NAPA: Supporting creative collaborations across Nordic cultures

By Trine Ejlskov Jensen-Martin

Greenland’s capital Nuuk is home to NAPA, a cultural institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers which supports and develops the creative and artistic scene across Greenland and the Nordics. With a focus on identity, language, children and young people, it enables emerging creative collaborations between Greenland and the Nordic cultures.

“There is so much creative talent in Greenland,” says Susanne Andreasen, newly appointed director of NAPA. Andreasen brings with her a wealth of experience from a background in theatre, culture and arts in Denmark and Nuuk, and her enthusiasm will ensure the continued development of strong creative bonds across Greenland and the Nordics. “We work to support all the potential here, all the talented people, all the good stories.”

NAPA: Supporting creative collaborations across Nordic cultures

Suialaa Arts Festival. Photo: Malik Brøns/NAPA

NAPA is based in Katuaq culture centre in Nuuk and is a visible and approachable part of the local creative community. At the core of the institute is a focus on collaboration, on working together across cultures and artistic disciplines. “We connect people and ideas that may work together to continue the strong sense of Nordic and Arctic collaborations and cultural exchanges,” says Andreasen.

NAPA’s Cultural Funding Programme supports ideas within art and culture, that bring a Greenlandic relevance to the entire Nordic region, and each project must have at least one partner from Greenland and one Nordic partner.

“One of our exciting projects is Allatta, which means let’s write,” Andreasen explains. This is a literary competition for young writers in Greenland and acts as a temporary author school for those taking part. The theme for this year’s competition was scary stories, an integral part of the culture in Greenland. “The six winners have had their short stories published,” says Andreasen. The collection of short stories is called Allatta! Strange experiences.

The winners of this year’s Allatta – Let’s write. Photo: Malik Brøns/NAPA

Another project is Naapitta – Let´s meet, a collaboration between NAPA, Greenlands youth council Sorlak, and DUF, Denmark’s youth council. The event, which took place in September 2023, explored the differences and similarities between Sami and Inuit cultures.

NAPA also co-produces the Suialaa Arts Festival (previously Nuuk Nordic Culture Festival), a biannual event and the largest ongoing festival in Greenland. This is the biggest event of its kind in Greenland and exhibits the works of artists from Greenland, the Nordics and the Arctic Circle.

With Andreasen at the helm, the Nordic Institute in Greenland is sure to go from strength to strength in its continued support of art, culture and creative collaborations.