NICE08 Festival: Eivor from The Faroe Islands _320
ARTISTIC and cultural links between Liverpool and Scandinavia are being explored in the programme of a new arts festival.
Nice 08 will include a variety of exhibitions, concerts and films happening across the city from Thursday to Sunday, November, 30.
A taste of Nice 08 launched with the Biennial and the Novas exhibitions 5 Nordic Women, Tom of Finland, And then He was a She, and Fellow Travellers, all together in the crypt space there.
One of the key events will be a Christmas concert at Liverpool Cathedral (November 29) with traditional festive songs from the UK and Nordic countries, with performances from many singers who will be in Liverpool for their own solo shows.
Gigs and concerts will come courtesy of Kaya (Norway, Novas Centre, Thursday); Estonia’s Junk Riot (Heebie Jeebies, Friday); Faroese/ UK electronic experimentalists Picture Book (Magnet, Sunday); a recital from Icelandic soprano and harpist Bjorg Thorhalssdotir and Elisabet Waage (Lady Lever art gallery, November 26); and Faroese Eivor Palsdottir (Novas, November 29).
Viking history will be explored in a number of events, including “How Much of a Viking are You?” taking place at the Scandinavian Church on Wednesday, November 26 – DNA testing for the public to learn more about their roots.
At the Metquarter and the Bluecoat Display Centre for the duration of the festival will be Heritage with a Twist, an intercultural design exhibition featuring the work of esteemed Nordic designers including Brynja Sverrisdottir, whose jewellery has been worn by David Beckham, and Karl Christian Geleff, who specialises in giant knitting.
“My objective is to make Liverpool a Nordic port, a stepping stone for Nordic artists and designers wanting to break into the UK and a creative link for artists in Liverpool and the UK trying to get into Scandinavia – entering a cultural dialogue,” says festival director Ingi Thor Jonsson.
The seeds for the festival were sown with last year’s inaugural Ice 07, dedicated to Icelandic culture.
The theme of this year’s festival is Iceland – the homeland of Mr Jonsson and 40% of the artists involved, who are still endeavouring to attend despite a five-fold increase in personal costs.
* FOR the programme, visit www.visitliverpool.comnice08home
