Rallying for children's and young people's right to culture

Through culture, critical thinking, creativity and empathy are developed. With the theme year Children and Youth 2025-2026, Region Norrbotten is strengthening the work of giving young people tools to express themselves, understand and influence their world. – How can we coordinate? We have resources and good ideas, but we need to reach young people better, said Åsa Danell, Norrbottensmusiken, at a meeting about the theme year.

For the second time this year, important cultural actors in the Norrbotten Region gathered to talk about the right of children and young people to practice and participate in culture. It was a day filled with inspiration, concrete examples and important conversations about collaboration, structure and the future.

The need to make what we do visible and create more meeting places was clear already at the first meeting – and it was confirmed again. There is power, will and ideas, but also a need to coordinate and build long-term.

– What we often know about is that workshop, that orchestra, that offering. It's easier to get hold of information, while the strategic and structural aspects are the elusive ones. This will take us a huge step forward, said Kristina Nilsson, who works at the Cultural Affairs Office.

Great interest in Fast twitch

Among the activities carried out so far during the theme year, the following were mentioned:

• The whole of Norrbotten reads – a joint story time around the county where the children got to vote on which book would be read.
• Singing Quarter – a project where children sang together at school every day for five weeks. A total of 1700 children participated in the project, which ended with sing-along concerts on the school's cultural day.
• Dancing a book – where preschool classes read a book with a librarian and then danced the plot with the support of a dance teacher.
• Quick Jerks – a cultural support for young organizers who have received an increased budget thanks to great interest.

– The first 100,000 sold out before the holidays. That hasn't happened in years, it's really fun, said Annika Hansson, cultural developer at Region Norrbotten.

We also heard about young people who get to try weaving within the cultural guarantee in Luleå municipality, a project about art criticism for young people and much more.

Presentations were interspersed with group discussions at this year's second theme meeting.

“A listening ear”

Youth consultant Isa Ponturo talked about the project Youth Up North she works with.

– It's about offering a platform, resources, an ear that listens and bringing together those who have common threads, and there are many who have common threads.

Her work includes a regional youth council, the NYON network, idea workshops and hackathons. Initially, the focus was on regional and national cooperation, but international exchange is increasingly taking place.

– We hear from Norway, Finland, various EU collaborations, they would like us to be involved. We feel that we have a lot in common. We had a visit from a city in Finland on Tuesday, they do quite similar work but in a completely different way. It is also a learning experience.

Isa Camara Ponturo, youth consultant in the Norrbotten Region.

“A unique challenge”

Isa Ponturo sees a shift in interest in Youth Up North and her work as a youth consultant, more and more people see the value in working with young people's participation and influence. Within the county, special effort is now being put on the Ore Fields, where there are great needs.

– We are prioritizing Kiruna and Gällivare quite strongly now, it is a unique challenge to move a community.

It is clear that the county is bubbling with activity. The work for the next generation's cultural participation and engagement continues. Region Norrbotten looks forward to continuing to build together, during and after the theme years.

Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa