Arctic Pulse at Kulturkonferanse i Nord 2026
Artists, organisers and cultural leaders gathered in Narvik on 16–17 March 2026 to explore how Nordic cultural cooperation can work in practice. Arctic Pulse was part of the two-day conference through Musikk i Nordland and Norrlandsoperan.
Musikk i Nordland co-organised the conference with Vinterfestuka and regional partners. The programme featured Kven music by Viktor Wilhelmsen and Nordting, led by Amund Sjølie Sveen with musicians from Musikk i Nordland. Part performance, part public assembly, Nordting brought Northern voices and perspectives into the conversation.
In the closing panel, From Words to Action, Norrlandsoperan’s CEO Helle Solberg shared experience from Arctic Pulse’s collaboration between music organisations in northern Norway, Sweden and Finland. Alongside State Secretary Trude Storheim and Tord Krogtoft, Director of Narvik Kulturhus and Folkets Hus, she explored how cultural organisations, researchers and politicians can work together and build connections that last.
Connections made through Arctic Pulse’s Producers Network also helped Musikk i Nordland shape the conference’s discussion of culture in times of crisis and the future of Nordic cooperation.
Arctic Pulse is the public name of the Arctic Music Circles project. The project was co-funded through the EU’s Interreg Aurora programme and by Region Norrbotten, Luleå Municipality, Region Västerbotten, Umeå Municipality, Lapin Liitto, Nordland County Council and Troms County Council.
About Arctic Pulse
Arctic Pulse is the shared external brand of Arctic Music Circles, an Interreg Aurora project supporting cross-border music collaboration in northern Sweden, Finland and Norway.
The project works to strengthen the music scene in the Arctic region by creating new connections, increasing visibility and building long-term collaboration across borders.