West Norway Jazz Center

The West Norway Jazz Center is a regional institution organized in the form of a foundation, established formally January 1st, 1998. We receive our funding from the Norwegian Government, the City of Bergen, The County of Hordaland, the County of Rogaland, and the County of Sogn & Fjordane. In addition we receive various amounts from other institutions and from sponsors along with funds from the Norwegian Jazz Federation. Out turnover this year will be around approx. US Dollars 380.000.

The establishment of the West Norway Jazz Center was preceeded by a planning process over a number years, and out strategy and aims are set out in comprehensive document - PLAN FOR VESTNORSK JAZZSENTER (not available in English). As set out in this plan, we are a concert organizer of top quality concerts, a project coordinator and fund-raiser for jazz music, as well as a regional tour coordinator and service center for musicians and the general public. We are also planning to involve ourselves in seminars and conferences relating to improvised music.

We are at the present time employing a Chief Executive and a Producer. Our Board of Directors include regional politicians, and representatives for the Norwegian Jazz Federation and Norwegian jazz musicians. We are an affiliated member of the Norwegian Jazz Federation.

In cooperation with the Bergen Jazz Forum, we present 30-40 concerts annually at our main stage at the USF Culture Center in Bergen. Our profile is top quality international and national artists. This year we will present acts such as Jim Hall/Joe Lovano, Bireli Lagrene, Marilyn Crispell, Mads Vinding, Brad Mehldau, Steve Grossman, James "Blood" Ulmer, Stockhausen/Andersen/Heral, Chick Corea, Terje Rypdal, Dave Holland, Maria Joao and Cristina Zavalloni, to name some acts. We also help funding approx. 100 jazz concerts in Bergen annually in cooperation with other arrangers. We also work closely with other regional arrangers and fund concerts and event in other cities on the West Coast.

The USF Culture Center is Norway's leading center, with three fully equipped stages (capacity: 800 - 450 - 100), a cinema, a restaurant and about 300 people working with artistic expressions such as Dance, Sculpture, Painting, Music, Films, etc. etc. The center also uses a nearby hall with a capacity of 2000. The Center is the scene of Nattjazz (Nightjazz) - one of Norway's leading festivals. The Nattjazz and Jazz Centre share office space, but are separate organizations. Our producer also works for the Nattjazz festival. The Bergen Jazz Forum and Nattjazz have been working in Bergen since the early 70's and the establishment of the Jazz Centre is therefore part of a history spanning three decades.

As a local and regional institution as well as having international contracts, we are the coordinators for the Jazz program of the Bergen City of Culture 2000. For this we have received a grant of NOK 200.000,- We are also at the present time helping develop a multifaceted Autumn Arts Festival in Bergen, starting in October/November this year. Our region has four of Norway's biggest jazz festivals, presenting all styles of jazz music - Nattjazz (Bergen), Vossa Jazz (Voss), Maijazz (Stavanger) and Sildajazz (Haugesund).