DECORAH, Iowa — The schedule of classes through September 2025 at Vesterheim at Folk Art School has been released and registration is open at vesterheim.org/folk-art-school! Each year, Vesterheim Folk Art School offers a wide variety of classes and programs for all ages, both in person and online, including forging, Norwegian language, family and afterschool programs, fiber arts, rosemaling, jewelry making, woodworking, knifemaking, cooking, and much more!
A highlight this summer will be classes taught by Norwegian weaving instructor Marta Kløve Juuhl from Indre Arna, a village near Bergen. She will teach “Åkle Weaving on a Warp-Weighted Loom” from July 19-23. This technique creates beautiful textiles with banded designs, traditional to western Norway. Then from July 28-August 1, she will teach “Varafell Weaving on a Warp-Weighted Loom,” a traditional Viking-age technique.
Juuhl has 27 years of experience teaching weaving and art, and she was a textile curator at Osterøy Museum for 10 years. She has maintained her own weaving studio since 1989 with notable commissions throughout Norway. She has written two textile books and her articles have been featured in several publications.
With the completion of the new Vesterheim Folk Art School forging studio at 418 W. Water St., the year 2025 begins an exciting new chapter in metalworking and forging education in Decorah. More information will be shared soon about a dedication event, but class registration is open now. Classes include “Forging Fundamentals,” “Forged Tool Making,” “Laminated Knife Blades,” “Viking-Style Padlock,” and more! There will even be an afterschool Forging Klubb for youth ages 15-18.
Andrew Ellingsen, Director of Folk Art Education at Vesterheim, said, “We are excited to see the traditional Scandinavian handcrafts of metalworking and forging move into their new home – their own safe studio! We can’t wait to welcome beginner and experienced metalworkers and share these historic handcrafts.”
Another 2025 highlight for Vesterheim Folk Art School is the launch of a new model for folk art instruction – on-demand classes, which include a kit of materials in the mail and online access to a set of video tutorials taught by one of Vesterheim’s master instructors.
Ellingsen said, “Designed to be classes to take anywhere at any time, we hope that the addition of on-demand classes can make Vesterheim’s programming available to folks who have had schedule conflicts in the past.” The first two on-demand classes are “Norwegian Language for Travelers” with Dr. Maren Anderson Johnson, and “First Cuts: Scandinavian Flat-Plane Figure Carving” with Vesterheim Gold Medalist Charles Banks.
“We have already filmed additional courses and are excited about the possibilities this new model offers!” Ellingsen added. On-demand classes at Vesterheim are supported in part by the Harlan and Connie Sanderson Endowment.
Vesterheim Folk Art School offers several ways to provide financial access for all. Vesterheim offers a 60% discount for in-person class tuition on a space-available standby basis to any legal year-round resident living within 50 miles of Vesterheim. There are also need-based scholarships supported by gifts to Vesterheim’s annual fund. Find information at vesterheim.org/folk-art-school.
Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience, and to participate in the continual evolution of traditional folk art as it meets new influences. Vesterheim offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online at vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media. For more information on exhibits, classes, programs, tours, membership opportunities, and ways to donate and volunteer, connect at vesterheim.org, (563) 382-9681, and Vesterheim, 502 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379.
