Record number of students graduating from Iceland Academy of the Arts 

The graduation ceremony of the Iceland Academy of the Arts was undoubtedly one of the biggest artistic events of the year and one of the highlights of cultural life in the capital area. This year, there were over 70 events on the program, almost 200 students graduated, and it was estimated that over 30.000 guests would attend the celebration.

"The Iceland Academy of the Arts' graduation ceremony is an important event that celebrates and reflects the creativity, growth, ambition and passion that our students possess, and we are proud to see them step forward as new voices in Icelandic cultural life." said Kristín Eysteinsdóttir, rector of the Iceland Academy of the Arts. 

The festival officially began on January 24th with performances from the performing arts department and events across the city, and concluded with the final performance on June 1st. 

The first graduates from the Department of Film Arts  

The FILMA Film Festival, the annual closing event of the Film Arts Department, was held for the second time. The festival is the highlight of the winter, where students step forward as independent filmmakers and present the results of their studies. This time, the festival marked a historic milestone, as this year marks the first year in Iceland to graduate with a university degree in filmmaking.

FILMA took place at Bíó Paradís from 27 to 29 May, where 32 films and screenplays were screened. The first screening was dedicated to the final projects of 1st year students, the second screening showed the work of 2nd year students, and the third screening was dedicated to graduation projects. The festival ended with special gala screenings where graduation projects were shown again.

FILMA offered the public, professionals and media a unique opportunity to get to know a new voice in Icelandic filmmaking and see how students utilize storytelling, form and filmmaking techniques. Students actively participated in all aspects of the festival, from conceptual work and execution to presentations and screenings, making FILMA a true harvest festival.

Graduation Concert of the Faculty of Music 

The Faculty of Music's graduation concerts are an integral part of the Iceland Academy of the Arts' graduation ceremony. This year, over 30 students graduated from different study programs, including composition, instrumental performance, singing, music education, and creative music communication. 

The concerts reflected both the diversity and depth of artistic creation within the department. The graduation concerts were diverse and took place across the city, including the Hall in Kópavogur, Hallgrímskirkja, Laugarneskirkja, the Nordic House and other locations. The graduation concerts are both a personal statement and a professional test, where students are given the opportunity to step forward as independent artists under the guidance of their teachers. 

Graduation exhibitions for BA students in Architecture, Design and Visual Arts 

The graduation exhibition of BA students in Architecture, Design and Visual Arts was one of the larger exhibitions of the year at the Reykjavík Art Museum. It was an opportunity for professionals and enthusiasts to see the work of future artists and designers. This year, 74 students participated in the exhibition "All Inclusive". The exhibition provided insight into the students' research and work processes over the past few years. The students' diverse work dealt with, among other things, on topics such as disasters, social apathy, and political statements. The result was impressive.  

Master's Graduations and Fashion Shows 

The Master of Fine Arts exhibition, “Visible Spectrum,” was held at the Living Art Museum and featured works that explored identity, memory, and transformation. This exhibition had a shared commitment to exploring these themes through art. 

The fashion show of the graduates of the fashion design department was held in Harpa. The students presented their works after three years of study. The final projects of the fashion design students were individual projects that included free research, design of a clothing line, etc.g development of a clothing line under the guidance of instructors. 

Graduation project of the Department of Performing Arts 

This year, 37 students graduated from the Department of Performing Arts, presenting a wide range of works in the fields of dance, drama and screenwriting. There were 20 graduation works in total and they were shown in numerous venues across the country, including the Laugarnes Academy of the Arts, the National Theatre, the City Theatre, Tunglin on Austurstræti, the Potato Warehouse in Eyrarbakki, Ölver in Glæsibær and Leifshús in Akureyri. 

MA students opened the graduation ceremony on January 24th with a diverse selection of works, reflecting their creative journey throughout their studies – a time dedicated to research, experimentation, and artistic creation. 

The graduation works of playwrights followed, with 11 students taking on different roles as playwrights. Their works shed light on their diverse artistic vision and independent approach to the performing arts, whether they were writers, directors, choreographers or performers. 

Students of the international contemporary dance program performed original solo works this winter to great acclaim, and in May they performed graduation works by two renowned choreographers: Halla Ólafsdóttir, who staged the work Divine, and Sandrine Cassini, who created Disaster Resilience of the Water especially for the graduating group. 

The acting students concluded the graduation ceremony of the Department of Performing Arts with the musical Leg, by Hugleik Dagsson and Flís, which they premiered at the National Theatre's Box Office. Þórunn Arna Kristjánsdóttir directed this dynamic graduating group. All performances were sold out and the audience was in awe. 

Master's Degrees in Architecture and Design 

An exhibition of architecture students was held at the Museum on Hverfisgata, and was entitled Visible Spectrum. The projects came together in an interesting "synergy", where students presented different perspectives, shaped by diverse cultural roots, media and ideological approaches. The exhibition reflected how architecture can increase social awareness, promote social justice and contribute to societal transformation. 

The works were united in exploring how architecture can strengthen shared spaces, improve accessibility, and promote social harmony. The students approached their projects as collaborative projects that focused on how we can all live together in harmony, using architecture as a tool to improve and strengthen communities through artistic responsibility and social awareness. 

The graduation exhibition for master's degree students in design, Meaning Making Machines: Approaches to Perception, Intuition, and Imagined Realities, was held at the Á Milli exhibition space on Ingólfsstræti. The exhibition shed light on and design thinking focused on perception, new perspectives on intuition, artificial intelligence, and imagined realities. 

The works offered a critical perspective on the contemporary world and encouraged visitors to consider the connections between technology, nature, and creativity. The exhibition reflected the diverse methods and personal approaches of the master's students in interpreting and shaping experiences through design as a form of research and expression. 

Master's degree in Art Education 

The Department of Art Education at the Iceland Academy of the Arts hosted a graduation event in Hamr in May. There, future art teachers presented their final projects in a diverse and creative way. Art education at the Iceland Academy of the Arts is based on a dialogue between different art disciplines and educational disciplines and emphasizes leadership skills, collaboration and critical thinking. Students develop methods that integrate arts and teaching with the goal of influencing the school work of the future. Upon graduation, students receive teaching qualifications at all school levels.