Skalk

Skalk is a Danish popular-science magazine devoted to archaeology, history and cultural history, published by the self-governing institution Fonden Skalk. It was founded in 1957 by Harald Andersen and others, emerging from the Jysk Arkæologisk Selskab (Jutland Archaeological Society) and the Forhistorisk Museum in Aarhus (now at Moesgård). In 1966 the magazine broke away and established itself as a self-governing foundation. Its name is borrowed from Bjarkemål, the Old Norse poem in which Skalk is urged to rise and kindle the fire. The magazine's mission is to bring the latest knowledge about Denmark's ancestors, their lives and culture to a broad readership. It began in 1957 with four issues a year at DKK 4, moving to six issues annually in 1964. Skalk was one of the first Danish magazines to adopt offset printing, and it was pedagogically innovative in its use of illustrations, arguing that a story can be told better with an image than with text alone. Instead of advertising, it distributed free sample copies; a third of the country's households received a trial issue, securing its readership. Apart from a starting grant of DKK 1,500, Skalk received no public subsidies, and it declined a small grant offered by the Ministry of Culture around 2002 because it would have required stating 'with support from the Ministry of Culture'. Over the years Skalk has had as many as 50,000 subscribers; in 2020 it had approximately 12,000 regular subscribers. Harald Andersen officially stepped down as editor in 1993, replaced by Christian Adamsen and Jørgen Kraglund, though he continued to edit a third of the magazine, which is based in Højbjerg near Aarhus. Christian Adamsen was later replaced by Leif Erik Vaag. In 2018 Jacob Buhl Jensen became director of the foundation. Since then Skalk has been edited by an external editor and a professional editorial group, currently including experts from Den Gamle By, Moesgaard Museum, Aarhus University, the National Museum and the University of Copenhagen. The foundation also operates the publishing house Wormianum, named after Ole Worm. Its publications have included P.V. Glob's brændevinsbog (68,000 copies), the Roskilde Chronicle (9,300), the oldest Danish cookbook (34,500) and a CD of music played on old instruments (14,000). A wall chart of Danish and world history for classrooms was printed in more than 50,000 copies. In addition to the main magazine, Skalk publishes Skalk Junior, a history magazine for children interested in history and archaeology, and offers 'Find Fortiden' (Find the Past), a service providing knowledge about ancient monuments where users are located or travelling. The foundation is based at Flæsketorvet 68, DK-1711 Copenhagen V, and can be contacted at kontakt@skalk.dk.

Skalk was founded in 1957 by Harald Andersen and others, growing out of the Jysk Arkæologisk Selskab (Jutland Archaeological Society) and the Forhistorisk Museum in Aarhus (now at Moesgård). The magazine's name is taken from Bjarkemål, the Old Norse poem in which Skalk is called upon to rise, make the fire, sweep the hearth and blow on the embers. It began with four issues a year at DKK 4, moving to six issues annually in 1964. Skalk was one of the first Danish magazines to switch to offset printing, and it was pedagogically innovative in its use of illustrations; the idea that a story can be told better with an illustration than with text was almost revolutionary in 1957. The founders declared: 'In appearance as in content, Skalk will go its own way. Museum dust will be abhorrent to us.' Instead of advertising, Skalk distributed free sample copies. A man was first sent to Randers, where he delivered 200 copies through random letterboxes, yielding four subscribers (two percent). Then a third of the country's households received a trial issue, securing the readership. Apart from a starting grant of DKK 1,500, Skalk received no public subsidies. Around 2002 the Ministry of Culture offered a small grant, but it was declined because it would have required the statement 'with support from the Ministry of Culture'. The disappearance of the postal subsidy for periodicals was a severe blow, costing the magazine DKK 382,000 that year. In 1966 the magazine broke away from its original institutions and formed a self-governing foundation. Harald Andersen officially stepped down as editor in 1993, replaced by Christian Adamsen and Jørgen Kraglund, though he continued to edit a third of the magazine, which is based in Højbjerg near Aarhus. Christian Adamsen was later replaced by Leif Erik Vaag. In 2018 Jacob Buhl Jensen became director of the foundation. Since then Skalk has been edited by an external editor and a professional editorial group, currently including experts from Den Gamle By, Moesgaard Museum, Aarhus University, the National Museum and the University of Copenhagen. Skalk has had as many as 50,000 subscribers; in 2020 it had approximately 12,000 regular subscribers. A large number of authors have contributed to the magazine over the years, including P.V. Glob, Jens Vellev, Rikke Agnete Olsen, Paul G. Ørberg, Thorkild Ramskou, Tor Nørretranders, Else Roesdahl, Bi Skaarup and Jørgen Kraglund (who also designed the magazine's graphic line). Ole Worm gave his name to Skalk's publishing house Wormianum, which by 2004 could show that Glob's brændevinsbog had reached 68,000 copies, the Roskilde Chronicle 9,300, the oldest Danish cookbook 34,500 and a CD of music played on old instruments 14,000 copies. The wall chart of Danish and world history for classrooms was printed in more than 50,000 copies. At Skalk's 25th anniversary in 1982, 'Ingahild Grathmer' illustrated the celebratory edition of Bjarkemål issued by the magazine.

• 2020

  Skalk had approximately 12,000 regular subscribers.

• 2018

  Jacob Buhl Jensen became director of the foundation; editing moved to an external editor and a professional editorial group.

• 2002

  A small grant offered by the Ministry of Culture was declined because it required stating 'with support from the Ministry of Culture'.

• 1993

  Harald Andersen officially stepped down as editor, replaced by Christian Adamsen and Jørgen Kraglund.

• 1982

  25th anniversary; a celebratory edition of Bjarkemål illustrated by 'Ingahild Grathmer' was issued.

• 1966

  The magazine broke away from its original institutions and formed a self-governing foundation.

• 1964

  Publication frequency increased to six issues per year.

• 1957

  Skalk founded by Harald Andersen et al.; first issues published four times a year at DKK 4.

Popular-science magazine bringing the latest knowledge about Denmark's ancestors, their lives and culture to a broad readership.

• Skalk magazine

  Popular-science magazine about archaeology, history and cultural history.

• Skalk Junior

  History magazine for children interested in history and archaeology.

• Find Fortiden

  Service providing knowledge about ancient monuments where users are located or travelling.

• Wormianum books

  Publishing house named after Ole Worm; publications include Glob's brændevinsbog, the Roskilde Chronicle and the oldest Danish cookbook.

1. 1Skalk official websiteskalk.dk
2. 2Skalk – Wikipedia (Danish)da.wikipedia.org
3. 3Skalk – Wikidatawikidata.org