BIRGEJUPMI:

One of the largest projects at Dáiddadállu this year has been the EU-funded project Birgejupmi. Several institutions have participated in this three-year project; researchers from multiple fields, museum professionals, the Sámi University of Applied Sciences, and the Sámi Council have all been involved to some extent.

The work package that DD has been responsible for aims to demonstrate how sustainability can be expressed through art and duodji (traditional Sámi handicrafts). As part of our activities, three seminars were held: the first took place in London in October 2025, alongside the opening of exhibitions at Tate Modern and organized with NANU Sámi Arts International. The second part was held at the Suialaa Arts Festival in 2025, in the city of Nuuk, Greenland.

The seminar series concluded in Guovdageaidnu (Kautokeino) from April 8 to 10, 2026. It was an engaging and useful gathering, which will result in a course at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences, where art and duodji are central.

The report is finished and can be read on our website: Birgejupmi Through Art & Duodji - A summary

The producer in this project has been Alexandra Wingate, who has organized both the group exhibition and the seminar program.

ART:

• Hilde Skancke Pedersen’s artworks have been shown in many places during the past half year, including in the new government building in Oslo. Her work Bassi várri – Giđđadálvi hangs there in the new government offices, and on June 5 the artists gathered there to view their works. Hilde is also part of Dáiddadállu’s group exhibition Birgejupmi Through Art & Duodji, which is on display at Guovdageaidnu Gilišillju until August 30.
• Susanne Hætta also participated in unveiling of an art project Båddåddjo. Queen Sonja was present at this event, unveiling the artwork she has been part of creating together with 22 artists two years ago, when Båddåddjo/Bodø was the European Capital of Culture. The artwork VON will now be permanently installed at Stormen library. Susanne was part of the group that created the letter V. Susanne’s installation Dan botta go vuorddašat soabadeami is also included in the group exhibition Birgejupmi Through Art & Duodji.
• Máret Ánne Sara’s art has also been widely exhibited this year. Her exhibition Goavve‑Geabbil closed in April, after being shown for half a year at Tate Modern in London. Her work Pile o'Sápmi Supreme is part of the National Museum of Norway’s collection, but is currently on display in Canada. There it is included in the exhibition Qillaniq at the National Museum of Canada in Ottawa. The exhibition explores what artists express as possible in our societies: to make space for people who change our world—even if everything does not fit within the norms of colonial institutions.
• The exhibition We Who Remain opened at Kiasma Museum in Helsinki in March. It includes works by Hilde Skancke Pedersen and Máret Ánne Sara, alongside other Sámi artists. The exhibition remains open until autumn. Read more: Kiasma

PERFORMANCES:

• Siri Broch Johansen's yoik opera Ovllá was the first Sámi-language opera to be performed in Finland. The premiere was in Oulu in January. Emil Karlsen played the lead role.
• Sarakka Gaup's short play Áhčča was shown at the Ibsen festival in Oslo, May 8. Written and performed by Sarakka herself, this is a tribute to her late father, Ailo.
• Our artist partners have had roles in many productions that have been shown. Writer Juho-Sire, actors Anja Saiva Bongo Bjørnstad and Ingá Márjá Sarre have worked on the plays Giđđadulvi VIII, and the music was composed by Anthoni Hætta. Anne Berit Anti's play Gavdnejuvvon received a lot of interest this year, and actors Anja Saiva Bongo Bjørnstad, Ingá Márjá Sarre, composer Roger Ludvigsen and translator Anitta Suikkari were part of the crew and production.
• The ballet Láhppon/Lost, written by Elle Sofe Sara, was the opening performance of this year's True Northern Arts Festival, on 20 June in Harstad. It tells the story of the 1852 Kautokeino rebellion through dance and luohti, and was first performed in Oslo, on the opera's main stage. Elle Sofe Company has also toured extensively in the first half of this year, among other things with the children's play Binnánaš balus, which will also be shown at this year's Riddu Riđđu festival.
• HEDDA AWARD WINNERS! On 14 June, the Hedda Awards were presented, and Láhppon/Lost received the award in the category "best audiovisual design", and Gavdnjejuvvon received "best youth play". We are proud that our artists have been a part of these productions!

FILM:

• Árru is Elle Sofe Sara’s first feature film, and it had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February. It has since been shown at the Tribeca Festival in New York.
• Ken Are Bongo worked as producer in the filming of Ciao Ráhkis, which is made as a five part tv-series and also as a feature film. The film was screened in Skábmagovat film festival in Inari.

WORK GRANTS:

More than 12,000 applications came in for the Norwegian State work grants before deadline. And in March it was announced that more than 1,000 artists will receive the Norwegian State work grants, among them two of our artist partners!

Elle Márjá Eira has received a 3-year work grant, and Rawdna Carita Eira received a 2-year work grant.

Here is a list of all the recipients: Statens kunstnerstipend (PDF in norwegian)

MUSIC:

• Mari Boine turns 70 this year and has toured extensively during the first half of the year, performing in Germany and Norway. Her album Idjagieđas is also being celebrated this year, marking 20 years since its release. She was awarded the honorary award from the organization Musikkforleggerne in March. In early June, she performed at events celebrating the new government building’s art collection, to which KORO had invited her. On November 8, her birthday, she will hold a concert at Oslo Concert Hall.
• Hildá Länsman, together with Tuomas Norvio, won an Emma Award (Finland’s most important music award) in the “ethno of the year” category for the album Dajan. In March it was also announced that the duo has been nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize for the same album. The music in the opera Eatnama váibmu (Heart of the Earth), written by our artist partner Rawdna Carita Eira, has also been nominated to this prize. The winner will be announced in October 2026.
• Bernt Mikkel Haglund has released eight joik recordings featuring several joikers. Some are completely new, while others are previously known joiks.
• We also welcomed a new artist partner before easter! Artist Nils-Ove Kuorak is from Jiellevárri in Sweden, and he released his first EP this spring, Ealláš. Nils-Ove also took part in our seminar in Guovdageaidnu, both in one of the panels, and as one of the artists in our closing concert.