Nordic Countries Conferences

Craft and Identity: New Nordic Developments

Within the context of COLLECT, the international art fair for contemporary objects, (14-17 May), the Forming Ideas curators and the network of Nordic Craft Associations will question the value of craft and its relationship to Nordic Identity. There will be presentations by speakers from the United Kingdom and the Nordic Countries followed by a chaired debate.

Representatives of the Nordic Craft Associations will be present.

Craft and Identity

New Nordic Developments

Craft has an unstable identity because it covers such a wide diversity of practices. But it is also a liberating hybrid practice operating at the interface of design on the one hand and fine art at the other. This chaired debate will explore the impact of national history and context on the identity and value of craft in the Nordic countries and the UK.

Forming Ideas has invited five notable speakers to discuss these issues with an invited audience within the context of Collect. 

Karen Kjærgaard, Architect and curator will present on 

The relationship of craft to product design in Denmark and whether craft value is enhanced by its ability to contribute to economic success.

Dr. Widar Halén, Director of Design and Craft, The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway will look at

The ways in which the work of contemporary craft artists relate to traditional Norwegian craft methods, shapes and expressions. 

Katarina Siltavuori, Co-Founder of Galerie Norsu, Helsinki will ask

Does the political context of the Nordic countries diminish the market for craft as art and does a gallery like Norsu have to market both?

Tanya Harrod, Co-editor of the Journal of Modern Craft and Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art, London will examine

How far national identity and history has an impact on the content and form of craft in the UK?

Harpa Þórsdóttir, Director of Hönnunarsafn Íslands Museum of Design and Applied Art, Reyjavik will look at 

The identity of craft in a country such as Iceland with a short history of craft practice?

Forming Ideas is a curatorial development programme funded by Arts Council England and managed by ArtProjects and Solutions.

TICKETS ARE LIMITED AND BY INVITATION ONLY