Nordic Dialogues: Watch the full conferance recorded
Dancer and choreographer Julienne Doko (Denmark) is one of the participants, through the Critical Friends network. Photo: Stefano Attanasio
Nordic Dialogues took place 2-3 December 2019. See the programme and watch the full conference here.
Programme
Click on the titles to watch the video recording from each session, or go to our YouTube channel to se the all the clips in one place.
Day 1: Local learning for global use
2 December, 10.00–17.00, Vega Scene, Hausmanns gate 28, Oslo
How can we create long-term, sustainable relationships between people in our communities? Seven different cultural networks have explored methods to reach out to new groups, through the project «An Inclusive Cultural Sector in the Nordics». Museums, libraries, culture schools, artists and arts organisations will take us through what they have learnt, as well as the challenges they have met.
Nordic Forum for Interculture and the artist network Critical Friends have been facilitators and advisors to the other networks throughout the project. They will moderate a range of sessions and discussions throughout the day.
09.00 Registration
10.00 Artistic intervention
Alexander Montgomery-Andersen
10.15 Welcome: Inclusive cultural sector in the Nordics
Silje Eikemo Sande
10.30 Artistic quality and cultural democracy: The importance of creative conversation in a diverse world
Backdrop speech by François Matarasso (with Q&A)
11.30 Embracing the uncomfortable conversation
Performance lecture by Camara Lundestad Joof
11.50 Launch of «Actualise Utopia»
Anthology with 10 Nordic contributors
By editors Ninos Josef and Kemê Pellicer
12.15 Lunch
12.15–17.00 Recommendations lab opens
A place for real-time discussions and ongoing work with incoming recommendations, proposals and inspiration from the three panel debates. Bring your own ideas, frustrations and comments to the table and join in the conversation. The overall results and findings will be presented on the second day.
13.15 Parallel session: 3 sessions, 3 topics
Curated session with museums, libraries, cultural schools, artists and organisations who have participated in the project and external contributors. The first three sessions are being organised by Nordic Forum for Interculture, a network of cultural organisations.
In this session, a panel with representatives from the participating networks will discuss and reflect on how inclusive strategies and a more profound awareness of minority perspectives should influence programming and the offerings in terms of the shows, exhibitions, and programmes put on or courses taught. There is often a dissonance between the target audience desires offer and what the institution actually offers in their programme. The panel will discuss why inclusivity should become an everyday practice, rather than a project-based side endeavour.
Panel: Jeannette Ehlers, Critical Friends (DK), Martina Marti, Culture for All (FI), Jamie Johnston, OsloMet (NO), Nina Blom Bussoli, Moderna Museet (SE), Susanne Procopé Ilmonen, Åland Islands Art Museum, Lars-Ole Vestergaard, Aarhus Music School (DK). Moderator: Ari Gautier (NO)
Do we have the right resources in terms of competence and experiences to fully understand how to programme, communicate and build sustainable relations with minority communities and audiences? In this session, the panel will touch upon aspects of staff, partnerships and collaboration in order to work with intercultural competency. How can clear diversity targets support institutions in their development processes bringing other competences into the decisions? Through collaboration with new groups and institutions in new ways?
Panel: Iwona Preis, Intercult (SE), Berit Sandholdt Jacobsen, Svendborg Library (DK), Per Odd Bakke, The National Museum (NO), Elin Danielsen, Tromsø Culture School (NO), Ninos Josef, Critical Friends (SE). Moderator: Julian Owusu, Taike (FI).
3. Outreach / Audiences / Participants
From audience research, we know that if the audience perceives the cultural offer as relevant, they will come. When narratives and programmes resonate with new audiences, they engage with the institutions that frame them. In this session, the panel will discuss how arts institutions can make use of audience focus in order to create true inclusion. By engaging with target audiences in developing the programmes, institutions ensure larger commitment and impact.
Panel: Julienne Doko, Critical Friends (DK), Ahmad Joumaa, Tønder Library (DK), Mira Haataja, Culture for All (FI), Guðrún Jóna Halldórsdóttir, National Gallery of Iceland (ISL), Sylvia Carlsdotter, Simrishamn Culture School (SE). Moderator: Thomas Michael Walle (NO).
14.45 Break with activities in Salongen
15.15 Parallel session: 3 sessions, 3 topics
Curated session with museums, libraries, cultural schools, artists and organisations who have participated in the project and external contributors. These three sessions are organised by Critical Friends, a network of artists from the Nordic countries.
4. Policymaking for sustainable diversity
A diverse panel consisting of heads of institutions and cultural workers from both public and private sectors are asked to reflect on which policies and structures are necessary to ensure sustainable and continuous labour for diversity in the nordic art sectors. How can government policies, institutional initiatives and grassroots activity align to create a cohesive cycle of diversity?
Panel: Samme Raeymaekers, Dansens Hus (NO), Ruth Montgomery-Andersen, National Theatre School of Greenland (GL), Niels Righolt, Center for Kunst & Interkultur (DK), Lara Alessandra Sanna (SE), Michelle A. Tisdel, TrAP (NO), Endre Lindstøl, Larvik Culture School (NO). Moderator: Fairooz Tamimi (SE).
