Canada to Host Joint Nordic Cultural Initiative in 2021

Tove Jansson’s Moomins at Nordic Matters in 2017. | Image: Camilla Gross via norden.org

The Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture has announced that the next joint Nordic cultural initiative will be held in Canada in 2021. The initiative will focus on on artistic innovation, inclusion, sustainability and boosting relationships with the Nordic Region in multiple cities, such as Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver and Iqaluit.

Previous initiatives have included Nordic Matters, a year-long festival in London in 2017, and Nordic Cool, which took place in Washington in 2013. The initiatives highlight the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

The winning proposal is based on the extensive cooperation that exists between the Nordic Region and Canada, and includes a range of artistic genres and multiple venues from coast to coast and north to south. It also has a clear sustainability perspective. The event will last through the year of 2021.

"We are delighted to present Canada as the host of the next joint Nordic culture initiative in 2021. Previous initiatives in London and Washington served as ideal opportunities to work more closely with creatives in the host countries and boost interest in Nordic culture in the broad sense,” says the Icelandic Minister of Culture and Education, Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, who is also chair of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture in 2019. “It promises to be an ambitious, varied and enlightening programme in Canada. I would encourage everybody to keep a close eye on this event. Exciting times lie ahead.”