Herning Højskole
Artistic growth of the highest order
Originally built as a folk high school, this building has quite literally seen plenty of artistic endeavours at the highest level. Founded in 1961 under the name Herning Højskole, also known as HH Herning, the folk high school was created at the behest of the three Damgaard brothers: Aage Damgaard, shirt manufacturer, entrepreneur and art collector; Mads Damgaard, manufacturer and politician, and Knud Damgaard, politician, editor and consultant. They wanted to set up a folk high school specifically aimed at industry employees and at promoting the development of the textile industry. The school was closed in 2007, and today the building is used for a range of purposes, especially within the fields of art, culture and other recreational activities. Prior to the school’s closure, two studios had been created on the top floor to facilitate artistic expression among its pupils, including painting, sculpture, writing and music. Thus, Herning Højskole has been closely associated with art and culture right from the outset, and this focus on creativity endures today in the events hosted there as well as in the building’s unique interior. The distinctive architecture adheres to the Brutalist style, full of sharp edges and concrete left untreated, an aesthetic that enjoyed great success between 1953 and 1967. Several examples can be found in Herning, including the large main building of the city’s railway station.
Set amidst the flat moorland of central Jutland, Herning Højskole stands out, boldly rising up with its fifteen stories surrounded by low one-storey houses. Inside, the unique hexagonal concert hall is equally distinctive. A modernist masterpiece, the building was designed by Tyge Arnfred and Viggo Møller-Jensen in complete accord with Aage Damgaard’s artistic vision. Today, the building is listed, and while the original school was closed in 2007, it continues to be an acclaimed hub of culture, art and other activities while forming an iconic landmark for the city of Herning city and the Birk area.
For more information on Herning Højskole click here (Danish only)
At Herning Højskole you can experience the works related to Socle du Monde’s Open Call; ‘Danish Open’. For more information about the artists participating in Danish Open click here
Artists you can experience here
