The posters feature the northern lights, the aurora borealis that appear in the Arctic sky, and are titled Magical Moments, a reference to this spellbinding phenomena, and by extension the spellbinding experience a cultural event can offer.
Supporting and organising cultural events is a central part of the Embassy’s and the Institute’s work. Cultural activities have the ability, in their own independent way, to enhance communication between people. They are tools for intercultural understanding and awareness.
Culture, as a concept, is difficult to define. Artistic expressions through art, literature, music, architecture are constantly in motion, a bit like the emerald green movement of the nordic light.
Photo: Bjørn Jørgensen. Graphic design by Torbjørn Vagstein
Talented individuals build cultural bridges between our two countries, such as for example pianist George Psychogios who, last autumn, held a piano recital with jazz improvisation on Grieg.
Enabling us to further support a wide range of cultural and artistic projects are also the contributions of the companies Det Norske Veritas, Trans Adriatic Pipeline and Gard. This is important, and being to the advantage of many parties.
Our cultural activities in 2009 focus on music, literature and architecture, such as the Nafplion Festival of classical music with a tribute to the Nordic countries, an exhibition on contemporary Norwegian architecture in connection with a series of lectures on nordic architecture at the Benaki museum, and presenting Norwegian literature, among others selected works of the nobel laureat Knut Hamsun. More events are to come, and we are looking forward to welcoming you.
By Gunhild Guldseth