Our journey with European youth programmes began in 2008. After many years of international project work, Tuba Ardic and Gard Eitungjerde Høyvik founded Creative Connections Norway (CCN) in Balestrand in 2018. Both are national Erasmus+ trainers in Norway, and together they combine extensive international experience with a strong commitment to creativity, inclusion and cultural exchange.

Our work is built around ARTicipation. We believe art is a powerful way to bring people together, encourage active participation and create meaningful connections across cultures, ages and backgrounds.

Alongside Creative Connections Norway, we run Ciderhuset, our family-owned apple farm and cultural meeting place overlooking the blue waters of the Sognefjord. This creates a special connection between farming, food, nature, art and learning. We believe meaningful encounters can happen in many places; around a table, in an orchard, during an artistic process or while creating something together.

From our creative hub in Balestrand, we develop and host Erasmus+ projects, training courses, youth exchanges, artist residencies and local cultural initiatives. Throughout the year, we create meeting places where children, young people and adults can explore art, creativity and community.

Together with local partners, we organise workshops and events in ceramics, theatre, dance, ebru painting, collage, storytelling, cooking and other creative practices. Our local and international work are closely connected: methods and inspiration from European projects are shared with our community in Balestrand, while the knowledge developed locally becomes part of our international collaborations.

We work with organisations across Europe, as well as national and local partners in Norway. Our activities are open and welcoming spaces where people can meet, learn, play, express themselves and create something meaningful together.

If you would like to join one of our training courses or activities- or develop and implement a project with us in Balestrand- you are warmly invited to contact us.

You can apply through our website or get in touch by email.

Let’s create something meaningful together.