“The promotion of art and culture is paramount to Iceland. It not only preserves the cultural heritage and fosters artistic innovation, it also helps to strengthen international dialogue,” explained Logi Einarsson, Iceland’s Minister of Culture, Innovation, Universities, and Nordic Cooperation. Together with Minister-President Manuela Schwesig, he was patron of Nordischer Klang 2025. His participation in the gala evening was therefore a matter of honour. Einarsson travelled to Greifswald with the Ambassador of Iceland to Germany, Auðunn Atlason. “Iceland is delighted to be taking part in this festival and is presenting contributions in the fields of music, literature, film, and visual arts. These contributions bear witness to Iceland’s vibrant culture scene,” said Logi Einarsson at the gala evening. Hailing from this year’s patron country, famous Icelandic jazz singer Stína Ágústsdóttir provided the music for the gala. She performed a concert that filled the evening with her self-confident experimental music and proved very popular among the audience.
The Icelandic delegation was received at the University of Greifswald on Friday afternoon. During a meeting with Rector Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel in the Aula, they discussed the Erasmus+ and research collaborations between Iceland and the University of Greifswald. “Our talks were impressive evidence of how lively and fruitful international academic and cultural relationships can be,” said the Rector. “The Icelandic Minister of Universities was very interested in our research domains, student life in Greifswald, and employment opportunities for graduates in the local region.”
After being welcomed by the Rector, the delegation visited the Department of Finnish and Scandinavian Studies. There, they had an animated discussion with lecturers and students about their motivation for studying and basing some of their work around the Icelandic language and culture. “It is a great honour that such a distinguished delegation, led by Iceland’s Minister of Culture, visited our festival and department. The visit also shows that our Department of Finnish and Scandinavian Studies plays a significant role for Northern Europe,” explains Prof. Dr. Clemens Räthel, Professor of Modern Scandinavian Literatures.
“Year in, year out, the extraordinary festival draws special guests to the town,” says Mayor Dr. Stefan Fassbinder. “I am delighted that the Icelandic Minister of Culture, Innovation, Universities, and Nordic Cooperation, and the Icelandic Ambassador have come to Greifswald on this great occasion and I have invited them to sign the town’s Golden Book prior to Nordischer Klang’s gala evening tonight.”
Contacts at the University of Greifswald
M.-L. Westfeld M. A.
Press & PR Nordischer Klang
presse-nokluni-greifswaldde
www.nordischerklang.de/presse [de]
Dr. Elisabeth Böker
Press Officer
University Communications
Domstraße 11, Entrance 1, 17489 Greifswald
Tel: +49 3834 420 1150
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