Welcome ceremony in the spirit of courage and potential
At SKH’s premises on Valhallavägen, students and staff, new and old, gathered to mingle, receive information and celebrate the start of the semester together.
High above the students, despite her fear of heights on a shaky scissor lift, the university's vice-chancellor Ellen Røed spoke. She implored the new students to have the courage to overcome their fears, try new things, sometimes fail and, not least, to cross the boundaries of art forms and learn from each other.
“As a student at SKH, you will not remain only where you feel comfortable, like I would have felt now, if I had been on the ground. Our strength lies in our diversity and in our willingness to open up and stretch towards one another,” she said.
After the speech, the students were invited to immerse themselves in the university’s wealth of art forms and dialogues, meet student unions and researchers, and see a sample of the art that is being created here. We extend a warm welcome to all students, new and old, and look forward to an academic year full of innovative ideas and collaborations!
Vice-Chancellor Ellen Røed stood at the top of a scissor lift and gave a speech. Shaky and new for her – just as art should be during the study period for the students, she says.
In the TV studio, students got to try out VR storytelling, among other things.
In the D Theatre, pieces from various performances and research presentations were shown. Here we see a scene from The Psychopomps, a play for primary school students that was a collaboration between the mime acting and performing arts programmes in spring 2025.
PhD student Erik Åberg was the afternoon's compère.
Alva Jansson Harju performed a powerful number on the Cyr wheel.
PhD student Hendrik Quast uses his experiences of chronic illness as part of his often both humorous and repulsive research.
Expectant new students gathered in the foyer for the welcome ceremony.
New students: What are you most looking forward to at SKH?
Giovanna, starting the one-year master's programme in Opera, Vocal Performance
– I look forward to all the meetings with other students who want to collaborate with me, and for us to all develop together.
Alrik, starting the bachelor’s programme in Film and Media, specialisation Production Design
– I'm really excited to use the machine shop, to do crafts and work with my hands, and to develop artistically.
Linda, starting the bachelor’s programme in Dance Pedagogy
– I can give myself the time to do something I really want to do, three years to spend on a goal I really want to achieve. I've been dancing all my life, but I don't want to be on stage, so pedagogy is perfect for me.
Marcos, starting the New Performative Practices master's programme
– I look forward to having a constant space available where I can reflect on my own artistic practice. I already feel from these first days that I’m going to be in a context of an artistic community that is so alive.
Amelie, starting the bachelor's programme in Mime Acting
– I want to overcome my own inhibitions, such as embarrassment linked to my voice, and de-dramatise the act of creation itself. I think some people just want to be in their own disciplines, but I want to collaborate, and I'm going to nag them to let me try and weave different programmes into each other!
