ASF + Scandinavia House

Grants are now open for the 2026-2027 American-Scandinavian Foundation’s Nordic Folk Arts and Cultural Traditions in the Upper Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). These fellowships and grants, initiated in 2017, nurture traditional arts and skills that are rooted in Nordic countries but practiced in the United States. Through these awards, ASF extends its reach beyond New York to foster Nordic traditional arts and skills in Upper Midwestern communities, while also promoting cultural exchange between the U.S. and Nordic countries. 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 — 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀. All of our grants encourage both the practice of folk arts and cultures and the presentation of these arts to public audiences. To learn more, visit the American-Scandinavian Foundation link in our bio or visit the page directly at: go.amscan.org/FolkArt . #arts #Nordic #Scandinavian #AmericanScandinavianFoundation #artsfunding #artsgrants #folklore #folk #folkart #culturaltraditions #culture #grants #awards #fellowships #grants #artistfellowships #publicprogramming #artgrants #Midwest #Minnesota #Iowa #Michigan #SouthDakota #NorthDakota #Wisconsin

Scandinavia House is pleased to present 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩: 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙘 𝘼𝙧𝙩, opening on April 18, 2026. A group exhibition featuring 21 contemporary artists from the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway, 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 highlights the unique perspective of these North Atlantic territories, who share cultural and historical ties while each possessing distinct identities and communities. With works ranging across photography, paintings, textiles, film, and sculpture, including three site-specific installations, the exhibition also showcases the diversity and complexity of the region. On view through June 20, 2026, ongoing related programming will include an opening celebration, Gallery Tours, and more. Participating artists include: Morten Andenæs (NO) The Arctic Creatures (IC) @thearcticcreatures Per Barclay (NO) Ask Bjørlo (NO) @askbjorlo Jóhan Martin Christiansen (FO) @johanmartinchristiansen Helgi Þorgils Friðjónsson (IC) @helgithorgils Inuk Silis Høegh (GL) Hansina Iversen (FO) @hansinaiversen Rannva Kunoy (FO) @rannvakunoy Nils Erichsen Martin (NO) @nilserichsenmartin Trine Lise Nedreaas (NO) @trinelisenedreaas Camille Norment (NO) @camillenorment Lisbeth Karline Poulsen (GL) @lisbethkarline Ragna Róbertsdóttir (IC) Agnieszka Sosnowska (IC) @agnieszka_photographs Inuuteq Storch (GL) @inuuteqastorch Silja Strøm (FO) @siljastrom Steina and Woody Vasulka (IC) Jens Dam Ziska (FO) @jensdz The exhibition has been curated by Emily Stoddart (@annielynx ) Manager of Exhibitions at Scandinavia House, with the support of three curator consultants: Karin Hellandsjø (Norway), Kinna Poulsen (Faroe Islands) @kinna_poulsen , and Pari Stave (Iceland) @paristave . With Curatorial Assistance from Eve O’Shea (@arthistory555 ) and Exhibition Design by Hilda Forss (@hildabluedesign ). To find out more about this exhibition, please visit our website! Link in bio.

Next Tuesday, May 19, join us for a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and global correspondent Jeffrey Gettleman on his experiences reporting in Greenland over the past year for The New York Times (@nytimes ), including his on-the-ground impressions and insights into the complex dynamic between competing global interests. 🇬🇱 A global correspondent specializing in conflict and crisis, Gettleman has written for The New York Times for over two decades, reporting on topics ranging from the famine in Somalia, to terrorism in Iraq, to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Beginning in early 2025, his correspondence has focused on the Nordic region, most prominently on unfolding events in Greenland. Since then, he has reported on topics including the Greenlandic response to threats of the U.S. acquisition, political counteractions by Denmark and implications for NATO, as well as how the situation has affected everyday life in Kalaallit Nunaat. The discussion will take place at 12 PM EDT via Zoom, and will include a discussion followed by an audience Q&A. Advance registration is recommended. Register using the link in our bio! #greenland #newyorktimes #journalism #kalaallitnunaat

Attention, NYC families! The Heimbold Children’s Center invites you to join us for a Family Midsummer Celebration. Midsummer marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and is a time for lively celebration of light, abundance, and the beauty of the summer season. Bring your family and join us for an afternoon of art, music, flowers and more! From 1:00-4:30pm, learn to craft traditional flower crowns using real florals, make your own printed textile bandana, add a wish to our community garland, enjoy seasonal refreshments, and create your own Swedish candy Pick-n-Mix! This event is intended for children ages one to ten. Every participant—adults and children alike—must hold their own ticket to attend. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Follow the link in our bio for tickets and event information.

