Scandinavia House, home to the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF), presents a wide range of exhibitions, films, concerts, lectures & family programs dedicated to contemporary Nordic culture.
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Established in 1911 by Danish-American industrialist Niels Poulson and a group of other forward-thinking leaders from business and education, the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) was the first international non-governmental society to have as its sole purpose the development of goodwill through educational and cultural exchange. It was designed to meet the needs of its time through fellowships, scholarly exchange, exhibitions, and publications. These programs have grown over the years, and along with the cultural programs at Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, have provided a comprehensive platform for ongoing international exchange between the United States and the Nordic countries. This international work is at the heart of the Foundation’s mission. Each year, ASF awards over $800,000 in fellowships and grants to individual students, scholars, professionals, and artists for study and research in the United States and abroad. To date, some 30,000 Americans and Scandinavians have participated in these and other ASF programs of study, research, or practical training. In October 2000, ASF opened Scandinavia House as a showplace for Nordic culture and life. Since its founding, it has welcomed over 1.5 million visitors, who have come to enjoy exhibitions, performances, lectures, and more. Scandinavia House was financed by the generosity of more than 300 donors from the U.S. and abroad, including individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as the Nordic governments and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, the leading center for Nordic culture in the United States, offers a wide range of programs that illuminate the culture and vitality of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Scandinavia House offerings include diverse exhibitions and film series, as well as concerts and other performances, readings, lectures, symposia, language courses, and children’s activities. Designed by the internationally renowned Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects) and inaugurated in October 2000, Scandinavia House is the headquarters of the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) and the site of ASF’s cultural and educational programming.
Beginning this Friday, April 9, the new film "Fred Jüssi: The Beauty of Being" is screening in New Nordic Virtual Cinema! This new documentary from Jaan Tootsen looks at the biologist and nature writer Fred Jüssi, who has built his life at the crossroads between nature and culture. A true philosopher of the outdoors, Jüssi gives deep consideration to the fundamental questions of being human. See the trailer here, and get tix in our Event page or here: https://bit.ly/3de5rqD
"Ostensibly recounted with nothing but clinical curiosity, the transgressive patient’s evasions, provocations and sleights of hand are in this way craftily enacted by the novel itself"—check out a The New York Times Books review of the new Laura Lindstedt novel "My Friend Natalia"! The author joins us this Saturday at 1 PM ET to discuss the book with translator David Hackston; head over to our Events panel to learn more and register.
“My Friend Natalia,” by the Finnish novelist Laura Lindstedt, delivers an intriguing portrait of an unorthodox therapeutic relationship.
Beginning this Friday, April 9, the new film "Aalto" is screening in New Nordic Virtual Cinema! A documentary and love story of Finnish modern architecture/design masters Alvar and Aino Aalto, "Aalto" explores the history of the couple, who shared their lives and great passion for the organic human-scale architecture. Together they worked to create a better and a more democratic modern world; in their philosophy, the “little human” was always in the center. The film shares for the first time this intimate love story, highlighting Aino’s importance as an equal architect colleague and visionary designer, and takes us on a cinematic tour of their creative processes and iconic buildings.
Learn more in our Events panel or get tix here:
https://bit.ly/3de5rqD
Happy Good Friday and Easter weekend from all of us at ASF & Scandinavia House! If you missed it earlier, make sure to head to our video library to see an Easter-themed workshop exploring unique traditions and children’s crafts from different Nordic regions. Enjoy the holiday weekend and see you again next week!
(Photo of Swedish Easter twigs by Lola Akinmade Åkerström/imagebank.sweden.se)
See an Easter-themed workshop exploring unique traditions and children’s crafts from different Nordic regions! Easter in the Nordic countries is all about welcoming the long-awaited spring after the dark and cold winter months, and Nordic families head out to the countryside to enjoy the long weekend together. All Nordic people love their chocolate eggs, but children’s Easter traditions differ in each country! In this workshop, we’ll learn about each of these, and see how to create crafts such as Danish gækkebrev letters and Finnish decorated willow branches.
The new Dag Johan Haugerud film "Beware of Children" is available now as Virtual Cinema through Thursday, April 1! In this ambitious, thoughtful film tracing the dramatic aftermath of a tragic schoolyard event in an Oslo suburb, "Beware of Children" explores the relationship between children and adults, and caretaking and obligation; "More than most films," writes The Hollywood Reporter, "[it] knows that contradictions are part of human nature." Winner of the Nordic Council Film Prize 2020; screenings are available to viewers throughout the U.S. Watch the trailer, and get tix in the Event page!
