Norrbotten strengthened its voice on People and Culture
the conference People & Culture gathered Kculturesweden in Eskilstuna it became clear that Norrbotten was not the only one participating – several actors from the county also drove the conversation forward. This year's program included many seminars with a clear connection to northern Sweden and showed the power thatinns where culture, social development and local stories meet.
Region Norrbotten var present through co-organization of several seminars with, among others, Kultur i norr and Riksteatern.
- It is important to highlight Norrbotten on national cultural policy platforms, both strengths and challenges. The familiarity if Norrbotten is still relatively low, says Anette Winblad von Walter, head of culture at Region Norrbotten.
Reduced cultural coverage
A recurring theme at the conference was the need to strengthen cultural infrastructures throughout the country. In the seminar Art criticism throughout the country discussed how reduced cultural coverage willyears especially hard on sparsely populated regions such as Norrbotten. Silvia Colombo from Region Norrbotten described how the lack of surveillance affects both visibility and democracy.
– We risk to lose the dialogue around contemporary art and critical thinking, she said.
- Only big names reach out. There is so much more that deserves attention.
Silvia Colombo, art consultant for the Norrbotten Region, described the reality of art criticism in northern Sweden.
The role of digitalization in strengthening access to culture became clear in the presentation of the Nova K project. Through distance learning and regional collaboration, the project creates new opportunities for the cultural schools in Norrbotten and Västerbotten. It gives young people in rural areas access to cultural life in a way they would otherwise lack.
– Out in the sparse geography of Norrland, we create more attractive services and a broader range of options for young people through collaboration and digital tools, said project manager Lukas Hellgren Bákttie.
“The way forward”
Kiruna's journey towards becoming European Capital of Culture 2029 was highlighted in the seminar A small town with big movements. Here the importance of culture was emphasized in a time of great social change.
Emilia Toyrä (S), chairman of the European Capital of Culture Committee in Kiruna Municipality, emphasized the courage of the initiative.
– The fact that we say that culture is the way forward, despite tough economics, is crucial for Kiruna's future.
Artist Lena Ylipää, municipal politician Emma Töyrä (S), Markus Forsberg, cultural director/deputy administrative director at Kiruna Municipality, and cultural strategist Sofia Lagerlöf Määttä shared their thoughts on Kiruna's Capital of Culture year.
In the seminar How do regional initiatives become cultural policy synergies? Norrbotten's script processing support was highlighted as an example of how the region investsr in local stories.
– We want writers to be able to live and work in Norrbotten – and that the story of Norrbotten is actually written"Yes, sir," said Johannes Sundelin. (S), Chairman of the Regional Development Committee in Region Northbotten.
The support has also strengthened the position of minority languages, including by enabling translations into Meänkieli.
“Dancers from all over the world”
The development of dance was in focus but when Dance in the North and Norrbotten Region held the seminar Norrbotten leads the way – new initiatives for the development of dance. With newly built premises, improved production facilities and a regional dance floor,as important steps to strengthen a long-neglected art form. Olof Westring summarized the significance of the new premises:
– These dance halls are opening completely new possibilities. We kan produce more and offer professional environments that attractr dancers from all over the world.
Dance consultant Rebecka Strand talks about the project Dansutveckling Norrbotten. Next to her are Johannes Sundelin (S), chairman of the regional development committee, and Olof Westring, Dans i Nord.
Two program items highlighted the importance of culture for minorities and the work with language loss and reconciliation. Carina Henriksson put into words the pain and strength that characterizes many stories in Tornedalen:
– Language loss is an ongoing trauma. When the language was broken, The relationship with those who had carried it before us was also broken.
Here, culture became not just expression – but resistance, healing and building the future.
“Meet and think together”
The National Theatre's conversation Culture in need and lust emphasized The role of culture in democracy resilience. Johannes Sundelin raised the need for common arenas in a time of increasing resistance to facts.
– If we don't agree on the basic facts it difficult to make decisions. The culture is an arena where we can meet and think together, he said.
At the conference, Region Norrbotten showed how culture is a natural part of both regional and national development – and why presence at Folk & Kultur is strategically important.
– By being active on Folk and "With culture, we build relationships, influence cultural policy and show the opportunities for cultural creators to work in Norrbotten. It's about taking a place – and about doing it together with the rest of Sweden," says Johannes Sundelin.
Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa and Felicia Lyckemo