The three Nordic cultural meetings are joining forces in a perennial co-operation.

New Nordic partnership

Kulturytring, Folk och Kultur and Kulturmødet Mors are beacons of light for the cultural debate in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. They are democratic platforms where artists, cultural workers and citizens meet despite geographical, generational, political and social differences to discuss the role of art and culture in our society.  

The three cultural conventions are now for the first time joining in a long-term co-operation, which —from 2024 through 2026— will result in a more cross-Nordic oriented programme, as well as a continuous exchange of knowledge and experience between the three organisations. The co-operation is initiated and supported by the Nordic Culture Fund, as part of the Fund’s ongoing work to create new connections for the development of cultural politics and conversation on a Nordic level. 

We’re experiencing a growing necessity for knowledge, conversation and debate in the Nordic region. The Nordic societies are going through changes, and it’s become even more important to create arenas, where we can shift our gaze from National contexts and facilitate exchange and dialogue on a broader, Nordic and international level. We’re very happy to see that a co-operation between some of the most important Nordic meeting grounds is taking shape, and we’re looking forward to watching the development of this initiative, says Maria Mediaas Jørstad, director of the Nordic Culture Fund.   

Focus on democracy and the next generation 

Throughout the period, the partners will work together to create a Nordic programme, which will feature at every cultural meeting. The will be a particular focus on democracy and the next generation. The vision is to make the Nordics relevant, as a whole, for the thousands of participants in the three countries. Among other things, the voices of those 20-30 years young will see an increased focus and will be an important part of the 2024-2026 programmes. This is to make space for a diverse and contemporary conversation across generations.  

“We believe art and culture plays an important role when it comes to creating new communities and formulating those visions of the future we are striving for. With a Nordic co-operation between the three cultural meetings, our ambition is to strengthen the Nordic cnversation, in a time where the world, as we know it, is changing”, project manager Kaia Brænne (Kulturytring), project manager Ismo Railisson (Folk och Kultur) and project manager Trine Bang (Kulturmødet Mors) express in a joint statement. 

The co-operation will additionally examine the state of democracy in the nordic countries. Teh central questions are: what the Nordic countries can learn from each other, how to create a Nordic community based on inclusion, where new voices are heard, and what a Nordic future looks like in a global world.  

The first programme will be presented at the cultural meeting “Folk och Kultur” in Eskildtuna, Sweden, on the 7th–10th of February. “Kulturmødet Mors” follows on August 22nd-24th. “Kulturytring” is organised every two years, with the next installation in Drammen, Norway, in 2025.