Informational exhibitions of the late 60s and early 70s
Södertälje’s housing service committee was formed in 1968 after motions in the city council. The committee’s task was to investigate the possibilities for improved housing services in existing and future areas. The board presented a discussion memo. This report housing service in Södertälje invited the citizens to voice their opinions. You could either send in your points of view or call someone on the board who was generous enough to put their phone numbers in the document. This was in 1971. In November 1970, the exhibition Samhället är ditt – Housing problems in today’s society had previously been shown.
During the art gallery’s early history, there was a desire to show purely community-oriented exhibitions without elements of art. Exhibitions that can be linked to the old folk home ideals – public education, enlightenment and co-determination. The scripture reads:
The report addresses:
-Södertälje residents in and outside associations
-Elected trustees and officials in various municipal bodies.
It is our hope that the residents of Södertälje will be involved in this discussion, which ultimately concerns how our future local environment should be designed.
Sometimes it was about cooperation, where the art gallery was a minor player in the context. During the Correctional Service Week in March 1971, Vilgot Sjöman’s debate film about the correctional service, NI LJUGER (You are lying), was shown on Estrad. In cooperation with ABF, the cultural committee had engaged the district judge Sven Sigander to present the problem before the film, and as an introduction to a discussion afterwards. The only thing that is documented in the art gallery’s archives, apart from the letter signed by the cultural board, is a single HALL-ååå! Nya kåkvisor with PELLE LINDBERG (HELL-ooo! New house visors)
During the years 1968 – 72, a number of exhibitions were shown in the same spirit, with pure public information as the aim. Exhibitions on themes around the police, traffic and the environment. To name a few: Exhibition from the state’s traffic safety agency in 1968, Fishing for leisure time – from recreational fishing to recreational fishing in 1969, Our police-National Police Board’s traveling expo in 1969, Traffic & Environment information exhibition in 1970, Early detection of cancer saves lives – Exhibition from the National Board of Health and Welfare in collaboration with the Swedish National Police Association against cancer 1970, Choosing a bed – Stockholms Hemkonsulter 1971, What’s happening with Lina? 1972 (this exhibition receives several follow-ups in 1973), District heating in Södertälje 1972, Leisure environment for school children. An exhibition from the National Board of Health and Welfare in 1972…etc.
After 1972, this type of exhibition begins to more or less disappear, to make way for pure art exhibitions.
Sources: the art gallery’s archive folders, compiled by Anneli Karlsson
