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Nordic sound: Iceland inspires with art and culture in Greifswald!
The Icelandic Minister of Culture Logi Einarsson visits the University of Greifswald for the Nordic Sound Festival and discusses art and research.
Nordic sound: Iceland inspires with art and culture in Greifswald!
On May 9, 2025, the city of Greifswald and the university received the Icelandic delegation led by the Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, Logi Einarsson, and the Ambassador of Iceland to Germany, Auðunn Atlason. The visit took place as part of the renowned festival Nordic sound took place, which offered a festive evening that was intended to celebrate the cultural connections between Iceland and Germany.
In his speech, Logi Einarsson underlined the immense importance of art and culture for cultural heritage and international dialogue. Together with the Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig, he took over the patronage of the 2025 festival. Iceland presented a diverse program that consisted of music, literature, film and visual art. The evening's musical accompaniment was enriched by the Icelandic jazz singer Stína Ágústsdóttir.
Cultural diversity and educational projects
The Icelandic delegation had the opportunity to meet with the Rector, Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel to talk about Erasmus+ and future research collaborations. Einarsson was particularly interested in the main research areas, student life and career opportunities in Greifswald. Another item on the program was a visit to the Institute for Finnish and Scandinavian Studies, where stimulating discussions took place with teachers and students. Prof. Dr. Clemens Räthel emphasized the special importance of the institute for Northern Europe.
As part of the festival, the focus is on the motto “Art and science go hand in hand”. The extensive supporting program includes readings, exhibitions, films and scientific events. Among other things, the exhibitions show pictures of Iceland by Gunther Gehler as well as Arctic photos from Fridtjof Nansen's expedition. There will also be a panel discussion that deals with the (untouched) nature of Northern Europe and offers a deep insight into the region's art and literature. A special children's sound program enables even the youngest visitors to immerse themselves in Nordic culture in a playful way.
Global partnerships and cultural development
The festival is part of a larger context in which the role of art and culture in social development is examined in a new light. In this context, the reported Nordisk Cultural Fund about current projects such as the Arts & Health Collective, which promotes the integration of art into the health sector. This is done with the participation of academics, artists and health professionals from different countries. Another project, Critical Voices, aims to intensively strengthen dialogue about the diversity of cultural expressions and the role of cultural policy.
The mayor of Greifswald, Dr. Stefan Fassbinder, warmly welcomed the delegation and asked for an entry in the city's Golden Book, which underlines the appreciation of cultural exchange between nations. Those interested can find details about the diverse festival and ticket information on the official website skandinavien.de, which also includes social media and a Spotify channel for musical tunes.