The Jussi Björling Museum being emptied
As was previously announced, the Jussi Björling Museum in Borlänge was closed at the turn of the year 2020/21, but the collections have remained and been available to visitors making arrangements with Museum curator Jan-Olof Damberg.
Borlänge municipality has debated the fate of the Museum for years, and a decision was made to move it to, or adjacent to, the municipal library. However, it was not until 10 January 2022 that the Museum curator was informed that the building must be emptied by the end of February to serve as an office for the upcoming redevelopment of the nearby Liljan building (for the needs of Dalarna University College). Since no new museum space is available now, everything must be stored for the time being.
The offered spaces on the library's second floor are significantly smaller than originally described, something that was only recently made known to the Jussi Björling Society and Jussi Björling's children Anders, Lars and Ann-Charlotte, who had loaned the family's unique collections to the Museum. These collections comprise a large part of the exhibits and archives (letters, reviews, programs, photographs, etc.). Since the Björling family does not consider the current plans fit for a new museum, they have decided to reclaim their collections and store them, hoping that they can be located in a new museum, probably in Stockholm. The dismantling of the Museum and the family's reclaiming of their possessions have already begun.
The Swedish Jussi Björling Society regret the treatment of the Museum now at the same time as we are grateful that what has been called "the world's best singer museum" existed from 1994 until now, thanks to the will and interest of the municipal management in Borlänge of that time.
Updated 23 January 2022
