Member in Focus: Mejeriet

Introducing: Mejeriet (Lund, Sweden)

This month we introduce Mejeriet, a venue for rehearsals, music and film, located in an old dairy building in Lund, Sweden. Since November 2005 Mejeriet hosts the TEH Coordination Office. Matti Kortelainen the Managing Director and Johan Widerholm the Program Director answered our questions.

Interview by Zanda Zilgalve.
Published September 2009.

1. What is unique in your centre?

MK: Nowadays our strength is the brand of ''Mejeriet'', which is well-known among pop, jazz and rock musicians locally, nationally and worldwide. We have the best output sound in Sweden, also. But the most important thing is the passionate commitment from all our member associations and the approximately 200 volunteers that are active at Mejeriet.

2. Give two examples of your key activities...

JW: Music is one of our key activities and I would say that we are very good at supporting developing bands and artists. Since we have very flexible stages we have followed many bands who played at our smallest stage at their first visit and returned to play at our big stage. The Cardigans is an example I think most people have heard of.

Another example would be – from a different point of view – the variety of events during a day. For instance, on a Friday, there would be a children's play or movie during the day, later some rock or pop band playing and afterwards salsa dance evening. Days are filled up with different events.

3. Which of your events you would recommend to our readers? Why?

JW: Personally, I am very much into concerts and I think we have a strong program this fall. But I'm also very exited about DocLounge which will take place in our concert hall every week. We will show quality docs in a relaxed bar environment. We try to combine it with dj's, band, speakers etc that is in someway are connected to the film showing.

4.What does TEH membership mean to your centre? Can you give a concrete example?

MK: It is important for 'Mejeriet' to be in a European network of centers who work under the same conditions. Of course, there are also similar houses in Sweden, but with TEH we can prove to our city, the City council of Lund, that our activities are international. That is very important.

Furthermore, we act in the European dimension with such activities as staff exchanges, for instance.

JW: It is a chance to be a part of European ''picture'' and a possibility to compare and exchange different experiences of TEH member centres. TEH meetings are the place where apart from official part you can enjoy informal discussions with both better equipped centres and centres in a more difficult situation.

Another good example is a possibility to participate in EVS youth exchange projects acting as a sending and hosting organization.

5. How does the fact that you are hosting TEH Coordination Office influences your centre's activities?

JW: I think it makes TEH more visible in our centre and and Mejeriet more visible in the city of Lund, both for the population and at a governmental level as it shows that we are a centre with a European perspective. I would not say it influences our work content wise.

MK: Since ''Mejeriet'' hosts six different associations, people working there are more aware of Trans Europe Halles. They know a lot about the network. But I am not sure if that has an impact on collaborations between those associations and other members of Trans Europe Halles. However, it is nice to have the Office here!

It is also a tool to maintain external relations with authorities in the region and whole Sweden.

6. What are your centre's future ambitions?

MK: For ''Mejeriet'' the main future ambition it is to become the most famous music venue in South Sweden. We will do it by arranging more youth activities. Until now we have accumulated deep knowledge of concert arrangement and that is something we want to share. We want to build a new building in our yard that will be a non-traditional multicultural place four young people with many daytime activities.

7. If ''Mejeriet'' would be an art-work or cultural event, what would it be?

JW: It would be an alternative modern musical film.