Located above the arctic circle at 70 degrees North, the island of Arnøya is a striking place of steep mountainsides tumbling into deep fjords and facing out towards the stormy North Sea. The daylight stays for almost 3 months each summer before fading through the long pinks and deep blues of twilight into the mørktid. It is the summer grazing ground for Sami reindeer herds, the winter playground of orca whales, and a nesting spot for clouds of arctic terns and other seabirds. A handful of tiny villages hold the islands 300 residents and most of civilization is a ferry ride away in the city of Tromsø or the nearby community of Skjervøy.

First homesteaded in the mid 1800s the buildings at Singla include a small lighthouse, boathouse, pier, barn, and main house, plus a scattering of outbuildings. They are the only structures on the island to have been spared from destruction during WWII. These buildings still hold the treasures of 150 years of farming and fishing life on a northern island, and we are dedicated to preserving these pieces in collaboration with local historians, and bringing renewed life and vitality to the spaces. To do this entails a solid restoration effort and modifications of the building interiors to support multiple uses throughout the year.

We are an artist and a field engineer, who both share a background in education and a love of the outdoors. As avid skiers, sailors, and mountaineers we were drawn to the region for its endless open terrain and coastline as well as the Norwegian principal of “every mans right to roam”. We hope to bring together the local and international community to share ideas and inspirations that help educate and preserve our world. To see Hannahs’ work and projects that mix public art with education and natural history find her here. To read about Joe and his work with APL and oceanographers studying the changing climate and wave energy click here.