Peter Tulinius Krarup elected as new director of Nordic House in the Faroe Islands

Peter has a long and internationally distinguished career in the cultural sector. He was born in Haslev in 1970 and has studied and worked in Denmark, Norway, the UK, and Germany, which has given him a broad skillset and a strong network in the northern European cultural scene. Since 2019, he has been director of Harstad Kulturhus, where he is responsible for the operation of three central cultural institutions in the region and leads an organisation with more than 40 employees.

“It’s an honour for me to lead this esteemed cultural venue – Norðurlandahúsið in the Faroe Islands. This architectural and versatile gem is, quite understandably, held in very high regard in Faroese society,” he says.

Peter points out that, at a time when Nordic co-operation is more important than ever, Nordic House is a vital bridge between the Faroe Islands and the rest of the Nordic Region, and is a key platform for dialogue, cohesion, and artistic quality. 

Together with the team at Nordic House and the diverse Faroese cultural scene, he is looking forward to further developing the institution as a welcoming and dynamic venue where both Faroese and Nordic culture can inspire and enrich each other. Furthermore, he is looking forward to settling down in the Faroe Islands and playing an active role in its cultural and social scene.

Peter has an academic background in European cultural policy, administration, and musicology, as well as many years of experience from orchestras, festivals, and cultural organisations. He therefore possesses a keen understanding of cultural policy, as well as extensive administrative and artistic expertise.

“I’m delighted to welcome Peter within Nordic co-operation as the new director of Nordic House in the Faroe Islands. He comes to us with a wealth of leadership experience and a special understanding how important such cultural centres are in a community. We know that Nordic House will be in the safest of hands with Peter,” says Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Karen Ellemann.

Nordic House in the Faroe Islands (“Norðurlandahúsið í Føroyum” in Faroese) is a well-visited cultural centre that organises more than 300 cultural events each year, including festivals for children, art exhibitions and concerts, also in collaboration with the Faroese Symphony Orchestra. It opened in 1983 as one of five Nordic cultural institutions under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The unique building, designed by architects Ola Steen from Norway and Kolbrún Ragnarsdóttir from Iceland, has since served as a much-loved cultural landmark in Torshavn, welcoming 120,000 visitors per year. The aim is both to strengthen the cultural exchange with the rest of the Nordic Region and to promote the cultural scene in the Faroe Islands.

The current director Gunn Hernes is leaving the post after a full eight years. Under her leadership, Nordic House has been able to offer a high-quality and varied programme to a Faroese audience, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 and inflation. In addition, Gunn has worked a lot with the green transition within the cultural sector, giving Nordic House a greener profile. Furthermore, she has focused on younger audiences and developed Nordic House into an active player in the Nordic and Faroese social debate. She will hand over the baton to Peter on 1 September.