“More than most films, 'Beware of Children' knows that contradictions are part of human nature” — Boyd van Hoeij reviews the hit Norwegian film from Dag Johan Haugerud, streaming starting tomorrow in New Nordic Virtual Cinema! Check out the review here, and head over to our Event page to get tix.
'Beware of Children' ('Barn'): Film Review | Venice 2019 5:14 PM PDT 9/20/2019 by Boyd van Hoeij FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Courtesy of Venice International Film Festival A talky drama... but not only. TWITTER Norwegian novelist and director Dag Johan Haugerud's latest is a 160-minute exploration of....
The new Dag Johan Haugerud film "Beware of Children" is available now as Virtual Cinema through Thursday, April 1! In this ambitious, thoughtful film tracing the dramatic aftermath of a tragic schoolyard event in an Oslo suburb, "Beware of Children" explores the relationship between children and adults, and caretaking and obligation; "More than most films," writes The Hollywood Reporter, "[it] knows that contradictions are part of human nature." Winner of the Nordic Council Film Prize 2020; screenings are available to viewers throughout the U.S. Watch the trailer, and get tix in the Event page!
See a film talk with director Christina Rosendahl and actor Ulrich Thomsen, moderated by ASF President Edward Gallagher, on "The Good Traitor /Vores mand I Amerika," screening to virtual audiences throughout the U.S. from March 18-21.
In April 9, 1940, Denmark was invaded by N**i Germany with demands for immediate and unconditional surrender; the government surrendered after a few hours and began cooperating with the N**is. On the other side of the Atlantic, Denmark’s ambassador to the United States of America Henrik Kauffmann, refused to follow the German directives and engineered a rebellious plan. Christina Rosendahl and Ulrich Thomsen, who portrays Kauffmann in "The Good Traitor," will discuss the making of the film and the true story that inspired it with moderator Edward Gallagher.
Visit our Event panel for virtual cinema tickets or directly at: https://bit.ly/3bpITDH
See a special family craft session on “The Fox and the Bear” from the Heimbold Family Children's Playing & Learning Center! In this program, special guest Elina Gyldén (Art Educator, Amos Rex Museum & National Gallery, Helsinki) leads a shadow-puppet craft workshop based on the Finnish folk tale of “The Fox and the Bear.”
The fox (kettu in Finnish) is described in these stories to be cunning, smart, and careful — much like real-life foxes — where the bear (karhu in Finnish), the King of the Forest, was considered the most respected animal of ancient Finnish forests. But however powerful and strong the bear might be, they can never keep up with the witty foxes! During the workshop, Hertta Nilsson also tells the story of “The Fox and the Bear” as an audio backdrop to the crafting session.
Materials needed for this workshop:
Aluminum foil
Chopsticks (or dowels)
Watercolors
Paper
See a film talk with director Christina Rosendahl and actor Ulrich Thomsen, moderated by ASF President Edward Gallagher, on "The Good Traitor /Vores mand I Amerika," screening to virtual audiences throughout the U.S. from March 18-21.
In April 9, 1940, Denmark was invaded by N**i Germany with demands for immediate and unconditional surrender; the government surrendered after a few hours and began cooperating with the N**is. On the other side of the Atlantic, Denmark’s ambassador to the United States of America Henrik Kauffmann, refused to follow the German directives and engineered a rebellious plan. Christina Rosendahl and Ulrich Thomsen, who portrays Kauffmann in "The Good Traitor," will discuss the making of the film and the true story that inspired it with moderator Edward Gallagher.
Visit our Event panel for virtual cinema tickets or directly at: https://bit.ly/3bpITDH
Acclaimed Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson’s new film "Echo" is available beginning today through Thursday, March 26! In this biting and tender portrait of modern society, celebrated as a “quietly ruminative mosaic" The Hollywood Reporter and “a moving composite vision in which Icelandic society itself is the protagonist” Variety, the film portrays a single day in Iceland during the holidays as a strange atmosphere falls over the country, in 56 scenes in locations ranging from the countryside, to a choir, to a mobile unit. See the trailer, and get tix in the Event panel!
Have you checked out our virtual exhibition "Conversations with a Shipwreck" yet? Head over to the website to see this interactive multimedia meditation by Joan Wickersham and Adam Davies on the Swedish warship Vasa — one of the most high-tech of its kind in the 17th century, but which sank minutes into her maiden voyage; before a return to the surface made it a legendary artifact!
