Documentation of the Nordic-Baltic Conference 2024

The Nordic-Baltic Conference 2024 talks are now available!

Artists at Risk’s (AR) Co-Director Marita Muukkonen participated in the Nordic-Baltic Conference 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden. The event brought together experts, researchers, and civil servants to exchange knowledge with professionals in the cultural sector.

AR co-director, Marita Muukkonen, engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue with Bongi McDermott from the Swedish Arts Council, titled “Freedom of Culture During Crisis and War”.

Artists at Risk (AR) Co-leader Marita Muukkonen and Lusine Djanyan, artist and activist, member of Pussy Riot.

Notable speakers also included Lusine Djanyan (Pussy Riot), who explored themes of dictatorships and cultural genocide, alongside other experts such as:

  • Khazar Fatemi journalist and documentary filmmaker, on ‘cultural heritage, the inner light’
  • Frederik Rosén, from the Nordic Center for Cultural Heritage and Armed Conflict, on ‘cultural Heritage and security: A Nordic lead in NATO​’
  • Stefan Ingvarsson, from the Swedish Institute on International Affairs, on ‘weaponizing cultural heritage and cultural identity: Russian tactics in Ukraine’
  • Gunvor Kronman from Hanaholmen and Kristin Danielsen from Arts and Culture Norway, discussing ‘cultural resilience in the Nordic-Baltic region’

Amid ongoing international conflicts, the conference aimed to bring together the Nordic and Baltic countries to share knowledge and experiences. This exchange was intended to strengthen collective resilience and preparedness in the cultural sector, with an emphasis on protecting cultural heritage.

The event, on 11 and 12 June, was organized by the Finnish Heritage Agency, the Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Norway, and the Swedish Arts Council, with funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Full event details and recordings: https://www.raa.se/in-english/events-seminars-and-cultural-experiences/nordic-baltic-conference-2024/

Marita Muukkonen and Bongi McDermott – Freedom of Culture During Crisis and War: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZ2Xckk8rg