A CONVERSATION WITH ØYSTEIN BIRKELAND, INITIATOR OF DEXTRA MUSICA

FROM 8 PM

The basic idea was for the foundation to invest in stringed instruments and lend it out on a long term basis to Norwegian musicians. Based on the foundation's obligation to not only own the bank DnB, but also return value back to society in a philanthropic sense, the musicians are obliged to do a limited amount of musical work for free on an annual basis. This could be concerts, teaching children and young students or other musically related work benefiting society.

By doing this, the foundation is not only helping the the musician and the national musical environment, but also gives a significant support to what is to be described as a world heritage.

Dextra Musica was established in 2005 as a subsidiary of the foundation. I was their managing director until mid 2007, then their artistic director until mid 2010 and now their consultant together with the world renowned expert Peter Biddulph. First instrument was purchased in January 2006 and today the collection consists of more than 70  instruments and has invested somewhere around $ 40 mill