A modern conference business is taking shape

Vår Gård kursgården AB was established in 1991

In 1991 Vår Gård becomes its own company and subsidiary within the Cooperative Association. Now they are starting to run a more modern conference business under the leadership of Rune Herder. Education and course activities were divided into two areas, where course activities and conferences became an important source of income. A cultural center was also created in Strandtofta for music and art, which became of great importance for marketing.

The business is split up

In the years leading up to the 1990s, education at Vår gård had been broadened by the country's Consumer Associations establishing local Consumer Schools. Until now, part of the source of income had consisted of the consumer associations paying a few per thousand of their salary costs, but when that stopped, a solution was needed to cover the increased costs. The then headmaster Lennart Hjalmarsson was tasked with reducing Vår Gård 's costs and the business was divided into two areas - education and course activities. Now it was a matter of using the capacity in the best way by increasing the occupancy of the hotel rooms. Other associations and organizations were invited to host their conferences at Vår Gård . In order to be seen better Vår Gård joined the industry organization "Svenska kursgårdar", which today is better known as Swedish Meetings. It became a good marketing channel and created insight into the industry.

Vår Gård will become a joint-stock company and cultural center

In 1991, the division became more marked and Vår Gård kursgården AB was formed as a separate company and a subsidiary of the Cooperative Association. To fill the void left by the educational activities, it was decided to create a cultural center to complement the activities and its attraction. The investment was made in the areas of art and music.

THE MUSIC
A collaboration was started with "Musica Amandi" who had previously had concerts at the Grand Hotel and also with "Saltsjöbaden's orchestra association" and with "Stockholmsensemblen".

Art walks were organized during the breaks. THE ART
Art became the most central part of the new cultural center and the first thing they did was to convert the exercise rooms in Strandtofta into an art gallery.

The first exhibition at the opening showed art by Britt-Louise Sundell and her husband Endre Nemes and later the attention-grabbing Memorial Exhibition of the famous "Saltsjöbad artists". The following year, an exhibition was held for active artists in Saltsjöbaden. Strandtofta was now opened to the public, who could visit the art exhibitions and enjoy a coffee in the cafeteria, which had a fantastic view of Baggensfjärden. Art became an important marketing activity. Every Sunday open art shows were offered to the public and most conferences included an art show. Picture below: Strandtofta today, where three large suites as well as a sauna and relaxation area are located.