“Utterly enrapturing”—Tomorrow, May 13th, see LOVE, Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s first installment of the widely acclaimed Oslo Trilogy! An ambitious trilogy from Norwegian novelist/filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud, LOVE–SEX–DREAMS are three distinct feature films linked by their themes of nontraditional intimacy, but need not be seen in any particular order. LOVE focuses on two colleagues at an Oslo hospital — Marianne, a straight (and straitlaced) doctor, and Tor, a gay male nurse. Both single, they cross paths by chance after hours and confide in each other: Marianne confesses her desire to be more adventurous and open in her encounters with men; Tor shares his fatigue with Grindr hook-ups. Their conversations form the heart of exploration of desire and emotional fulfillment. We’re screening all of the Oslo Trilogy this spring—don’t miss the final installment with SEX on Wednesday, May 20 at 7PM. Get your tickets at our bio link! #oslotrilogy @modernfilmsent

Join us tomorrow, May 12, for an unforgettable evening with world-renowned piano virtuoso Mūza Rubackytė, as we celebrate 250 years of American independence, 100 years of the Consulate General of Lithuania in New York, and the enduring strategic and cultural partnership between Lithuania and the United States! In this special program co-sponsored by @lithuanian_culture_institute and @ltconsulateny , Mūza Rubackytė will bring to life works by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Lithuania’s iconic composer and painter; Raminta Šerkšnytė, one of the country’s leading contemporary composers; and Leonard Godowsky, a Lithuanian-born musician who achieved international acclaim in the United States and was celebrated among the giants of classical music. Audiences will also enjoy interpretations of classical masterpieces by Claude Debussy and Franz Liszt, creating an evening that bridges past and present, Lithuania and the United States, tradition and innovation. Get tickets using the link in our bio! #america250 #lithuania #classicalmusic #ciurlionis

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for the ASF Spring Gala 🎉🍾! We had an amazing time at our annual celebration, this year honoring the 25th Anniversary of Scandinavia House! Highlights included the presentation of the ASF Gold Medal to ASF Trustee Barbro Osher, one of the most generous, supportive Trustees since joining the board in 1995. Edward Gallagher, ASF President for 30 years, was honored on the eve of his retirement with the ASF Niels Poulsen Award for his dedicated service. The evening also featured remarks by Peg Breen, President of @nylandmarks , and a beautiful performance by soprano Anna Thompson @annathompson9 , the 2026 recipient of ASF’s Birgit Nilsson Award and the 2026 Grand Finalist winner of the Eric and Dominique Laffont Metropolitan Opera Competition. And, of course, a fabulous dinner, drinks, and lots of dancing at @theplazahotel in New York! Thanks to Honorary Chair ASF Trustee Monika A. Heimbold and Gala Chairs Dr. Sigríður Benediktsdóttir, Lizanne Kindler, Jarno Vanto, Kristina Kittilsen and Maria Ederer. And many thanks to @bonbonnyc_ , @norwegianbaked , @knipschildt_chocolatier , @lakridsbybulow , @fika.and.hygge for their delicious contributions to the gift bags (all available at @theshopatscandinaviahouse ) — and to Studio Z for the photobooth! The fundraising from this evening provides important support for the educational and cultural programs at ASF—thanks to all who attended for helping ASF to continue our mission of Nordic-American intellectual and cultural exchange! Photos by @mariamelinphotography ; stay tuned for more pics!

Books by 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 co-curator Kinna Poulsen @kinna_poulsen and featured artist collective The Arctic Creatures @thearcticcreatures are now available in @theshopatscandinaviahouse ! The books — both of which include works currently on view in the Scandinavia House galleries — speak to the current landscape of West Nordic contemporary art, as well as its contested future. +++ 𝗔𝗧 𝗘𝗬𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗢𝗻 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗲 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 Since writing her first paid art review in 1996, Kinna Poulsen has worked as a freelance art critic, curator, and arts educator in the Faroe Islands and in Denmark, bearing witness to major social changes and the corresponding development of Faroese visual art. In this major work, Poulsen focuses on representatives of various artistic currents, as well as larger themes of art in the 21st century, via two essays. The title, AT EYE LEVEL, conveys that this book is based on Poulsen's personal experiences of art, establishing communication not just with the art itself, but also with her readers and her own times. Featuring work by 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 artists Jóhan Martin Christiansen, Hansina Iversen, Silja Strøm, Rannva Kunoy, and Jens Dam Ziska; out from @sprotin.fo . 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 The Arctic Creatures is a collective of three Icelandic artists who have known each other since childhood: visual artist Hrafnkell Sigurdsson, filmmaker and director Óskar Jónasson and actor/ theater director Stefán Jónsson. For over 15 years, they have collaborated on photographic works set in the Icelandic wilderness. Bringing an energetic, witty and humorous approach to issues of masculinity, plastic pollution and anthropocentric traditions, the collective reassesses humanity’s often ignorant approach to nature and energy consumption. 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 is on view now through June 20 in the Scandinavia House Galleries. Learn more at our bio link! #faroeseart #faroeislands #arcticcreatures #contemporaryart

