Nordic delegation visits Nordic Bridges in Canada

17.05.22 | News
Anette Trettebergstuen, Norges kultur- och jämställdhetsminister
Photographer
Siri Ø Eriksen/norden.org

Anette Trettebergstuen, Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality and chair of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture in 2022, together with the Nordic ministers for culture at their meeting in Oslo earlier in May.

Nordic literature, theatre, music, film, dance, art, and design are currently drawing a great deal of attention in Canada. The Nordic Bridges cultural initiative is now in full swing. Led by Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality, Anette Trettebergstuen, a Nordic delegation will visit Canada this week to meet with artists, those working at cultural institutions, and political representatives.

Since its launch in January, the year-long cultural initiative led by Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers, has presented ambitious premieres, productions, and events across the country.

“On behalf of the Nordic ministers for culture, we’re happy to see Nordic Bridges coming to life with fantastic artists from all the Nordic countries. It’s encouraging to see such immense interest in Nordic arts and culture,” says Anette Trettebergstuen, Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality and chair of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture in 2022.   

Nordic Bridges, which will take place across ten locations and involve nearly 20 Canadian cultural institutions, is a unique opportunity for the hundreds of Nordic participating artists. They’re presenting their art through collaborations with Canadian colleagues on new platforms, and reaching a new audience with exhibitions, performances, concerts, readings, and workshops.
 

Intensive networking programme

During the week, the Nordic delegation with representatives from the Nordic ministries for culture, industry organisations, and cultural authorities will participate in an exciting programme in Toronto. They will have the opportunity to both experience Nordic art on site and meet with artists, representatives of cultural institutions, and policy makers from the Nordic Region and Canada to exchange experiences, establish networks, and discuss ways of working together.


“We want Nordic Bridges to be a platform where artists can meet new colleagues, gain new insight, and establish long-term international relationships. This exchange of art, culture and ideas has a positive influence throughout the culture sectors in the Nordic Region - from artists and programmers to policy makers,” says Anette Trettebergstuen about the ambition of the Nordic Bridges cultural initiative.

International co-operation

International co-operation is consistently top of the agenda in Canada at the moment, not least when representatives of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture, led by Anette Trettebergstuen, Chair of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture in 2022 and Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality will meet representatives from Canada’s ministry of culture, Department of Canadian Heritage, on Thursday. 

Cultural sector and sustainability

The Nordic Bridges cultural initiative is based on four cornerstones: artistic innovation, accessibility and inclusion, indigenous perspectives, as well as resilience and sustainability – which are important matters both in Canada and in the Nordic Region. The programme includes a roundtable discussion where artists, climate activists, and decision-makers will gather to discuss the role of art and culture for sustainable development.

“When it comes to the sustainability agenda, both Canada and the Nordic Region are set on taking this seriously. So, this is also an opportunity to raise awareness and make space for sharing what we’ve learnt and experienced in relation to reducing our environmental impact, and to promote inclusive cultural offerings,” concludes Trettebergstuen.
 


 

For journalists

There is an opportunity for the press to meet representatives from the delegation at the venue in Toronto on 19 May. If you’re interested, please contact Elisabet Skylare at: Elisabet Skylare, elisky@norden.org, +45 21 71 71 27

The Nordic Bridges cultural initiative aims to be carbon-neutral. All travel linked to the planning and implementation of the artistic programme will be carbon offset, and this also applies to the visits of the Nordic delegation.

Nordic literature, theatre, music, film, dance, art, and design are currently drawing a great deal of attention in Canada. The Nordic Bridges cultural initiative is now in full swing.