Skive Medborgerhus opened on January 2, 1977 at Resenvej 10. The community center only lasted 10 years before it was closed.
The idea of a community center had its roots in the youth rebellion of the 1960s. In Skive, the project was started after communist youth proposed the house as part of the fight against youth unemployment.
The project ended up gaining political support. With the celebration of the 650th anniversary of the market town in 1976, the municipality found it a good opportunity to make a mark in the cultural field. Therefore, they donated Resenvej 10, where there used to be a care center for senior citizens.
Although the house was open to anyone over the age of 18, the vast majority of users were under the age of 30.
When the community center opened, a manager had not yet been found, but the choice soon fell on Svend Aage Smidt Olsen, who resigned from his teaching position at Skive Technical School at the same time. The growing demands from the residents, who had many requirements for how the community center should be run, meant that tensions grew. The users felt that the administrative staff were difficult to contact, while Olsen felt that the users had too much influence and too many demands for the position to be handled in the nominated 20 hours.
The tensions resulted in the community center closing temporarily from May to October after a house meeting where users rejected the municipality’s proposal. After the reopening, there were new statutes where the users’ influence was reduced and the financial freedom was smaller.
From the start, there was an expectation that the address at Resenvej 10 was temporary. Several alternative addresses had been considered, depending on the financial framework and political will. In the end, Skive City Council was not willing to pay for the continued operation, and Skive Medborgerhus closed in 1987.
Sources
- Folder: Medborgerhuset 10 years
- Skive Folkeblad 12/1-1977