Honoring an important sámi artist

Regarding this year’s exhibitions, we must mention the tribute exhibition ‘Čuohtebeal dáiddár: 50 years – 50 artworks’, where we honored Elle-Hánssa, Hans Ragnar Mathisen.

We brought his art to Guovdageaidnu, to four different exhibition venues – in celebration of the 50 years that have passed since his first solo exhibition, which was in Guovdageaidnu in 1975. Our artist partner Elle Márjá Eira together with Leif Magne Tangen have been curators for this exhibition, working closely with Elle-Hánsa himself.

The exhibition has been so well received that it will remain open until August 10 – two months longer than originally planned.

Busy week in Harstad

Our artist partner Máret Ánne Sara has also been much praised this spring. She was this year’s festival artist and presented the exhibition "Háhčešeatni doali dádjadit" in Festspillene i Nord-Norge, True Northern Arts Festival in Harstad.

The exhibition also included the performance "Čitna Báffa", which Máret Ánne created in collaboration with a performing group: Alexandra Wingate, Anitta Katriina Suikkari, Anja Saiva Bongo Bjørnstad and Ina Dokmo.

The group participated in one of two 'Dáiddadállu sessions', to talk about how they have worked, forming this performance. Moderator was Juho-Sire, Siri Broch Johansen.

Throughout the week, children in Harstad were invited to a special program as part of the festival's side events.

There, artist partner Sarakka Gaup was the main facilitator, and the children viewed the exhibition, listened to stories, and participated in creative activities.

Around 80 children had the opportunity to experience art and sámi culture in this program.

Invited guests

There have been many different small and large events at Dáiddadállu throughout the winter and spring.

We have invited three artists to talk about their own work to those visiting Dáiddadállu in Guovdageaidnu:

• Aqui Thami is a Thangmi woman from the Himalayas. She was with us in January.
• D Harding is from Australia and visited us in February.
• Varna Marianne Nielsen, from Greenland, presented her research project on dance in March.

KulturSápmi 2025

DD's 10-year anniversary exhibition "Guoddi" is still alive, and it was shown at the Johkamohkki market in February. There we also held a talk where artist Ann-Sofie Kallok shared about the process of creating this exhibition.

At the beginning of summer, the ones participating in this year's KulturSápmi got to experience this performance.

In KulturSápmi, which was held in Guovdageaidnu this time, DD was in many program segments, where we shared about our many activities and productions.

Happy and big news

There has also been big news relating to Dáiddadállu. In March, three exciting announcements were made.

First, it was publicly revealed that Máret Ánne Sara will exhibit at Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall in London. She is the first Sámi – and Norwegian – to receive this major honor. Her exhibition opens on October 14.

A few weeks later, we were delighted to hear that Juho-Sire won the Ibsen Award for his written piece "Per Hansen – en trofast mann / oskkáldas almmái". The Ibsen Award is Norway’s only award for dramatists.

And before March ended, we were able to announce to the world that we are now initiating a major collaboration with the Riddu Riđđu festival. These two cultural institutions are launching a joint export and agency outreach project, which aims to bring Sámi art into the international spotlight.

(Photo: Dramatikkens hus)

Visiting Kalaallit Nunaat and Canada

In the beginning of February a group from DD visited Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat.

This was the start of the pre-production for our anniversary exhibition and performances to be shown during the Suialaat Art Festival in October. This visit was also an important part of our research and collaboration for the project 'Birgejupmi Through Art'.

At the end of April, the CERC spring gathering was held in Victoria, Canada, and Dáiddadállu participated there.

CERC is a network aimed at strengthening Indigenous art and culture, among other projects. This network is also part of the EU financed Horizon project, called 'Birgejupmi', in which DD is also involved.

After the summer, development work will continue within the framework of 'Birgejupmi'. Dáiddadállu is responsible for organizing a seminar that will explore what sustainability means through art. Workshops will also be held during the seminar, and this work will be done in collaboration with the Sámi University of Applied Sciences.

We wish everyone a great cultural summer!