In the recent project week, the Iceland University of the Arts held the annual meeting of the Norteas network in 2025. Norteas is the Nordplus network of university-level performing arts institutions in the Nordic countries and the Baltic Sea and consists of 18 member institutions. Despite the rare October blizzard, the LHÍ Faculty of Performing Arts welcomed over 30 international visitors to Reykjavík from October 29 to 31, who gathered to meet, organize and work together on Norteas projects.
The program began with a special Engagement Day on October 29, offering a variety of presentations and lectures from Norteas members They were discussed breakthrough steps and them challenges that come with making drama and performing arts education more accessible, with exciting contributions on interdisciplinary pedagogy, admission requirements and the impact of projects such as Fúsa, the first Icelandic professional play to be produced, written and performed by a mentally retarded person The key speaker of the day of inclusion was Anu Koskinen, a teacher at the University of the Arts Helsinki, and her talk on „Integration and Accessibility in Entrance Exams“ The day ended with a visit to the National Theatre and a dinner at the Restaurant The Sweet Pig.
For the next two days, Norteas' annual meeting took place involving members from 12 member institutions, either in person or at a teleconference Participants shared news from their institutions, discussed different methods and organized future projects and gatherings Norteas A meeting was held on Norteas' activities, the development of pedagogy and organization of institutions with both formal and informal formats. Thursday's program on October 30 ended with a dinner and celebrations in Laugarnes where Eygló Höskuldsdóttir Viborg, a former LHÍ student, performed a karaoke performance as Alter Eygló. Norteas' annual meeting officially ended on Friday, October 31, but several participants stayed over the weekend to travel around Iceland on their own.
Although participants have already returned to their institutions, the impact of Norteas' annual meeting in Reykjavík is still felt, and members are already looking forward to the next annual meeting that the Oslo Academy of Arts will hold in Norway in the fall of 2026. a joint commitment to the inclusion, accessibility and cooperation between the Nordic countries and the Baltic states promises a bright future of European performing arts education.
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Norteas Annual Meeting and Inclusive Day in LHÍ
Iceland University of the Arts was proud to host the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Norteas Network in the last week of October. Norteas is a Nordplus network of Nordic and Baltic Performing Arts institutions in higher education and scholars of 18 members ranging across the region. Braving a rare October snowstorm the LHÍ Department of Performing Arts welcomed over 30 international guests to Reykjavík between October 29th and 31st who came together to plan, discuss and collaborate on Norteas activities.
The gathering opened with a dedicated Inclusive Day on October 29th, offering a powerful slate of presentations and addresses from Norteas members. Discussions explained the challenges and breakthroughs in making theatre and performing arts education more accessible, with inspiring contributions on intersectional pedagogies, admissions criteria, and the impact of projects like Willing, Iceland's first professional play produced, written and performed by a mentally disabled person. The keynote address was given by Anu Koskinen, lecturer at Uniarts, Helsinki, and centered on “Inclusion and diversity in entry exam”. The day concluded with a visit to the National Theater of Iceland and dinner at restaurant The sweet pig.
Over the next two days the Norteas Annual Meeting unfolded, where guests from 12 member institutions involved, either in person or remarkably. Participants shared news from their respect institutions, concerned different strategies, and mapped out future Norteas projects and communities Sessions on network activities, curriculum development, and institutional updates were completed by enriching exchanges in both formal and informal settings. The Thursday October 30th session concluded with a catered dinner and celebration in Laugarnes where LHÍ alumni Eygló Höskuldsdóttir Viborg gave a karaoke performance as Alter Eygló. The Norteas Annual Meeting formally concluded on Friday October 31st, almost serious participants stayed over the weekend to explore Iceland on their own.
As the participants have returned to their responsible institutions, the momentum built in Reykjavík continues to guide the Norteas network and members are already looking forward to the next annual meeting which will be hosted in Norway by the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in autumn 2026. The shared commitment to inclusion, integration, and Nordic/Baltic cooperation promises a bright future for European performing arts education.