The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands
A cultural institution under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Opened: 8 May 1983
Architects: Ola Steen (NO) and Kollbrún Ragnarsdóttir (IS)
Furniture: Alvar Aalto (FI)
Executive authority: Nordic Council of Ministers
Square metres: 2407
Events per year: approx. 400
Annual visitors: approx. 120 000
The Nordic House is a Nordic arts and culture centre with a diverse programme of music, literature, visual arts, film, performance art, lectures and conferences. The Nordic House’s primary remit is to showcase Nordic art and culture in the Faroe Islands and to raise awareness about Faroese art and culture across the Nordic region. Each year we arrange and co-produce several festivals including the Children’s Culture Festival, Tórshavn Film Festival, a literature festival and the Winter Jazz Festival. We also host the annual Faroese Music Awards.
The Nordic region comprises Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden as well as the self-governing areas of Greenland, the Aland Islands and the Faroe Islands. Since early 1950s the Nordic countries have had a formalised, voluntary political and cultural collaboration. For more information about the Nordic co-operation visit norden.org.
The Lobby is the starting point from which you are led to all other rooms and experiences. Amid green plants and Nordic newspapers and children’s books the Lobby offers you a space to relax, work or enjoy a nice meal in our café Systrar.
In the Lobby the Nordic countries come together in an architectural whole, and the Nordic House’s identity is conveyed through Finnish furniture, Norwegian stone, Swedish wood, Danish steel and glass, an Icelandic roof construction and a crown of Faroese grass.
The study of Nordic art, however, begins even before you enter the house with the artworks that are permanently situated outside: Erik Nyholm’s (DK) magnificent ceramic pole, Bernhard Lipsøe’s (DK) humorous sheep, Tróndur Patursson’s (FO) powerful rock sculpture, Ívar Vargarðsson’s (IS) abstract concrete shapes, Hans Pauli Olsen’s (FO) dynamic whale killing and Guðrið Poulsen’s (FO) organic, perfect circle.
The main hall, Høllin, is an internationally recognised concert hall with first class sound, light and cinema equipment. Høllin seats 400 guests and by removing the back wall in Høllin, you open up into Klingran creating a larger space for up to 900 guests.
Klingran is a light and beautiful amphitheatre with soft, dynamic lines and a spectacular view over the city. Klingran seats 173 people.
Dansistovan – the dancing room – is full of stories and history. The charming space was purpose built for Faroese chain dancing and during the winter months local children use the space to learn this ancient tradition together with their adults. Dansistovan is also a great room for exhibitions, meetings, lectures, receptions and film screenings.
In Skálin you see a more simple and classic architecture, making it practical and flexible with many different lay-out options and functionalities. Skálin seats up to 190 people.
Norðurstova is a peaceful room which enables guests to immerse themselves in their activity. It is a light and open space for workshops or meetings, but can also be blacked out for video installations, lectures etc.
In extension of Norðurstova are Eysturstova and Vesturstova – two smaller rooms which are perfect for meetings and group work.
The annex comprising Skálin, Norðurstova, Eysturstova and Vesturstova was added in 2008.
The Nordic House has a 5-star conference classification by the Danish trade organization HORESTA
Visiting the Nordic House is free of charge, but certain events are ticketed.