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Since it’s foundation in Winnipeg in 2006, núna (now) has generated exchange amongst contemporary practicing artists across Iceland and Canada. núna’s curatorial programming include artists whose practices intersect and explore the significance and relevance of the connection between Iceland and Canada through interpretation of cultural and postcolonial identities, collaboration, and the narrative of ongoing settler / indigenous relations within contemporary context.
núna (now) has a strong history of collaboration with cultural organizations in Manitoba having sponsored and co-presented events with: Platform Center for Photographic & Digital Arts, Ace Art, University of Manitoba, Plug In ICA, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Cinematheque, and Gimli Film Festival. Alongside our work in Manitoba we have co-presented events in Toronto with the Drake Hotel, in Calgary with Truck Gallery and in Akureyri, Iceland with Aykurerarvaka (the Summer Cultural Festival).
núna (now)’s roster of Icelandic visual artists has included; Ragnar Kjartansson, Haraldur Jónsson, The Icelandic Love Corporation, Hekla Dögg Jonsdóttir, Erling Klingenberg, Sirra Sigurdardóttir, Gunnhildur Hauksdóttir & Kristin Omarsdóttir, Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdóttir, alongside the work of Manitoban artists, Simon Hughes, Paul Butler, Sylvia Matas, Michael Benjamin Brown, Mike Maryniuk, Jaimz Asmundson, Matt Holm, Erin Josephson-Laidlaw, curator / academic Dr. Laurie K. Bertram, Montreal’s The Discriminating Gentlemen’s Club and 2boys.tv.
Among artists from different disciplines, highlights have included; múm, Ólöf Arnalds, the legendary Megas, Lay Low, Mugison, Johann Johannsson, Erna Omarsdottir, FM Belfast, Andri Magnason, Me & My Friends Theatre Group, alongside Canadian work such as Stephen Furmaniuk, the Weakerthans, Kyrie Kristmanson, Freya Björg Olafson, 2boys.tv, Old Folks Home, Blunderspublik, Royal Canoe, Leif Vollebekk and Christine Fellows. núna (now) has hosted many artists in the Icelando-Canadian heartland Winnipeg, Gimli and Riverton.
Unique to núna (now) is our broad audience demographic which continues to extend as we expand our co-productions with a breadth of local arts organizations. Not only do we attract members of the Icelandic community – both rural and urban – we appeal to literary,music,dance,theatre,film and visual art audiences. It is not unusual to see Interlake grandmothers at a crowded núna(now) Royal Albert Arms rocks how. We continue to build and sustain important cultural bridges through the broad appeal of the new traditions we are cultivating.
The núna (now) Curatorial Committee and Board of Directors is Arne MacPherson, Erika MacPherson, Freya Björg Olafson, Tristin Tergesen, Caelum Vatnsdal and Karina Hanney Marrero.
The festival would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our advisory Committee: Atli Ásmundsson, Bill Perlmutter, J. Timothy Samson and Hjálmar Hannesson of our sponsors; nor you!