Life Below Water – Exhibition and Public Program 2021

The applicant wrote about the project:

The new project Life Below Water – Exhibition and Public Program is a development of a long-term project between Kópavogur municipality in Iceland, the Moomin Museum in Tampere, Finland, Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark and Ilons Wonderland in Haapsalu, Estonia. It is based on the previously granted project Nordic Children’s Literature & UN Development Goals and Young Curators 2020-2022. For the public programme, the partners will collaborate with a range of local and international writers, creators and artists as well as The Nordic House in Reykjavik and esteemed curator Chus Martinez.

Due to the global pandemic, the previous project has needed to change plans and adapt to the current situation. As a supplement and an independent project, this project contributes to the documentation and results of the ongoing project Young Curators and will result in a new method for children’s participation in the creation and co-curation of an exhibition opening in June 2021 in Iceland and online.

In the project, each museum brings classic Nordic children’s character into play with the current environmental issues we face on a global scale. Values like sustainability and care for nature are evident in the writings of both Tove Jansson, Hans Christian Andersen and Astrid Lindgren. By drawing in these classic Nordic characters and tales the partners keep these Nordic classics relevant among the younger generations.

Comment from the Fund:

The project partners have come up with a creative way to carry on with the project idea despite the challenges that the pandemic has caused. It has clear ambitions and future plans, and it aims to include young citizens in creating a new exhibition. The project shows a working method that is highly relevant in the present time.

Support:

Total budget: 597 500 DKK

Grant: 200 000 DKK