A place to meet
Karlstad is becoming ever more important as a place to meet. The new congress and culture centre on the banks of the river Klarälven are characterised by flexibility.
04.00 The building comes to life as it awakes. Mathias Sjöstedt, morning reporter for TV4 Värmland, is the first one there. The morning transmissions are prepared here so that the people of Värmland can hear the news.
06.00 The cleaners arrive. A total area of 18 000 square metres has to be cleaned so that visitors encounter a clean and shiny congress centre when it opens. In terms of interior design, the building speaks a clear Värmland dialect. Keep an eye out for symbols of timber, the river and of course the sun in Karlstad when you visit CCC!
08.00 The doors are opened to visitors.
10.00 The photo exhibition "The seven new wonders of the world" by Värmland photographers Eva Akre and Dan Nilsson can be seen on the ground floor. There are around 70 beautiful photographs from all over the world to view.
11.00 The Young Enterprise trade fair is set to open in an hour's time, and there's feverish activity in the building. Stands are being prepared and smartened up, and in the midst of it all is Mattias Nord, CEO of Karlstad CCC, who's going round and absorbing the atmosphere.
"The main idea is for this building to act as a hub for the meetings industry. We want to try to attract all the congresses held all over the world, but of course the regular conferences are welcome as well," he says.
12.00 Visitors flood in through the entrance on their way to the trade fair. It's time for the Young Enterprise trade fair to start. More than 200 ideas are being exhibited to 5000 visitors.
13.00 Certainly, trade fairs are held here; but most commonly, the CCC premises are hired by companies for conferences. Almi Företagspartner Värmland is one of the companies that's done just that.
"We needed flexible premises. We're really happy with the outcome, and we'll definitely be back here when we need conference facilities again!" says Anna Lundmark Lundbergh, CEO of Almi Värmland.
14.00 The big concert hall is filled with inquisitive teenagers. Rapper Petter gives a lecture about his life.
15.00 The tables are being laid in the Karl IX restaurant prior to the evening's dinner. This restaurant can seat 1400 people and the menu is based on Värmland culinary traditions. At the same time, the chefs in the kitchen are working hard to make sure all the food is ready on time.
16.00 The work of the caretakers at Karlstad CCC includes tidying up chairs ahead of conferences and lectures.
18.00 Diners in the restaurant enjoy their dinner set to live music.
20.00 Time for the big event of the evening: Carola's popular show "Elvis, Barbra and me". 800 people are seated in the hall, but it can accommodate more than twice that number.
22.30 The visitors leave Karlstad CCC and the doors are closed.
