Halvdan Skard
Encyclopedia
Halvdan Skard is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party
.
He was born in Oslo
as a son of Åse Gruda Skard
and Sigmund Skard
, and through Åse the grandson of Halvdan Koht
and Karen Grude Koht
. He has two sisters Torild Skard
and Målfrid Grude Flekkøy
, who are twins, and himself has a twin brother Åsmund. He grew up in Trondheim
, but when World War II reached Norway in 1940 the family fled to the United States via Sweden, the Soviet Union and Japan, returning in 1945. He later finished his secondary education at Oslo Cathedral School. He studied at the University of Wisconsin, Madison from 1962 to 1963 and in Paris
from 1969 to 1970. He graduated with the cand.philol. degree from the University of Oslo
in 1972.
He joined the Labour Party in 1965, and became involved in local politics, first in Stavanger
and later in Bærum
. In Bærum he was a member of the school board from 1968 and the municipal council from 1972. After two years working for the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo
, from 1972 to 1974, he was hired as an office clerk at Rogaland University College in 1974. He was a researcher there from 1976, but was largely absent, as he was appointed State Secretary
in the Ministry of Church Affairs and Education, a post he held from 1976 to 1981, during the Labour government
of Odvar Nordli
. From 1991 to 1992 he was a deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Culture.
From 1983 to 1992 he was the director of the Arts Council Norway. He became the leader of employers' organization
Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
in 1992. His current mandate is due to expire in February 2012. He continued as director of the Arts Council, only with an absence of leave, and with acting directors working in his place, until he finally quit as director in early 2004. He also led the cultural committee of the 1994 Winter Olympics
.
In 1996 he became involved in the Council of Europe
, first in 1988 as a member of its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, in 1996 a member of its Bureau, from 2002 to 2006 as president of its Chamber of Local Authorities
, and from 2006 to 2008 as President of the Congress. Currently he is serving as a Vice-President in the Chamber of Local Authorities.
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
He was born in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a son of Åse Gruda Skard
Åse Gruda Skard
Åse Gruda Skard was a Norwegian psychologist, and a pioneer in the field of the bringing up of children. She lectured at the University of Oslo from 1947 to 1973. She edited the magazine Norsk Pedagogisk Tidsskrift from 1936 to 1970. She wrote 24 books and almost 2,000 journal articles...
and Sigmund Skard
Sigmund Skard
Sigmund Skard was a Norwegian poet, essayist and professor of literature.He was born in Kristiansand as a son of educators Matias Skard and Gyda Christensen . He was a nephew of Johannes Skar and Christopher Bruun, a brother of Bjarne and Eiliv Skard and a half-brother of Olav and Torfinn...
, and through Åse the grandson of Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht was a Norwegian historian and politician representing the Labour Party.As a politician he served as the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1935 to 1941. He was never elected as a member of the Parliament of Norway, but was a member of Bærum municipal council in 1917–1919 and...
and Karen Grude Koht
Karen Grude Koht
Karen Grude Koht was a Norwegian pedagogist, essayist and feminist pioneer. She was born in Høyland and started her working career as a teacher in Sandnes. She was married to historian Halvdan Koht, and mother of Åse Gruda Skard and Paul Koht. Among her works are Mi fyrste bok from 1921 and Barna...
. He has two sisters Torild Skard
Torild Skard
Torild Skard is a Norwegian psychologist and researcher, feminist, politician for the Socialist Left Party, civil servant and former high-ranking United Nations official . She served as a Member of Parliament, President of its upper chamber and Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice...
and Målfrid Grude Flekkøy
Målfrid Grude Flekkøy
-Personal life:She was born in Oslo as a daughter of Sigmund Skard and Åse Gruda Skard . She is a sister of Halvdan Skard and twin sister of Torild Skard. Through her mother, she is a granddaughter of Halvdan Koht and Karen Grude Koht, and through her father she is a granddaughter Matias Skard and...
, who are twins, and himself has a twin brother Åsmund. He grew up in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, but when World War II reached Norway in 1940 the family fled to the United States via Sweden, the Soviet Union and Japan, returning in 1945. He later finished his secondary education at Oslo Cathedral School. He studied at the University of Wisconsin, Madison from 1962 to 1963 and in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1969 to 1970. He graduated with the cand.philol. degree from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1972.
He joined the Labour Party in 1965, and became involved in local politics, first in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and later in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
. In Bærum he was a member of the school board from 1968 and the municipal council from 1972. After two years working for the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo
Foundation for Student Life in Oslo
The Foundation for Student Life in Oslo is the student welfare organisation in Oslo, Norway.It was established in 1939 as the first of its kind in Norway...
, from 1972 to 1974, he was hired as an office clerk at Rogaland University College in 1974. He was a researcher there from 1976, but was largely absent, as he was appointed State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
in the Ministry of Church Affairs and Education, a post he held from 1976 to 1981, during the Labour government
Nordli's Cabinet
Nordli's Cabinet governed Norway between 15 January 1976 and 4 February 1981. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Odvar Nordli. It had the following composition:-Cabinet members:...
of Odvar Nordli
Odvar Nordli
is a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1976 to 1981.Nordli grew up in Tangen in Stange, Hedmark. After World War II he served in the Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany, part of the Allied forces occupying post-war Germany...
. From 1991 to 1992 he was a deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Culture.
From 1983 to 1992 he was the director of the Arts Council Norway. He became the leader of employers' organization
Employers' organization
An employers' organization, employers' association or employers' federation is an association of employers. A trade union, which organizes employees is the opposite of an employers' organization...
Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities is an employers' organisation in Norway.It was founded in 1972 as a merger between the Union of Norwegian Cities and the Norwegian Association of Rural Municipalities...
in 1992. His current mandate is due to expire in February 2012. He continued as director of the Arts Council, only with an absence of leave, and with acting directors working in his place, until he finally quit as director in early 2004. He also led the cultural committee of the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
.
In 1996 he became involved in the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, first in 1988 as a member of its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, in 1996 a member of its Bureau, from 2002 to 2006 as president of its Chamber of Local Authorities
Chamber of Local Authorities
The Chamber of Local Authorities is one of the two Chambers of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The Chamber is the voice of local authorities in the Council of Europe...
, and from 2006 to 2008 as President of the Congress. Currently he is serving as a Vice-President in the Chamber of Local Authorities.