The Kielland Centre

About

The Kielland Centre’s aim is to promote literature, reading and writing, and to be a meeting place for debate and exchanges of opinion in the spirit of the author Alexander L. Kielland (1849-1906). Kielland was Henrik Ibsen’s contemporary, and is considered to be one of Norway’s greatest writers in the realist tradition. At the Kielland Centre you will find exhibitions, places to study, book collections, group rooms, as well as writing rooms for authors.

The Centre is an integrated part of Sølvberget Library and Cultural Centre, located in the heart of Stavanger. On the ground floor, you can take a literary city walk through the streets of Stavanger by stepping into our imaginative city map, designed by illustrator and author Lene Ask. Here, you can also pose as Alexander Kielland with a hat and moustache, and take a #kiellfie. 

Get an insight into Kielland's world
On the third floor, you can immerse yourself in the writer’s life and work, and read small titbits from his literary works. The exhibition on the third floor presents Kielland’s many facets. It provides an insight into his world and what inspired and influenced his writing. Here, you will also find Speaker’s Corner, which is the Kielland Centre’s digital soapbox where you can share what is on your mind. Don’t forget to visit our small café where you can enjoy the view of the city centre from the roof.

The Centre’s target audience is the general public and we don’t expect visitors to have specific academic backgrounds or prerequisites. The Centre also caters to classes from lower and upper secondary schools.