Centre for Nordic Otherwise

Project summary

Centre for Nordic Otherwise (CNO) is a pilot initiative based in Aarhus, Denmark, dedicated to supporting BIPoC artists and collectives across the Nordic region. Through workshops and network-building, CNO will provide a sustainable platform for racialised artists to develop critical skills and share work methods for navigating the cultural sector. This initiative addresses the lack of institutional support for BIPoC voices and critical perspectives, fostering solidarity among artists from Asia, Africa, North and South America, who are based in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Core project elements include the “Curriculum Otherwise,” a biannual workshop combining theory and practice to engage artists in critical, context-aware artistic processes, and a free online zine archiving work methods for a wider audience. The CNO network, facilitated by regular online meetings and peer-to-peer learning, aims to establish a trusted hub to strengthen Nordic cultural connections and address shared socio-political challenges. By 2027, CNO envisions expanding its workshop model, artist representation, and opening an experimental school to further amplify BIPoC artists’ influence and critical discourse across the region. 

Comment from the fund 

Centre for Nordic Otherwise is a highly ambitious project with a strong professional foundation in transdisciplinary institutions and individuals within the art field and academia. The project supports artists and cultural workers in developing their approach and research within their work. Furthermore, the project holds great potential for fostering a variety of compelling artworks, exhibitions, and collaborations focused on BIPoC art in the Nordic countries. 

Learn more here: Centre For Nordic Otherwise