FEATURE STORIES

A day's work in the house that never sleeps

What really happens inside the walls of Sara Kulturhus on an ordinary day? From the first shift at the hotel in the morning to the last order at Miss Voon in the evening, we met the people who keep the house running. Join us!

07:05 - Lobby

In the lobby of The Wood Hotel by Elite, the day starts with a change. Hotel receptionist Anton Wiksten takes over from the night staff and receives his briefing. The night's events are briefly summarized, and soon it's his turn to do the same when the afternoon shift starts.

Anton is studying the hotel and tourism program with a focus on reception, and half of his education is spent right here - at the city's most high-profile hotel.

- "It's a very educational place. I've been in smaller places as well, but here there's a lot more movement because of all the activities in the building. I get to direct guests, answer questions and take check-ins. It's a lot of fun," he says.

Being the face of the hotel is something he enjoys.

- "That's right, I represent the hotel and should be calm and try to help in the best way possible.

At the same time, a guest steps up to the counter.

- Then it was check-out from room 512.

- Has everything been satisfactory, Anton asks.

- "Very nice, we've had a great day here. However, we noticed that it drips a little from the shower when you turn off the handle.

- We'll take care of it right away, Anton replies with a smile.

09:22 - Paolo's

The sun climbs over the cultural center and soon reaches the corner where Paolo's outdoor seating is located. On the terrace, the waitress Leva Andersson is already busy with her morning chores. She carries out cushions, sets out table decorations and pushes the seats so that everything looks inviting.

- "It's very varied work, and I like that," she says.

Leva is 17 years old and is studying hotel and tourism at upper secondary school. There is no doubt that she wants to continue in the industry.

- "It's a bit of a dream of mine to work in this field. I'm getting a very good start at Paolos. One moment I'm a barista, then I'm at the cash register and the next I'm serving food. There's a lot of customer contact, and it suits me perfectly.

10:07 am - Room 1004

A few floors up, Kaeg Lounlaha Bangone cleans room 1004 at the Wood Hotel. She is proud to work in the city's most high-profile hotel.

- "I don't have time to stay in a hotel myself, but it's very nice here. Just look at the view," she says, putting on new bedding before fluffing the pillows.

She cleans her way methodically through the room: removing what needs to be thrown away, making the bed and then moving on to the bathroom. The routines are second nature after years in the profession.

- We have such a nice working group too. Many speak different languages, but we still get to know each other and I have made several new friends. I'm enjoying it!

When everything is ready, Kaeg takes one last look at the room and rolls the trolley on. Room 1005 is waiting.

10:55 am - City Library

"Book release Ovum by Linnéa Wikman." The poster sits on the municipal notice board inside the City Library, surrounded by other tips and events. But the dark cover of the horror novel draws the eye to it. The author's portrait, on the other hand, is anything but terrifying.

We barely have time to turn around before we are face to face with her - Linnéa Wikman, librarian and horror writer.

- "It's really dreamy to both write books and work among books," she says.

Linnéa has previously worked at the libraries in Jörn and Boliden, but Sara Kulturhus has long been her goal.

- "Ever since I heard that a cultural center was going to be built, I wanted to come here, and it happened, which I am very grateful for," she says.

This morning she is preparing a book talk that the librarians take turns to give. At the same time, the return machine in the next room is malfunctioning. Instead of swallowing the books automatically, they have to be sorted by hand - each volume must end up in the right compartment, ready for a shelf here or for transportation to one of the local libraries.

- You might think a library is quiet and still, but there's always something going on here. There are lots of people coming and going - I love this environment," says Linnéa.

11:59 am - Mandel

In the kitchen at Mandel, the focus is on the details. Nathalie Holmqvist grates Svedjan's farm cheese over a mixed mushroom toast and the white blanket is the final touch before the plate is passed on. She is head chef both here and at Paolo's, and on this day there is a conference party waiting for lunch in the comfortable dining room environment.