Join us for the Exhibitions event Conversations with a Shipwreck on THU—March 4, 2021 THROUGH SAT—June 5, 2021
If you've watched this week's NNC film "Force of Habit," don't miss a wonderful talk with directors Reetta Aalto and Alli Happasalo on the film as well as the Force of Habit Anthology Series, which aims to show how (and why) everyday imbalances of power can leave significant marks. The film is still streaming through Thursday; check it out/get tix here: https://bit.ly/303aOTt
Starting Thursday, we're excited to present virtual screenings of "The Good Traitor," based on the true story of Denmark-U.S. Ambassador Henrik Kauffmann's defiance of the N**i occupation! When Denmark is in April 1940 by N**i German, with demands for immediate and unconditional surrender, the government capitulates after a few hours. Across the Atlantic, Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., daredevil and a man of the world Henrik Kauffmann, refuses to follow the German directives, engineering a rebellious plan to defeat Hi**er and give the Danish people their freedom back. Starring Ulrich Thomsen, Burn Gorman, and Zoë Tapper, "The Good Traitor" explores the actions of Ambassador Kauffmann’s unsung heroism in WWII history. (Directed by Christina Rosendahl; 110 min. In Danish and English with English subtitles.) Get tix in our Event panel!
See a special family craft session on “The Fox and the Bear” from the Heimbold Family Children's Playing & Learning Center! In this program, special guest Elina Gyldén (Art Educator, Amos Rex Museum & National Gallery, Helsinki) leads a shadow-puppet craft workshop based on the Finnish folk tale of “The Fox and the Bear.”
The fox (kettu in Finnish) is described in these stories to be cunning, smart, and careful — much like real-life foxes — where the bear (karhu in Finnish), the King of the Forest, was considered the most respected animal of ancient Finnish forests. But however powerful and strong the bear might be, they can never keep up with the witty foxes! During the workshop, Hertta Nilsson also tells the story of “The Fox and the Bear” as an audio backdrop to the crafting session.
Materials needed for this workshop:
Aluminum foil
Chopsticks (or dowels)
Watercolors
Paper
See a talk with director Lo Dagerman & author Mark Greene this weekend on the documentary "The Making of a Man," streaming through Sunday as virtual cinema from Scandinavia House! They discuss topics in man box culture & toxic masculinity, as well as the film based in part on Stig Dagerman's play "Marty's Shadow" up to contemporary issues. Check out the film talk below, and get tix in the Event page!
See a virtual conversation between filmmaker Lo Dagerman and author Mark Greene on “Masculinity and Culture”, moderated by Benjamin Mier-Cruz, in a program t...
See a virtual film talk with directors Reetta Aalto & Alli Happasalo on the film "Force of Habit (Tottumiskysymys)," screening from March 12-18 as Virtual Cinema! Based on seven short films from Yksittäistapaus (the Force of Habit Anthology Series), which portrays women’s everyday experiences with imbalances of power, "Force of Habit" follows seven different women who experience sexual harassment, judgement, underrating and exclusion throughout the course of one day. How will others react? And is it really possible that these things happen all around us every day? (Get tix in our Events panel.)
Two of the seven directors — Reetta Aalto (Bo***ir) & Alli Haapasalo (No Big Deal) — will discuss the film as well as the anthology series, which consists of "Force of Habit" as well as other short films and campaigns created by 15 filmmakers, artists, researchers and social influencers. The Force of Habit Anthology Series films depict everyday moments that women experience which, despite being seen as normal, prove to be absurd under closer examination.
"Force of Habit" film screenings and talk are organized by ASF and presented in bi-coastal collaboration by Scandinavia House and SFFLA.
Screening now through Thursday, March 18, see the new film "Force of Habit /Tottumiskysymy" in New Nordic Cinema! Based on seven short films from Yksittäistapaus (the Force of Habit Anthology Series), which portrays women’s everyday experiences with imbalances of power, "Force of Habit" follows seven different women who experience sexual harassment, judgement, underrating and exclusion throughout the course of one day. How will others react? And is it really possible that these things happen all around us every day?
With conviction and honesty, but also with a liberating humor, the female director-collective behind "Force of Habit" uncover, and encourage us to fight, the oppressive structures in our time. Learn more and get tix in our Events Panel.
Directors Alli Haapasalo & Reetta Aalto join us for a film talk tonight on Facebook Premiere at 8 PM ET; visit our page for details!
