Risør is a town where coastal culture and maritime history are strong. Through initiatives such as the Risør Coastal Culture Center, the Coastal Team, and the annual Wooden Boat Festival, this tradition is kept alive and passed on to future generations.
Risør Coastal Culture Center , established in 2015, has as its main task to collect, communicate and preserve Risør's boatbuilding traditions. The center, located on Moen, focuses specifically on the craft of wooden boatbuilding, an important part of the town's history. Here, visitors can experience the restoration of old boats and learn about the maritime heritage that Risør is so proud of.
Another important player is Risør Kystlag , a voluntary organization that is part of the KYSTEN Association. The coastal association works to preserve and disseminate seafaring traditions through the restoration of traditional boats, courses and practical activities. The coastal association's barn at Randvik serves as a workshop and gathering point, where both young and old can learn about and take part in the crafts of coastal culture.
No discussion of Risør's coastal culture is complete without mentioning the Risør Wooden Boat Festival , which is held annually and attracts thousands of visitors. This festival is an important hub for wooden boat enthusiasts and a celebration of the craftsmanship behind the boats. The festival is a folk festival with sailings, exhibitions and concerts, and provides an insight into the town's proud boatbuilding tradition.
The town's boat builders, together with the Coastal Culture Center and the Coastal Association, keep the wooden boat tradition alive, and help make Risør a unique hub for coastal culture in Norway.
Risør Coastal Culture Center