5. Quality vs Diversity
This panel will push beyond the discussion of whether diversity comes at the cost of quality. The panel participants will be asked to reflect on how to assess artistic quality when diversity is the main parameter.
Panel: Phyllis Akinyi, choreographer (DK), Thomas Prestø, Critical Friends (NO), Hilde Ghosh Maisey, TrAP (NO), Anders Rønningen, USN / KILforsk (NO), Meena Rathore, filmmaker (NO). Moderator: Ella Ghosh (NO)
6. A sustainable, diverse arts cycle in the Nordics
How can we ensure early recruitment, talent development and an arts field prepared to receive, support, fund and hire diverse artists? How can audience development, recruitment, programming and training be designed to intentionally intersect to create sustainable arts cycles for diverse audience and artists?
Panel: Miriam Haile (NO), Nadia Abraham, Critical Friends (Faroe Islands), Anusha Andersson, Historieberättarna (SE), Per Odd Bakke, The National Museum (NO), Sunniva Sjøstad Hovde, KILforsk (NO), Alexander Montgomery-Andersen, Critical Friends (GL), Maija Lummepuro, Ministry of Education and Culture (FI), Osiel Ibáñez, Stockholm University of the Arts (SE). Moderator: Ninos Josef, Critical Friends (SE)
16.45 Summary of day 1
By Silje Eikemo Sande (Arts Council Norway) and Niels Righolt (Nordic Forum for Interculture)
20.00 Conference dinner at Månefisken
Venue: Månefisken, Sagveien 23 A, Oslo
Day 2: New leadership methods
3 December, 10.00–16.00, Det Norske Teatret, Kristian IVs gate 8, Oslo
We need to talk about leadership, at a local, national and Nordic level. Speakers and panels will take a closer look at the allocation of power in the cultural sector. Who gets to define artistic quality?
The second day will be about the links between politics, identity and culture, and we will discuss how racism and discrimination affect the cultural sector. How can people in positions of power become more aware of their blind spots?
09.00 Registration
10.00 Tabanka: Progress
Artistic opening
10.15 Welcome (in Norwegian)
Kristin Danielsen, Director, Arts Council Norway
Mikael Höysti, Head of department for Culture and Resources at The Nordic Council of Ministers
10.30 Recap and results from day 1
Niels Righolt, Nordic Forum for Interculture
10.45 Inclusive leadership and diverse allocation of power
Keynote by Abid Hussein, Director of Diversity, Arts Council England
11.30 Coffee break
11.45 Appeals by
Trine Skei Grande, The Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality
Ulf Dernevik, Political advisor, The Swedish Ministry of Culture
(Norwegian/Swedish)
12.00 Reflections and recommendations from the project «An Inclusive Cultural Sector in the Nordics» (Norwegian/Swedish)
Conversation with project leader Silje Eikemo Sande, Thomas Prestø (Critical Friends) and Simon Strömberg (Arts Council Sweden) moderated by Kristin Danielsen (Arts Council Norway)
12.45 Julienne Doko: Mémoires Perdues (Lost Memories)
Artistic intervention.
13.00 Lunch
14.00 The Genesis of Effective Power: Make Space so I Can Represent Myself, so We Can Make History
Keynote by Dr Gladys M. Francis, Associate Professor, Georgia State University (USA)
14.30 Conversation on the making of the anthology Actualise Utopia
Monica Ifejilika, Ninos Josef and Kemê Pellicer in conversation with Asta Busingye Lydersen
15.00 This Is What Happens When We Embrace Diversity and Equity Effectively
Dr Gladys M. Francis and Critical Friend in conversation with the audience.
15.40 Art Lab: UNESCO's initiatives related to the arts and social inclusion
Amina Hamshari, Program spesialist, Sector for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
15.50 Summary by Kristin Danielsen (Director, Arts Council Norway)
16.00 The theatre bar opens (end of programme)
Host: Asta Busingye Lydersen
About the conference
How do racism and discrimination hinder innovation and inclusion in cultural life?
Policymakers, leaders, artists and cultural workers are meeting in Oslo to exchange knowledge and ideas, and discuss specific tools and strategies on the road to a more inclusive cultural sector. How can we realise the potential of a diverse Nordic region?
Given the polarised debates going on in society today, we need culture now more than ever before. Racism, nationalism and social exclusion must be combated together. Cultural experiences create this sense of togetherness. Equal opportunities to participate, regardless of one's background, is a goal for all the Nordic countries. This conference marks the end of the project An Inclusive Cultural Sector in the Nordics, which was led by the Arts Council Norway, funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Norwegian Ministry of Culture.
Streaming, social media and the app
Parts of the conference will be available through streaming at our website.
See photos and updates on our Facebook page, Kulturrådet, and engage with us on twitter: @kulturradet.
Find the conference app "Kulturrådet" where you can view the programme and connect with other participants.
Languages and interpretation
English is the official conference language.
On day one, the programme will be in English. On day two, there will be simultaneous interpretations between Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic and English.
Please choose which languages you prefer in the registration form.
Contact
For questions or information regarding the conferance, please contact:
Silje Eikemo Sande, silje.eikemo.sande@kulturradet.no