Svanekegaarden is located in the heart of Svaneke and has been an important meeting place for art and culture on Bornholm since its opening on 7 June 1991. The cultural centre is housed in a former merchant’s courtyard from the mid-1800s and today includes an exhibition building, multi-workshop, theatre hall, sculpture garden and three artist-in-residence apartments.
The idea for Svanekegaarden emerged in the years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when there was a wish to strengthen Baltic and Nordic art and cultural exchange. Behind the establishment was a dedicated group led by Preben Harris, supported by Lisbeth Schlüter, Ole Espersen and Robert Koch-Nielsen, who helped provide the financial foundation for the creation of the fund.
Today, Svanekegaarden is a vibrant year-round institution offering a varied programme of concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, artist residencies and cultural events. Around 15,000 visitors come each year, and in 2021 the support association Svanekegaardens Venner was founded to further strengthen the institution.
Svanekegaarden also plays an active role in Bornholm’s cultural life and has contributed to events such as the Bornholm Puppet Theatre Festival and the Bornholm Literature Festival.
