Cooperation with Kuben High School and Soft Methodologies
A central part of Scenekunstbruket’s (NSKB) 3Place fieldwork has been long-term cooperation with Kuben High School in Oslo. By engaging students who did not already identify performing arts as “their place”, the project tested new ways of building trust, relevance and belonging.
A strategic partnership across the street
Located directly across from the future Kloden Theatre, Kuben High School became a natural partner for NSKB’s fieldwork. Over three periods, NSKB hosted youth interns from the school, formalising cooperation and building personal relationships with teachers and students alike.
The collaboration focused on students from informatics and media production – a deliberate choice to reach young people who might not otherwise engage with performing arts. Through the 3Place project, the students gained language and tools to reflect on their own environments and needs.
Youth as reporters and experts
The interns acted as outgoing reporters, interviewing peers in the Økern area and contributing insights into how young people experience public space, safety and belonging. Rather than being invited into a finished concept, the students were involved early, helping shape the questions the project asked.
Developing a soft methodology
Working with youth required flexibility and care. NSKB developed what they describe as a “soft methodology” – prioritising time, safety and trust over predefined outputs. Some of the first interns stayed connected to the project over all three years, even after finishing high school.
This approach demanded significant invisible labour: regular invitations, shared meals, informal conversations and continuous follow-up. Over time, this created strong relationships and a sense of ownership among the young participants.
Reflections
The cooperation showed that meaningful youth involvement cannot be rushed or reduced to checklists. To function as a third place, the project had to be genuinely open to youth initiative and prepared to adjust its own structures accordingly.