini tales available in a modern, scholarly edition.

The e-book contains, among other things:

  • The first modern English translations of Giovanni Battista Ramusio's version (1559) of the accounts of Pietro Querini and his companions, translated by Dr. Adam Greenwood .

  • Scientific essays written by:

    • Prof. Richard Holt

    • Prof. Steinar Aas

    • Dr. Daniela Di Pinto

The publication provides a new and academically grounded introduction to one of the most central historical sources related to the Via Querinissima.

Read more here.

Farthest Europe

Extreme Europe is a groundbreaking international photojournalism project that promotes “slow journalism.” The project highlights the voices and knowledge of coastal communities and nature-based environments – places where Europe’s encounter with the sea has shaped life and culture for thousands of years.

The initiative documents stories from the far reaches of Europe, from Bø in Vesterålen to the west coast of France, and explores how these narratives can contribute to a more sustainable future. With support from the European Commission, it presents reportages, a book publication in spring 2025, and stage performances in collaboration with LIVE Magazine Paris.

Yderst Europe is a sea of ​​stories about people, the sea and the balance that must be found for the future.

Read the feature article “What would we do without the sea” by Stein Sneve here .