Lena Leimgruber Studies Arctic Literature and Believes the Arts Is Needed in Arctic Discourse Doctoral student Lena Leimgruber at Umeå University thinks literature and the arts put the human into focus and provide an important perspective in Arctic discourse. "Literature can change you if you allow yourself to be part of it," she says to High North News.
Photographer Dan Mariner’s Access to the Decommisioned Air Station Leads to Exhibit The British photographer got access to the decommissioned air station in Bodø, Northern Norway. The photos he took there are now exhibited under the title 'First Strike City' and pose the question: What is the cost of safety, and who is footing the bill?
High Noon 2025: Northern Debate on Svalbard, Tax Cuts, Norway Seen From Russia, and Dictatorship Next week, the debate series High Noon will take place during the True Northern Arts Festival in Northern Norway. This year's edition addresses questions under the headline 'Everything is about security' – and offers strong voices from arts and culture, politics and business, research and journalism, as well as defense.
The Arctic Philharmonic Takes Its Music to Europe The world's northernmost orchestra, the Arctic Philharmonic, is bringing its northern sounds to some of Europe's most prestigious venues this summer. "Going on tour gives us the opportunity to share a piece of the Arctic with a whole new audience," says Director Trud Berg.
Icelandic Optimism Award to Jazzy and Hopeful Artist Laufey On Wednesday, the annual Icelandic Optimism Award was granted to Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir, who creates a dreamy soundscape of jazz, pop, and classical music. The award is meant to encourage artistic work, which in turn inspires the surrounding community, says Iceland's president.
European Capital of Culture: Arctic Threads Through Bodø2024 In February, the European Capital of Culture year opens in Bodø and Nordland with grand festivities. Throughout the year, the program for Bodø2024 offers experiences that reflect nature, culture, and society in the Arctic region and Sápmi.
European Capital of Culture: Arctic Threads Through Bodø2024 In February, the European Capital of Culture year opens in Bodø and Nordland with grand festivities. Throughout the year, the program for Bodø2024 offers experiences that reflect nature, culture, and society in the Arctic region and Sápmi.
A Northern Gateway to the Charm and Gravity of Life For this year's Arctic Arts Festival exhibition, the curatorial collective Pikene på Broen and various artists offer interesting perspectives on the good life in the north. Shoulders are lowered, senses are engaged – and Finnish gallows humor incites smiles all around.
A Northern Gateway to the Charm and Gravity of Life For this year's Arctic Arts Festival exhibition, the curatorial collective Pikene på Broen and various artists offer interesting perspectives on the good life in the north. Shoulders are lowered, senses are engaged – and Finnish gallows humor incites smiles all around.
A Northern Gateway to the Charm and Gravity of Life For this year's Arctic Arts Festival exhibition, the curatorial collective Pikene på Broen and various artists offer interesting perspectives on the good life in the north. Shoulders are lowered, senses are engaged – and Finnish gallows humor incites smiles all around.
"Come Home and Stay Home!" Commentary: This week, I have deep-dived into the analog world, out among people, where journalism thrives and stories are made. Mixing artists with other Northern Norwegian voices has become a pre-summer tradition for High North News.
Moddi: Threading the Musical Path Into the New North Harstad (High North News): "We are spreading out across Northern Norway to be more present in the places many of us write and sing about. To speak to the people that listen to our music. In a search to create something a bit more relevant and close to reality," says musician Pål Moddi Knutsen.
Strives for Open and Bold Art Harstad (High North News): "A lot is at stake. Art has been referred to as a "trench" – it buries itself and holds its ground. At times, there are tendencies for "burying strategies" to be needed even in our society," says Director Tore Vagn Lid.
A Tour of Eradicated Russian Protest Art The center of the border town Kirkenes in Northern Norway has been transformed into a gallery of protest art originating from Russian streets. With their war and regime criticism, the original works were quickly removed by the Russian authorities, but live on digitally through the app of the art group Yav.
Powerful Opening of Barents Spektakel, One Year After the Invasion Kirkenes: Last Friday, in the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes, there was strong advocacy for Ukrainian freedom and for art as a point of contact with Russian regime and war opponents. Within this contact lies a vital fight against dehumanization and therefore against authoritarian Russia, says Director of the Fritt Ord foundation.
Barents Spektakel Raises Questions of Doubt and Trust Today – exactly one year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and breach of trust – Barents Spektakel commences in the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes. With the help of art productions, concerts, and debates, the festival will address difficult questions of trust and border-crossing cooperation in the North.
“Diversity Is Being Invited to the Party, Inclusion Is Being Invited to Dance” Recently, the international Reykjavìk Dance Festival took place in Iceland. It seeks to challenge established ideas of how dance and dancing bodies are supposed to look – and which voices are allowed to be heard.
Russian Artist: "To Show My Art in Bodø Is Like a Fresh Breath of Freedom" Cooperation with the Norwegian side is of great support, feels Russian artist and war opponent Ulyana Podkorytova. Her art film was recently shown in Bodø. Interaction with critical voices in the art field in Russia must be maintained, believe the curators behind the project.
Our Russian Friends Need A Shoulder to Cry On (Commentary) Vardø: There is a place in the doghouse for those who, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, condemned the Barents cooperation. Had they taken a deep breath before sharpening their tongue, they could have listened to the voices of oppositional Russian artists pleading not to be forsaken.
Keeps the "Bridge of Art" over the Russian Border Open Astrid Fadnes and her colleagues in Pikene på Broen continues the interaction with independent artists in Russia. "This connection through art provides hope on both sides. Both for individuals and for the future," she says.
