Main programme for 46664 Arctic June 9-12, 2005

Thursday June 9
9pm: Film screening: Oscar nominated "YESTERDAY" at Tromsø Cinema

Friday June 10
2:45pm: Press conference and reception aboard Hurtigruta ship MS "Kong Harald"
Invited guests and artists join to mark the official opening of 46664 Arctic. After a brief press conference, the Coastal Voyage ship will set sail for a round-trip to show the picturesque setting for the concert.

9pm: "A Chance to Change" Outdoor concert in Kongeparken by Gospel Compagniet
"A Chance to Change" is a theatrical concert based on one of the stories about HIV/AIDS. Manus, which builds on a dozen well known English cover tunes, is written by Stig Bang, a dramatic advisor, author and former theatre manager of Nordland Theatre. We want to make HIV/AIDS visible. The matter concerns all of us, and we don't want to be thoughtless.

Saturday June 11
11am - 1pm: Tromsø School of Culture's marking, Erling Bangsunds Plass
Almost 700 pupils from the Tromsø School of Culture will participate in a cultural review on Saturday morning. As well as entertaining with music, song and dance for around three hours, the pupils will create a nine square metre portrait of Nelson Mandela, while others make paper peace doves.
 
2pm - 1am: 46664 CONCERT, Tromsdalen
46664 Arctic will be a concert the likes of which we have never before experienced in Norway. The concert's aim is to put the work concerning HIV/AIDS on the international agenda. To help make this happen, several high profile international artists perform alongside Scandinavian, national and local artists. Several of the artists will perform together in new and exciting compositions. Together with Norwegian and international ambassadors, the artists will appeal for more to be done in the work to combat HIV/AIDS.  The concert will be produced for television by Norway's state broadcaster NRK and we expect the coverage to be sold to broadcasters around the globe. The concert arena is a picturesque site with the sea on one side and the majestic Tromsdalstinden mountain on the other. The stage will face Tromsø's well known landmark, the distinctive Arctic Cathedral, and the Tromsø Bridge. The crowd will stand partly towards the north with the chance to experience the Midnight Sun shining in their faces.

Sunday June 12
11am: Inter-denominational Church Service at the Arctic Cathedral

4pm - 7pm: International expert panel discussion on HIV/AIDS at the University of Tromsø
AIDS-related subjects to be discussed by the panel will include infant mortality, human rights and funding in the fight against HIV/AIDS and international health. The objective of the international panel discussion is to focus on HIV/AIDS today and to contribute to something being done to improve the situation. The panel will, therefore, send a message to the G8 meeting in July with a strong request highlighting the fact that HIV/AIDS is an international responsibility, which demands political will and action. The panel will include former Norwegian Prime Minister and Director General of the World Health Organisation Gro Harlem Brundtland, Graca Machel from the Vaccine Fund and former Irish president Mary Robinson from the Ethical Globalization Institute. In addition, former Brazilian president Fernando Cardoso will represent the Gates Foundation and the Global Fund. The event will be televised and covered by national and international media.