Pressemeddelelse -
H.C. Andersen’s House officially inaugurated by H.M. Queen Margrethe II
Today, Odense’s new landmark, H.C. Andersen’s House, was officially inaugurated by H.M. Queen Margrethe II. Following the opening ceremony, the Queen was given a tour of the riveting exhibitions that the museum has to offer, and she got up close and personal with the the world-famous author’s poetic universe and stories.
A proud mayor bid everyone welcome to the city’s new landmark today as he did his opening speech at the official inauguration of H.C. Andersen’s House:
“It’s a huge joy to officially be inaugurating one of Denmark’s most ambitious and modern museums. H.C. Andersen is such a significant part of the shared identity of the people living in this city, and with the new museum we are given the opportunity to explore his work and fairytales in new ways, which will add to the cohesion of the city. That’s why today is an amazing and liberating day in every way,” Odense Mayor Peter Rahbæk Juel (S) said in his opening speech.
Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the chair of the A.P. Møller Foundation, which has delivered substantial financial support to the ambitious museum building, also delivered a speech at the inauguration:
“H.C. Andersen has to be our greatest poet. He captivates both children and adults with his magical stories, which people all over the world, to this day, are able to see themselves in. Our hope is that the new museum has brought us closer to the core of H.C. Andersen’s universe.”
Council member for City and Culture Christoffer Lilleholt (V) was also among the speakers at the inauguration:
“It’s a big day for the city and for H.C. Andersen. First of all, it’s a unique museum dedicated to a magical poet, and, second of all, we are all thirsting for cultural experiences after a long and tough lockdown. Especially our children and young adults have felt a sense of deprivation, so it’s an extra-big pleasure to open the doors of imagination to them with an exhibition and a house dedicated to our world-famous poet, who is putting Odense on the world map.”
Chair of Odense City Museums and rector at the University of Southern Denmark, Henrik Dam, emphasized the joy he felt about the inauguration of the museum in his speech:
“Odense City Museums are greatly looking forward to take over a completely finished H.C. Andersen’s House and, not least, to receive many guests from Denmark, and – when the COVID-situation allows for it – guests from all over the world. The old Andersen museum was one of Denmark’s most-visited museums among international tourists.”
Experience the magical H.C. Andersen’s house at half price
Completely according to plan, this is a so-called soft opening, during which the doors of the museum are open to visitors, while the exhibitions are finalized and tested. Because even though large parts of the museum have been completed, some parts have not:
“The COVID lockdown has, unsurprisingly, presented us with some challenges along the way, and this means that there will be parts of the museum that will not be totally ready when we open it.
When we nevertheless prioritize a soft opening, followed by a gradually increased opening over the summer, it is because we wish to offer outstanding magical and artistic experiences for the many people that will be spending their summer vacation here in Denmark or have a chance to travel to the city,” the head of Odense City Museums, Torben Grøngaard Jeppesen, explains.
This is why Odense City Museums has chosen to chop the ticket price in half for now, until at least July 31st 2021. In all of July, the museum will be open from 2-10pm, allowing technicians and craftsmen unhindered access during the day hours, as they sort out the last details. From August 1st, opening hours will shift to the regular ones – 9am-7pm. Tickets can be pre-ordered at www.hcandernsenshus.dk.
Press contact
Press photos from the opening ceremony can be acquired via www.hcandersenshus.dk/presse.
Video from the inauguration can be acquired by contacting johannes@have.dk.
Anja Linnet // anja@have.dk// 22 65 53 48
Johannes Mandal // johannes@have.dk // 22 28 77 77
About H.C. Andersen’s House
H.C. Andersen’s House is designed by Japanese star architect Kengo Kuma and his team, who are also behind the new Olympic stadium in Tokyo. As part of the design process, the esteemed architect has found inspiration in Andersen’s fairytale The Tinder-Box, in which a tree reveals an underground world, which magically reveals new perspectives right in front of the beholder.
The museum site covers an area of 5,600 square meters, and it contains a children’s and an underground museum, which intertwines with a surrounding magical garden. On top of that, the museum will consist of a wide array of state-of-the-art technologies and approaches to set design, which will all add to the experience of Andersen’s magical universe coming to life.
The architect and coordinating contractor is Kengo Kuma & Associates along with C & W Architects, CORNELIUS VÖGE, MASU Planning and Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniørfirma. The content concept is created by Event: Exhibition Design, London. Odense City Museums is responsible for the exhibition aspect of the project.
The museum has been realized with substantial support from The A.P. Møller Foundation as well as contributions from Nordea-fonden, The Augustinus Foundation, Knud Højgaards Fond and the City of Odense.
Read more about the building, facts and visions in the attached press materials.
