TEST Invitation: Groundbreaking Ceremony for The Whale, March 10, 2026
We are pleased to invite you to a very special ceremony to mark the start of construction for The Whale.
Location: Fyrvika, Andenes
Date: Friday, August 8
Time: 15:00 – 16:30
The event takes place in connection with Andøydagan, which begins its official program at 17:00 the same day.
Program:
The ceremony begins inside Fyrvika and will feature exciting performances. Camilla Ilmoni and Elliot Meier will host the program.
Afterwards, we will walk together to Sløyken, the construction site of The Whale, for a symbolic ceremony inspired by the discovery of a several-hundred-year-old whale bone.
Participants:
• Benn Eidissen, Chair of the Board, The Whale AS
• Roger Pettersen, Construction Project Manager, The Whale AS
• Lisbeth Seppola, Board Member, The Whale AS
• Kjell-Are Johansen, Mayor of Andøy Municipality
• Sveinung Ellingsen, Municipal Director of Andøy
• André Mowinckel, Municipal Architect of Andøy
• Bjørnar Skjæran, Parliamentary Leader of the Labour Party
Free admission. Limited seating available.
RSVP to [email protected] or SMS to +47 469 32 899.
Registration deadline: August 4
Background:
During archaeological excavations at the site, archaeologists from UiT discovered a large whale bone beneath an old floor. One interpretation is that the bone was used as part of a building’s foundation — perhaps to bring good fortune. Our ceremony is inspired by this discovery.