The three Nordic cultural meetings are joining forces in a perennial co-operation.
The Nordic Culture Fund has contributed to the initiation of a 3-year co-operative effort between the three great Nordic cultural gatherings “Kulturytring” (NO), “Folk och Kultur” (SE) and “Kulturmødet Mors” (DK). The purpose of this effort is to strengthen the democratic dialogue between all the Nordic countries, with a particular focus on the younger generation.
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.
Information about the three conventions
Folk och Kultur
Folk och Kultur is Sweden’s largest cultural-political convention. Since 2018 Folk och Kultur has strived to create long term and lasting structures for the free cultural-political conversation. Artistic performances and experiences are featured, in addition to conversations, debates and seminars. The initiators of Folk och Kultur are “Länsteatrarna”, the regional theatres of Sweden, Regional Music in Sweden and “Länsmuseerna”, the council of regional museums in Sweden. The owners of the project are the NGO “Kulturlyftet”. The event has evolved in close co-operation with Eskildstuna municipality and Sörmland region, and is supported by the Swedish Arts Council. 11.000 people attended in 2023.
Contact
Project manager Ismo Railisson +46 070 552 5650
Information about the three conventions
Kulturytring
Kulturytring is Norway’s largest national arena for cultural politics and the most important meeting ground for artist organisations, research environments, decision makers, competence organisations and cultural politicians in Norway. Kulturytring is owned and initiated by “NOKU – Norsk Kulturforum” (Norwegian Cultural Forum), a competence- and member organisation with a vast network of members across the country and in every region. Kulturyting is NOKU’s flagship, and is organised every second year, in election years. In the years between, Kulturyting’s activities are attached to other professional and political conferences, as well as art and cultural events. 5000 people attended in 2023.
Contact
Project manager Kaia Brænne +47 9095 8268
Information about the three conventions
Kulturmødet Mors
Kulturmødet Mors is Denmark’s place of gathering for questions on art and culture. Artists, decision makers, debattants and citizens meet for three days of August to examine current affairs in the cultural debate and make each other wiser. The connection between an ambitious specialized programme, an arts programme of the highest quality, and the close meeting between Danish cultural scene and curious citizens is the mark of Kulturmødet Mors. The programme is created in close co-operation with partners from across Denmark and counts, among other things, cultural institutions, industry organisations, ministries, municipalities, cultural networks, educational institutions, festivals, media and funds. More than 35.000 people attended in 2023.
Contact
Project manager Trine Bang +45 2138 1737