Book Tour Day 14 (Tues): 10 yrs to the day after Guðni announced (on my 40th birthday!) that he was running for president of Iceland, my memoir of my time serving as First Lady was published in the US - on my 50th birthday. Though far from family, I had a wonderful day, and it began with a lovely gesture: Three yrs ago, I was interviewed on @goodmorningamerica Good Morning America, and Valerie Johnson, who did my make-up that day and had stayed in touch via Instagram, offered to do my make-up again yesterday. So for my NYC launch event at @scanhouse Scandinavia House, I looked pretty fancy, if I do say so myself. Thanks also so very much for the wonderful messages I received all day, to @janice.kaplan for moderating the conversation, and to everyone who attended.

Join us for a panel on the future of Nordic-American design with Daniel Baumann, Daniel Sundlin, and Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter! 🏢 With this installment bringing the series to a close, "Nordic American Connections: Conversations on Architecture and Design" has been a four-part series presenting prominent architects, critics and scholars as they reflect on Scandinavian and Nordic design’s enduring impact in shaping modern American design since the 19th century. The fourth and final panel on May 14 will bring together contemporary Nordic American architects focusing on the challenges they face as designers in a rapidly changing environment—AI and technology, economic volatility, climate vulnerability—and what’s next for future practice. These design leaders will highlight their firms’ approaches to innovation, research and collaboration, and cross-cultural influences used in their work. Participants include Daniel Baumann, Principal and Design Director at Henning Larsen (@dh_baumann ); Daniel Sundlin, partner at BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group (@big_builds ); and Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter, Director of Architecture for Communities Los Angeles (ACLA). The program will be moderated by Susan Chin of DesignConnects. Organized by ASF with Susan Chin in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects New York (@centerforarch ) and American Institute of Architects Continental Europe (@aiacontinentaleurope ), the series has honored Scandinavia House's 25th anniversary of providing a home for Nordic culture in NYC. Learn more and register at our bio link! #architecture #designconnects

For many North American audiences, the Nordic region still arrives through a familiar set of images: clean-lined design, winter light, crime fiction, welfare-state modernism, ancient myth, and a certain cultivated quiet. These associations are not wrong, but they can make a vast and varied region feel deceptively tidy. They risk turning “the North” into an aesthetic rather than a living geography. This spring, one of the most interesting correctives to that narrow idea of Nordic culture can be found not in Reykjavík, Tórshavn, Nuuk, or Oslo, but in New York. Now on view at Scandinavia House, *Inside Voices, Outside Light: Perspectives on West Nordic Art* brings together 21 contemporary artists from the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. Presented by the American-Scandinavian Foundation at Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, the exhibition runs from April 18 through June 20, 2026. Our latest Arts & Culture feature explores why West Nordic art feels unusually close to North America right now — and why this North Atlantic conversation matters for Nordic, Baltic, and diaspora audiences across the US and Canada. Read the full article at thenorthernvoices.com Visit the exhibition at @scanhouse in New York through June 20. #TheNorthernVoices #ScandinaviaHouse #ArtsAndCulture #NordicStories #WestNordicArt

Join us on for guided gallery tours of 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 on select Wednesdays this May and June! Borrowing from the title of a collection of poetry by Icelandic poet, translator and film director Sigurður Pálsson, 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑽𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒄 𝑨𝒓𝒕 brings together a diverse spectrum of work from the West Nordic region, from the haunting, almost surreal, and authentic images in Inuk Silis Høegh’s four-part film 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝐿𝑎𝑛𝑑; to the high energy and humor of the artist collective The Arctic Creatures; to the intricate and delicate textile tapestries of Ask Bjørlo. With current geopolitical conditions renewing interest in the area, some works also confront misconceptions. Lisbeth Karline Poulsen depicts resistance and strength in reaction to the current annexation threats, while Trine Lise Nedreaas explores our shared experience of a temporal existence in a relentless eternity. The exhibition also features site-specific work by Camille Norment, Hansina Iversen and Jóhan Martin Christiensen. The first Guided Gallery Tour will take place on Wednesday, May 6, at 5:30 PM, and will be led by curator Emily Stoddart, who will discuss the context behind each of the artists and their works. Gallery Tours will continue on Wednesdays, May 20 & 27, and June 10 & 17. The exhibition will remain on view through June 20, 2026. Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 12-6 PM, Wednesdays 12-7 PM. Learn more and register at our bio link! Photos 1-9: Installation views by KC Maddux/Chromatic Studios NYC @artdocnyc . Slide 10: Agnieszka Sosnowska: 𝑂𝑢𝑟 𝐸𝑚𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒. 𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑡. 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑠𝑠𝑡𝑎ð𝑎𝑠𝑘𝑜́𝑔𝑎𝑟. 𝐼𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑, 2020​ @agnieszka_photographs