Medborgarhuset becomes Eyvind kulturhus!

As part of the effort to upgrade the Medborgarhuset after decades of faithful service, one important step has been to agree on a timeless name that can be associated with the entire building. The choice of name is one of several topics discussed with Boden’s cultural and community organizations during dialogue meetings and workshops in 2025. From the many creative ideas that emerged, the cultural department has decided on the name Eyvind Kulturhus.

Naming the renewed cultural center after Boden’s own Nobel Laureate in Literature, Eyvind Johnson, honors the author who was born here. The name highlights the powerful cultural value of a Nobel-class literary legacy and symbolizes our commitment to building upon our own foundations.

“Eyvind Johnson was self-taught and embarked on a journey of learning through literature and his writing — from poor circumstances to the Nobel Prize and the Swedish Academy. In Eyvind Kulturhus, visitors will also be able to take their own cultural journeys and grow as individuals through culture, both as participants and as audience members,” explains Boden’s Head of Culture, Fredrik Rönnberg.

The building holds many qualities that will be preserved and brought to light wherever possible, forming part of a meeting place and a brand that resonates well in all languages, is graphically versatile, and can embody a broad spectrum of cultural values.

Work in progress

With the name established, planning and design can continue. A comprehensive renovation project is budgeted in several stages and is now underway. The first phase includes a small premium cinema with 40 seats, meant to complement the larger Saga hall and enable more stage performances — broadening the range of both film and performing arts. The large Saga Theater will remain intact, continuing to host major public events.

Phase one also includes refurbishing the Rondo and Forum spaces, primarily updating their interiors. A new entrance is planned for 2027, and new seating for Saga is scheduled for 2028.

A temporary stage in "Annexet"

The aim to use the building as wisely as possible is also reflected in the way the part of the house designated for the new entrance — still locally known as “the old Örjans”, currently serves as the temporary stage Annexet. The municipality covers the rent and makes the venue available free of charge for cultural events. The non-profit association BodenArr manages the space and bookings, filling the stage with a mix of their own and others’ productions.

Annexet is in frequent use and well attended — a clear signal that Boden needs smaller performance spaces, even after this area becomes the new entrance to Eyvind Kulturhus.

In parallel with the municipality’s investment in the building, the property owner SBB is carrying out extensive renovations to the structure itself.

“Looking at the original blueprints for Medborgarhuset, you can see that it was an ambitious project housing everything we associate today with a modern cultural center — located in the best possible spot, right in the city center. Over the years, the building has unfortunately been divided up rather carelessly. Now, together with the property owner SBB, we will restore some of the best features that once existed here and build upon them for the future,” says Fredrik Rönnberg.