ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses narratives of inventions and interventions taking place in Kirkenes. It starts with description of data and methodology, followed by a brief introduction to Kirkenes' past with a focus on the period after 1990, emphasizing the major narratives that can be elaborated from this. The chapter focuses on different narratives that circulate in Kirkenes and how they are sustained and presented. It explores how narratives are kept alive, and the power of the narratives in formation of a community. The chapter focuses on how the narratives not only play roles concerning place-identity and optimism, but in fact also create series of activities, jobs, businesses and institutions. It implies that several narratives are governing the development of Kirkenes. Kirkenes has in fact developed into a border town and there are, at least three narratives supporting these changes: a border narrative, a narrative of a politicized place, and a narrative of an inclusive community.
