2019 marks an important year for Norwegian arts in Germany.
Norway’s participation as Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse is the high point of a year of Norwegian culture in Germany throughout 2019. This integrated cultural programme will be carried out in collaboration with partner organisations in Norwegian Arts Abroad and other Norwegian cultural institutions, together with German institutions.
In addition to being Guest of Honour at the book fair, Norway will also be the ‘Country in Focus’ at the 2019 European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlin International Film Festival (the Berlinale), and the partner country at jazzahead! 2019 in Bremen.
Norway in focus at the European Film Market at the Berlin International Film Festival
Norway will officially begin its cultural presence in Germany in February 2019, when Norway will be the ‘Country in Focus’ at the European Film Market of the Berlinale. The spotlight will be on Norway’s filmmakers and productions. The idea is to intensify exchanges between Norway and Germany in the culture, business, science, and technology sectors.
Norway in focus at jazzahead! in Bremen
In April 2019, the Norwegian focus will continue when Norway will be the partner country at the world’s largest jazz trade fair and showcase arena in Bremen. Norwegian jazz artists have had a big influence on the international jazz scene for over fifty years. Being partner country at jazzahead! gives us a unique chance to strengthen the standing of Norwegian jazz even further in Germany and internationally.
Norway as Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019
As Guest of Honour, Norway will have an extensive cultural programme, presenting a wide range of its arts and culture throughout Frankfurt during the weeks before and during the book fair in October 2019. Visitors can look forward to a rich and diverse programme that includes visual arts, applied arts, performing arts, music, design, crafts, archaeology, architecture, photography, concerts, and film.
One of the highlights will be on show at the Museum Angewandte Kunst (MAK). For 3–4 months, the Museum will be converted into the ‘House of Norway’! The exhibition curator and museum director, Matthias Wagner K, is very excited about showcasing Norway, and what it has to offer, in a surprising way for German and international audiences.
Some events will also take place in connection with the Guest of Honour appearance in other German cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, and Düsseldorf.
The details of the cultural programme will be announced in Frankfurt in June 2019.
Leading up to the Berlinale, jazzahead! and Frankfurter Buchmesse, Norway will demonstrate the breadth of Norwegian culture, in which film, music, dance, theatre, literature, and art overlap.
Through an integrated programme consisting of wide-ranging and multidisciplinary cultural events and activities, Norwegian art will have a strong presence in Germany in 2019, which we believe will open more doors for Norwegian artists in Germany, revitalise the contact between Norway and Germany, and lead to mutual collaboration and success stories far beyond 2019.