The Norwegian city of Bodø in the Arctic was in the spotlight as European Capital of Culture 2024 - alongside Bad Ischl Salzkammergut (Austria) and Tartu (Estonia).
This was a historic moment in the history of the European Capital of Culture, as Bodø was the first city within the Arctic Circle to receive this prestigious title. After Bergen in 2000 and Stavanger in 2008, Bodø (population 53,500) was the third Norwegian city to hold this title.
The entire Bodø 2024 Capital of Culture programme had a strong focus on Arctic culture, including a focus on the Sámi way of life and the important relationship between land and sea in this part of the world.
From the opening ceremony on a floating stage in Bodø harbour to the unique Sami theatre trilogy, which highlights the relationship between people and animals and the Sami perspective on climate change, the Bodø 2024 programme was closely interwoven with the natural elements and indigenous heritage of the region.
Despite the Arctic location, the organisers had spread the main events throughout the year. As the region is spoilt by the midnight sun in summer and the polar night in winter, it was fitting that light is a recurring theme.
Sami theatre and music, the struggle for Sámi rights, indigenous stories, digital technologies, climate change, Arctic culture, Arctic cuisine, Arctic landscapes, the controversial figure of Nobel Prize winner Knut Hamsun and the tradition of stockfish were just some of the focal points from the overall programme of Bodø 2024, which the organisers planed to be "the longest party in the world", both in terms of duration and area: The county of Nordland stretches almost 500 kilometres from north to south.
contact:
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