Arts & Culture

Nordic Bridges

Jan. – Dec., launches Thurs., Jan. 27 in Toronto
Cultural festival, in person and online
Canada-wide
nordicbridges.ca

The spirits of the Nordic regions are sweeping across the country this month — and we’re not just talking about snowstorms. Nordic Bridges is an inspiring, massive year-long arts and culture exchange between Canada and the Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, Åland and the Faroe Islands) that’s starting this week.

Led by Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, where Nordic Bridges launches this Thursday, the initiative combines the incredible efforts of more than 18 programming partners from across the country.

Partners include the Toronto International Film Festival, music conference BreakOut West, cultural hub Yukon Arts Centre and Indigenous dance company Dancers of Damelahamid. Each month, Canadian audiences can immerse themselves in a number of arts disciplines, including dance, theatre, music, film, literature and cuisine.

“Nordic Bridges is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Nordic artists and Canadian artists to come together and collaborate on new pieces,” shares Laura McLeod, Director of Cultural Engagement at Harbourfront Centre and Nordic Bridges Lead Producer. “It’s a real chance to exchange ideas, knowledge and work.”

With a “coast to coast to coast” approach, McLeod and her team screened over 80 programming applications in their curation process. Chosen programs align with the initiative’s four core pillars: artistic innovation, accessibility and inclusion, Indigenous perspectives, and sustainability and resilience. The ultimate goal is to spark dialogue and provide attendees with meaningful, enjoyable experiences.

“I hope Canadian audiences come away with a surprise. If they’re holding on to any preconceived cliches of what it means to be Nordic, I hope the artist and the art disrupts those and makes them realize there’s cutting-edge art that challenges the status quo.”

The 12 months of programming officially kicks off this Thursday (Jan. 27) with Nordic Lights, an outdoor light festival hosted at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. Curated by Norway’s Anastasia Isachsen, the installation combines the work of several countries, which is a unique experience for all involved.

“There are light festivals throughout the Nordics, but they’ve never collaborated before on one festival,” McLeod explains. “Now, here they are, coming to Toronto and showing work for the first time! And these countries will go back and collaborate and tour together, generating a deeper exchange. Sometimes, to collaborate domestically, you first need to go internationally, and that’s been really exciting for us.”

These deeper connections are a long-term goal for Nordic Bridges.

“Through collaboration, I hope the artists come away with legacy relationships with Canadian artists. I hope this doesn’t happen just this year and that the Nordic regions return year after year. I also hope Canadian artists can visit the Nordic regions with their own work!”

Check out the list of upcoming programming and stay tuned for more events later the year — look for announcements in NEXT.

Nordic Lights

Thurs., Jan. 27 – Mon., Feb. 21
Outdoor light exhibit
Free
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., Toronto, ON
nordicbridges.ca/event/nordic-lights

Nordic Lights is an outdoor light installation along Toronto’s waterfront. It boasts a dazzling, colourful display by artists from Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Bundle up and embrace the winter magic!

Shared Terrain

Early Feb.  – Sun., Mar. 20
Design exhibition
Free
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., Toronto, ON
nordicbridges.ca/event/shared-terrain

Curated by programming partner DesignTO, Shared Terrain is a group exhibition that invited five Nordic artists to collaborate with five Canadian artists. Designers paired up and created a new piece over the course of three months, to be displayed at Harbourfront Centre. Art media include textiles, furs and ceramics.

You Name It

Feb. 5 – Mon. May 23
Art exhibit
Free
Power Plant,  231 Queens Quay W., Toronto, ON
nordicbridges.ca/event/you-name-it

Swiss-Haitian artist Sasha Huber presents her first solo show in North America. Through performance, photography and film, Huber evokes natural spaces — mountains, lakes, glaciers and forests — and uncovers the impact of colonialism on the environment.

BreakOut West

Wed., Feb. 2 – Sun., Feb. 6
Music festival
$15
Winnipeg, MB
breakoutwest.ca

Music conference and festival BreakOut West is hosted by the Western Canadian Music Alliance and presents some of the country’s best untapped talent. This year, the festival welcomes Nordic artists The Magnettes (Sweden), BSÍ (Iceland) and Cell7 (Iceland) to its virtual stages.

Nordic Talk: The Future of Black Youth on a Global Stage

Thurs., Feb 24
Online panel
Free
nordicbridges.ca

This free online event invites panelists and audience members to contemplate the significance of Black History Month. Though formally recognized in the United States and Canada, does it truly celebrate the Black communities or are many voices missing? Shouldn’t those voices be heard year-round and not just in February? Speakers Nontokozo Tshabalala (South Africa) and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson (Iceland) tackle this poignant subject.