See a Virtual Studio Visit with the Norwegian – American artist Ida Lorentzen in Oslo, Norway! Ida Lorentzen is known for her paintings of rooms, spaces and light, with works reflecting both Nordic mystical detachment and stark American realism and filled with a deep reverence to history of places and lived life. Living and working on one of Oslofjord’s inner islands, the atmosphere in which she lives is reflected in the quietness of her work. In today’s program, she’ll bring us into her studio to share what she’s working on now.
Born in New York in 1951, Ida Lorentzen was raised and educated in New England and Oslo. She studied at Boston University’s School of Fine Arts and the National Art Academy in Oslo. She was awarded the Purchase Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her commissioned works include Queen Sonja of Norway (1994) and the Coronation Ceremony in the Nidaros Cathedral in 1991.
This event is the fourth in a series of Virtual Studio Tours from Scandinavia House. See previous tours with Pekka and Teija Isorättyä, Camilla Vuorenmaa here, and Shoplifter/Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir in our Video Library.
See a virtual film talk with directors Reetta Aalto & Alli Happasalo on the film "Force of Habit (Tottumiskysymys)," screening from March 12-18 as Virtual Cinema! Based on seven short films from Yksittäistapaus (the Force of Habit Anthology Series), which portrays women’s everyday experiences with imbalances of power, "Force of Habit" follows seven different women who experience sexual harassment, judgement, underrating and exclusion throughout the course of one day. How will others react? And is it really possible that these things happen all around us every day? (Get tix in our Events panel.)
Two of the seven directors — Reetta Aalto (Bo***ir) & Alli Haapasalo (No Big Deal) — will discuss the film as well as the anthology series, which consists of "Force of Habit" as well as other short films and campaigns created by 15 filmmakers, artists, researchers and social influencers. The Force of Habit Anthology Series films depict everyday moments that women experience which, despite being seen as normal, prove to be absurd under closer examination.
"Force of Habit" film screenings and talk are organized by ASF and presented in bi-coastal collaboration by Scandinavia House and SFFLA.
See a Virtual Studio Visit with the Norwegian – American artist Ida Lorentzen in Oslo, Norway! Ida Lorentzen is known for her paintings of rooms, spaces and light, with works reflecting both Nordic mystical detachment and stark American realism and filled with a deep reverence to history of places and lived life. Living and working on one of Oslofjord’s inner islands, the atmosphere in which she lives is reflected in the quietness of her work. In today’s program, she’ll bring us into her studio to share what she’s working on now.
Born in New York in 1951, Ida Lorentzen was raised and educated in New England and Oslo. She studied at Boston University’s School of Fine Arts and the National Art Academy in Oslo. She was awarded the Purchase Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her commissioned works include Queen Sonja of Norway (1994) and the Coronation Ceremony in the Nidaros Cathedral in 1991.
This event is the fourth in a series of Virtual Studio Tours from Scandinavia House. See previous tours with Pekka and Teija Isorättyä, Camilla Vuorenmaa here, and Shoplifter/Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir in our Video Library.
58 Park Ave
New York, NY
10016
Subway 6 to 33rd Street 4, 5, 6, 7, or S to 42nd Street/Grand Central Station Bus 1, 2, 3, or 4 up Madison Avenue 1, 2, 3, or 5 down Fifth Avenue Scandinavia House is located four blocks south of Grand Central Station.
HOURS & ADMISSION: Building Hours Mon-Sat, 11 AM - 10 PM Sun, 11 AM - 5 PM Gallery Tues-Sat, 12 - 6 PM Wed, 12 - 7 PM Admission varies by exhibition Halldór Laxness Library Tues-Fri, 12 - 5 PM Free for ASF Members by appointment Heimbold Family Children's Playing and Learning Center Sat, 12 - 5 PM, $15/child Open to public, space permitting Tues-Fri, 10 AM - 5 PM, free ASF Members with a Children's Center Pass Ages toddler+ Please note that children must be walking on their own to be admitted. The Shop Mon-Sat, 11 AM - 7 PM Sun, 11 AM - 5 PM Smörgås Chef Mon-Sat, 11 AM - 9 PM Sun, 11 AM - 4 PM RESERVATIONS: For reservations to ASF cultural and educational programs, visit scandinaviahouse.org For reservations to Smörgås Chef, call 212.686.4230 ACCESSIBILITY Scandinavia House is wheelchair accessible. PHOTOGRAPHY Except where noted, photography for personal use is allowed with hand-held cameras and available light or electronic flash attachments. Tripods and lights may not be used. Reproduction or sale of photographs is not allowed without the permission of The American-Scandinavian Foundation. No flash photography is allowed in the Gallery.
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