FORCE
Nordic Niceness?
Public Art Beyond Consensus
Hanaholmen/Finland, Fri 4 December at 09:00
Nordic Niceness? Public Art Beyond Consensus asks what happens when art refuses to be “nice”. Bringing together artists, academics and cultural actors from across the Nordics, the conference explores public art as a site of negotiation, contestation and belonging. Through discussions on representation, access and power, it examines whose stories shape the Nordic narrative and which voices remain at its margins. At a time of growing political polarization and social division, the conference considers the role of public art in creating space for friction and dialogue.
Friday 4. Dec at Hanaholmen, Finland
Further information about the conference, including the programme and registration, is coming soon.
The conference is organized in collaboration with Hanaholmen and The Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute.
The event was supported by Nordic Culture Fund, The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, Eckbos legat and Fritt Ord.
Through knowledge sharing, case studies, and conversations, we will explore how artists and actors in the art field navigate a public sphere marked by increased polarization and growing pressure on freedom of expression. The conference will serve as a meeting place to identify shared challenges and strategies, and to explore and discuss experiences and practices from across the Nordic region.
We ask which forces are attempting to limit freedom of expression, and which methods we have to strengthen it in response. To what extent are artists today affected by harassment, censorship, and self-censorship? What support, trust, and frameworks do artists need to work freely in public spaces? What challenges arise at the moment when an artwork is realized and encounters audiences, media, and public debate? Can controversy and engagement around public art help strengthen freedom of expression, and why do we so often fail to turn conflict into constructive dialogue?
The conference aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences and shared reflection across the Nordic region, and marks the beginning of a series of conferences that will build on the insights and issues raised here.
FORCE
Voice in Public Art is part of the initiative FORCE – a platform for artistic freedom of expression and democratic dialogue. FORCE aims to bring together participants from across the Nordic region for a current, interdisciplinary discussion on the role of art in the public sphere, and to serve as a platform for strengthening preparedness for artists working in public spaces.