The collaborative work My Everyday by Nordic NOA network is now on display in Art Brut Biennale Hengelo, Netherlands!
Nearly 300 artists from all Nordic countries have contributed to this unique collaborative art project, initiated during the pandemic.
Over the past decade, a strong Nordic collaboration network, NOA Nordic Outsider Art, has developed within the field of supported art activities. During the pandemic, virtual meetings within the network intensified, inspiring the creation of a shared artwork. The theme My Everyday was chosen to highlight daily experiences during a time of social isolation.
The project began in 2022 with contributions from over 200 artists from Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. It has evolved to include significant input from Norwegian (Atelier Blekksprut) and Icelandic (Listvinnzlan) artists.
The piece brings together now nearly 300 artists from the Nordic countries. It is curated by Doctor of Arts Minna Haveri (FIN) and artist Lotte Nilsson-Välimaa (SWE). The artwork has been showcased in various forms in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and now the Netherlands.
About NOA Nordic Outsider Art network
“It feels natural and important to cooperate with the other Nordic countries.”
NOA – Nordic Outsider Art network is a collaborative network founded in 2015 in Hämeenlinna, Finland. It brings together organisations from across the Nordic countries working in the field of outsider art, including GAIA Museum Outsider Art (Denmark), Inuti (Sweden), Kettuki (Finland), Kaarisilta (Finland), Atelier Blekksprut (Norway), List án landamæra and Listvinnzlan (Iceland).
The foundations for Nordic networking activities have been built during a long time. Supported art exhibitions and bilateral activities have been organised in conjunction with various projects. For example, Danish artist Kenneth Rasmussen was Kettuki’s artist of the year back in 2009.
The idea for the NOA Nordic Outsider Art network came about in Hämeenlinna, Finland, in 2015. Having been granted funding by the Nordic Culture Fund OPPSTART, Kettuki invited four Nordic organisations to get to know each other and to share ideas about collaboration opportunities. The parties were invested in collaboration efforts and held in-depth discussions.
Outsider art resources and audiences are limited in each of the countries. It was essential to identify the potential in the sector and the shared and genuine need for cross-border collaboration that artists and various organisations had. Artists’ motivation and right to international cooperation were also recognised. GAIA Museum Outsider Art (Denmark), Inuti (Sweden), Kettuki (Finland), Kaarisilta association (Finland) and List án landamæra (Iceland) decided to set up the NOA Nordic Outsider Art network. The NOA network’s early operations and subsequent projects have been funded by organisations such as the Nordic Cultural Fund and the Nordic Culture Point.
There are many factors behind the success of the NOA network. It is a long-term collaboration effort to develop joint operations, get to know each other and build trust.