Just outside Herning lies Galleri Nørgaard. Once filled with paintings brimming with emotions, colours, themes, and moods, the building now houses an entirely different kind of canvas, each uniquely its own. Young individuals seek to fill their lives with new forms and colours and paint a bright future for themselves.

From Gallery to Progressive Craft-værk

The space has been renamed Craft-værk, a place designed to create a meaningful daily life for young people who don’t fit into the conventional education system. These individuals are allowed to join and contribute to meaningful communities with others. They learn about life beyond the typical curriculum, gaining the tools to express themselves, grow, and achieve personal successes they can take pride in.

Each student’s journey is tailored to their needs, with a high degree of autonomy and mutual respect.

Craft-værk dreams of fostering resilient individuals, pursuing this goal with immense passion and dedication. Despite being a brand-new initiative, it is rapidly evolving, always prioritizing the students' aspirations.

“We’re laying the tracks as we go,” says Ulrik Løvdal, co-owner of the facility alongside Jesper Nørgaard. “Once construction is complete, we’ll have room for 18–20 students, all of whom can thrive and flourish.” Currently, Craft-værk supports five young individuals in three-year programs.

An Experience for All the Senses

Opening the door reveals the distinct scent of wood and craftsmanship. For some, it might evoke memories of an old workshop. However, Craft-værk’s ambience is more robust and versatile. Here, you’ll find a puzzle spread across one table and old table legs transformed into sculptures.

As we visit, three newly arrived residents—rabbits Hazel, Bob, and Kevin—are a little shy. In contrast, three smiling staff members with extensive social pedagogical expertise warmly welcome us with freshly baked rolls, coffee, and an enthusiastic narrative about the space and their vision.

“We’ll soon have our brewery,” Jesper Nørgaard mentions, with Ulrik Løvdal quickly adding, “and a vineyard too.” At Craft-værk, students participate in real-world projects.

“We want to engage people and the community in something meaningful. Our foremost task is to prepare people for life and the future. It’s not sustainable to put people in boxes and build walls. We need to be part of nature and communities,” Jesper explains.

A One-of-a-Kind Golf Course

The ideas are numerous, and the potential is even greater. The next big project is a Japanese park golf course with 18 holes. For now, the field is bare soil, but the grass has been sown and will soon sprout. With the help of a student with a vivid imagination, the course layouts have been designed, and measurements taken on-site. “The beams are in the ground, and soon the field will also be green and lively,” Ulrik shares.

The golf course will feature small themed areas focusing on wildlife, plants, trees, and various elements promoting biodiversity. Craft-værk aims to attract committed sponsors in and around Herning, each sponsoring a unique golf hole. These sponsors will benefit from the golf park while also taking on social responsibility—contributing to a place where vulnerable young people can thrive and grow.

Skrevet af Vladyslav Sokolovskyy, Bæredygtig Herning