Kulturhuvudstaden Kiruna

The European Capital of Culture is an initiative of the European Commission, a title awarded to two cities in different countries each year. The selected cities use the year, and the time leading up to it, to organise a series of cultural events that develop the local culture activities and promote European cooperation. The aim of the European Capital of Culture year is to contribute to the well-being of citizens and the development of the city. By highlighting cultural diversity and similarities, one aim is to contribute to mutual understanding between Europeans.

We want to use our year as European Capital of Culture, and the time leading up to it, to organize interesting cultural activities that can help create new memories for everyone throughout Kiruna Municipality. We want to enrich the cultural landscape in the region through culture-driven community development and increase Kiruna's international collaborations. We have a lot to share with the world, and to learn from Europe. We want to build pride in who we are and what we offer: our stories, our traditions and our Arctic way of dealing with contemporary challenges.

Every night at 1:30 a.m. you hear a muted explosion underneath the city in Kiruna. The walls slightly vibrate and the water at your bedside vaguely ripples. It is the big underground mine, detonating a blast. The city of Kiruna is built on the biggest underground iron-ore mine in the world. But now the city is literally cracking up. Roads are breaking, the infrastructure of pipes in the ground is deforming and buildings can’t withstand the stress of the constant explosions anymore.

So, the city must move. And it’s happening right now. Some buildings are picked up on huge trailers and relocated, but most of them are demolished. Roads and traditional reindeer herding trails are cut off. The claws of the machines are eating away at the memories and years of life of the people day by day. Traditional ways of life are facing extinction. The movement causes conflicts about the rights of land, about our sense of self as two thirds of our population are being uprooted and have to move. It is clear that Kiruna is facing a time of significant challenges and opportunities. The new cityscape with impressive buildings, hotels, cafés and cultural venues are taking shape and gives us possibilities to start anew. A chance to rebuild our city and shape our surroundings. Maybe even ourselves. Not as we were, but into the future. To something more inclusive where more stories, cultural expressions and voices are given room to grow.

Our home has through history been described by others as an uninhabited wilderness and is often still talked about as a widespread wasteland with endless resources up for grabs. Through ignorant rethorics we are reduced to a mining city far out in nowhere. Nothing could be more wrong. Our land is highly rich in culture and has been the home for indigenous people and cultural groups for centuries. Geographically we are located in the heart of the Arctic. Kiruna is situated in Sápmi, the traditional homeland of the Sámi people and we are also part of Tornedalen, home for several minorities; Tornedalian, Kven and Lantalaiset, speaking different languages. For us living here, regardless of cultural heritage, the bond to nature is strong, the connection to all living things and ancestors is vital, precious and rooted in our ground. But now the ground is moving beneath our feet.

How do we find our soul, our character, our culture amidst all this movement? Where do we find ourselves when the dust from the big trucks rebuilding our city has settled? We want to make sure we build a vibrant and culturally rich community. A city and municipality where culture leads the societal transformation. Like many places in Europe’s countryside, we are facing a decreasing population trend that we need to change. This requires a cultural shift. We now have an opportunity to build something bright and colourful through culture that will reverberate with the history and heritage of the people who came before us, resonate with the people living here now, and attract the people who don’t live here — yet.

This is our story, our movement.

Welcome - Välkommen - Bures boahtin - Tervetuloa – Tervetulu!

Movement - Below ground, On earth, In space is our concept and is something that defines us, that runs through the veins of everyone living here, both historically and currently, regardless of culture or traditions. Our artistic vision is to share our strong and captivating stories, indigenous traditions and our Arctic take on contemporary challenges that affect all of Europe.

Kiruna/Giron/Kieruna/Kiiruna is a city of contrast and layers, where movement is part of everyday life. We invite you to share our stories, our traditions and our arctic way of meeting contemporary challenges with art and culture at its core.

Our lines for the artistic programme:

Art of Transition
Art of Transition delves into the shifting landscapes of our urban and natural environments, helping us make sense of both physical and metaphorical movements in our lives.

Seeds of Knowledge
Seeds of Knowledge explores the blending of cultural heritage with artistic expressions, showing how art can make knowledge grow and expand in new ways.

Endless Horizon
Endless Horizon broadens our gaze towards a future filled with possibility, focusing on the expansiveness of tomorrow and the untapped potential that lies ahead.

The core of our artistic vision is to always apply a female gaze, keeping our young community involved and integrating perspectives from the indigenous Sámi people and Tornedalian cultures on their own terms. Making sure the artistic vision becomes reality, our strategy is that whenever you visit Kiruna, there will be an event going on, a cultural site to enjoy or a sensorial experience to be had, regardless of the time of year.

By working with local, national and international professionals, organisations and associations, we’ll be able to highlight the specific contrasts of Kiruna. With our vision and programme, we will raise sensitive topics around the city transformation, the right of land and rural exclusion. Through creative methods and artistic outlets we want to touch upon issues that create cracks and conflicts within ourselves and in our society, alongside with the joy and compassion that we have for one another and care for future generations, history and nature. We see the cracks appearing everywhere and we will use the movement as an opportunity for something new, vibrant and colourful to take place.

Kiruna 2029 is part of the politically controlled organisation of Kiruna Municipality. The European Capital of Culture Committee, with one representative from each party with a mandate in Kiruna City Council. The work with the European Capital of Culture year is led by a project manager and the operations are carried out by a growing group of employees together with external partners.

Get in touch!

Kiruna2029@kiruna.se

See contacts to individual team members at the end of page.

Leading up to Kiruna 2029, we will initiate and implement both short and long-term collaborations with a range of different artists and cultural professionals, associations, institutions and companies locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. We are curious about new collaborations and look forward to many exciting projects.

Here you will soon find two forms that you can fill out to submit a project proposal, test an idea or apply for a Letter of intent. The idea is that this will give us an insight into what you or your organisation want to do together with us, the kind of support you need and how our contribution could look like in a possible collaboration.