New forces join Aarhus 2017

Carsten Holst from Filmby Aarhus and Ole Wolf from the Department of Culture in Horsens Municipality will take on programme-related duties for European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017 in the next four months.

It is a duo with strong local and regional connections that will develop the programme in The Aarhus 2017 Foundation until the end of the year. Carsten Holst and Ole Wolf will replace Gitte Just and will begin Friday, September 12.

Carsten Holst has a background as movie producer for Zentropa and Globus ApS. Since 2011, he has been General Manager at Filmby Aarhus and The West Danish Filmfund.

Ole Wolf has a degree in Political Science from The University of Aarhus in 1999. He was previously employed in both Copenhagen and Aarhus. Since 2004, he has been employed as part of the Planning Staff in the Department of Culture in Horsens Municipality. 

Together, they will manage the programme, until a new director is appointed in 2015. Carsten Holst will focus on the artistic direction of the programme, whereas Ole Wolf will focus on the administrative area.

Managing Director of The Aarhus 2017 Foundation, Rebecca Matthews, is glad that it was possible to secure two such competent cultural figures:

”They are both very strong local players, who will ensure a continual momentum in the project and further development of the programme. Carsten Holst and Ole Wolf are both hugely experienced profiles in the cultural life of Eastern Jutland, and both have a large network. They are just the right kind of profiles we need to further strengthen Aarhus 2017,” says Rebecca Matthews. 

Carsten Holst has a large network across the region. Throughout his career he has worked with both big cultural players as well as smaller independent groups. He is looking forward to the next task: 

”Aarhus is a city full of cultural heavyweights. In order to succeed, ECoC Aarhus 2017 needs to a have close and fruitful collaborations with the big cultural institutions. Both in Aarhus and in the rest of the region. In the meantime, 2017 needs to grow with the help of the many creative and independent players in the cultural environment, and make sure that they have a proper amount of support. 2017 is a project that will forever change Aarhus and the region, and therefore I am excited to be a part of Aarhus 2017,” says Carsten Holst. 

As an employee in the Department of Culture in Horsens Municipality Ole Wolf has been part of the 2017-project since 2009, as representative for Horsens Municipality in The Regional Steering Group. The Regional Steering Group ensures rooting in the municipalities, development of the regional dimension and ensures close dialogue with partners. Therefore, he is looking forward to develop the project together with Carsten Holst and the rest of the 2017-secretariat:

“I am very glad and flattered to be part of Aarhus 2017, which I consider an extremely exciting cultural project. Not only will it lead to a number of fascinating cultural experiences in 2017 in the form of exhibitions, plays, concerts and much more; it also has a strong ambition to create a permanent change in Aarhus and all of the Central Denmark Region. As the slogan ’Rethink’ also states: together we must face our challenges and rethink the solutions”, says Ole Wolf.

The position as Programme Director will be advertised before the end of 2014.

For further information, contact Head of Press Peter Vestergaard on telephone 20 13 10 90 or mail peter.vestergaard@aarhus2017.dk