How can Nordic art institutions work together more effectively to pool resources, extend reach, and strengthen the region’s international presence?
The Art Professional Symposium is a new initiative by CHART starting off in 2025. The first symposium was held on 27 August 2025 at Thoravej 29 and was co-hosted by CHART and Art Hub Copenhagen. The aim of the symposium was examining the current state of Nordic collaboration.
The publication Strengthening Nordic Collaboration offers key insights from this year's symposium, featuring directors and senior art professionals from 25 Nordic institutions. It draws on discussions, roundtables, and a panel exploring ways in which institutions can collaborate more effectively across the region.
Discover the best practices showcased in the publication, featuring practical examples of cross-border collaboration, from touring exhibitions to projects without a physical outcome.
Download the full publication and explore the symposium insights here.
"The art world is a people-driven industry, and every major or significant project that's realised is based on numerous people coming together and collaborating."
Director, Copenhagen Contemporary
Networking during Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
Panel discussion during the Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
Key takeaways from the symposium
- The Nordic region has a shared Nordic DNA of values such as trust, equality, and quality, creating a unique platform for cross-border collaboration.
- The Nordic region is characterised by small local publics with fragmented resources. Pooling resources through touring exhibitions, joint projects, and co-produced initiatives thus amplify impact and reach wider audiences.
- Geographic proximity make collaboration practical and enables trust-based networks to form and easier exchange of knowledge.
- With Nordic privilege comes responsibility. While current funding structures offer unique opportunities, institutions must lead by example, promoting accountability, equity, and sustainable practices.
- To allow for collaborations to occur sustainably, building continuity is crucial. Long-term networks and recurring platforms strengthen relationships, ensuring durable and systemic collaborations rather than ad hoc.
- Expanding collaboration in both scale and scope benefits institutions of all sizes.
Round table discussions during the Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
"Together, the Nordic region forms the 11th largest economy in the world; alone, each country is much smaller. This is where pragmatism comes in."
CEO, Frame Contemporary Art Finland
Nordic art institutions contributing to the knowledge presented in Strengthening Nordic Collaboration:
- Akureyri Art Museum (IS)
- ARKEN (DK)
- Art Hub Copenhagen (DK)
- Copenhagen Contemporary (DK)
- Danish Architecture Center (DK)
- Frame Contemporary Art Finland (FI)
- Frederiksberg Museerne (DK)
- Galleri F15 (NO)
- Gammel Strand (DK)
- Icelandic Art Centre (IS)
- Konsthall C (SE)
- Kristianstad Konsthall (NO)
- Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg (DK)
- Kunsthal Charlottenborg (DK)
- Kunsthal Spritten (DK)
- Kunstsilo (NO)
- Lunds Konsthall (SE)
- Malmö Art Museum (SE)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Roskilde (DK)
- OCA—Office for Contemporary Art Norway (NO)
- Ordrupgaard (DK)
- Simian (DK)
- Statens Museum for Kunst: SMK (DK)
- Taidehalli Kunsthalle Helsinki (FI)
- The Living Art Museum (IS)
Welcome speech during the Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
"We all have small publics compared to the other big nation states. You maybe use two years for producing an exhibition and then you only have a very small public that sees the show. In this sense, it's also a sustainable idea to let exhibitions travel, so we won’t end up spending a lot of money and making a lot of things that very few people can see."
Director of Living Art Museum
Round table discussions during the Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
Panel discussion during the Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
Networking during the Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
Round table discussions during the Art Professional Symposium 2025, Thoravej 29, Copenhagen
Photo by Joakim Züger / BARSK Projects
Want to know more?
This publication is aimed at art professionals and anyone seeking to understand the key characteristics, opportunities, and challenges of cross-border collaboration in the arts.
E-mail Marta Schioldann for more information.