At her side, sous chef Johanna Vernersson is working on the dishes. The plates are filled one by one, the timing must be right.

- "There's always a lot of activity in the building, conferences, events and all sorts of things that attract people. And everyone needs to eat, so we have a lot to do in the kitchens. Last week, for example, we made a thousand sandwiches in one day," says Nathalie.

She comes from Kramfors but moved to Skellefteå to attend the restaurant and food program.

- "I really liked it here, so I stayed. There are lots of fun things happening in town and I appreciate being able to go out and eat in other places too. A lot has happened with the food scene," she says.

- More mushrooms here, says Johanna, adjusting a plate.

- Okay, so we've got two veg, two venison chops on the way out first, is that right?

The waitress Julia Björk gets the green light to grab the four plates and quickly disappears into the dining room.

14:19 - The art gallery

An art gallery is being transformed.

Nature is moving in, carpets of moss are spreading and small hills are taking shape. Magdalena Sandberg and Marielle Isaksson from the flower shop Nya Buketten are in the middle of the green work. Bit by bit, they are piecing together a soft blanket of moss that will soon become a landscape in the exhibition Habitat by Klara Kristalova - it will be a world where nature, legend and myths are mixed with human experience. The exhibition opened on September 18 and we got an insight into the preparations.

A few meters away, art gallery curator Anna Karin Larsson points the cross laser at the wall. Red lines cut through the room, showing exactly where the next work will hang. When preparing for a new exhibition, it involves everyone.

- This room is classified as level 3 security, which in practice means we could exhibit da Vinci here. It's an incredible opportunity, and we have a very good flow with the other institutions," she says.

On the floor are ladders, lamps and tools. The Vita Box, which the art gallery shares with Museum Anna Nordlander and Sara Kulturhus, is currently more workshop than exhibition space. But in a few days, everything will be transformed into a living meeting place where the audience can step straight into Kristalova's universe.

16:39 - Stage 2

Rehearsals are in full swing on Stage 2, with choreographer Sara Ribbenstedt giving her instructions:

- Can we think about the curved necks for once?

Four actors each sit at a sewing machine and the rhythm is kept going with their voices:

- One, two, three, four, five. One, two, three, four, five.

They pass pieces of fabric between them in a monotonous flow that forms a work scene in Stygn (Stitches), Västerbottensteatern's latest performance that premiered on October 1. The story starts in the 1970s textile factory Algots, where thousands of women were looking for work and the trade union movement was fighting for better conditions.

Suddenly, the work is interrupted by a voice from above:

"Attention! It has come to the attention of the factory management... that children's clothes have disappeared!"

Sara steps forward and clarifies her input.

- It's a pain in the ass when you rip out the fabric like that. The strokes are important, but it should be like syrup in between. Shall we do it again?

At 20:35

At the top of Sara Kulturhus, the evening is underway at Miss Voon. Behind the bar, Ida the bartender shakes another cocktail before taking a turn at picking up glasses at the tables.

A couple stops at the entrance.

- Sorry, we just took a chance if you have any free tables, what does it look like?

Ida meets up, quickly checks with her colleagues in the service department and shows them to the bar seats.

Restaurant manager Nadia Wallmark has about ten permanent employees at Miss Voon. She was appointed a few months ago, and her day often starts with her being the first on the scene, together with one of the chefs who starts prepping in the kitchen.

- "It's a lot of work behind the scenes for everyone of course. I need to be involved - and want to be - in everything that happens to keep the restaurant at a high level. We have many regulars, both Skellefteå residents and foreign visitors, and this contributes to Miss Voon becoming an international yet local meeting place. I really like it here, says Nadia.

As the hours pass, the bar is filled with more glasses and guests who linger well into the evening. Finally, when the last order is placed - and then it's Miss Voon that closes the 'cultural skyscraper'.

Text: Daniel Bergeman

Photo: Tilda Olofsgård