ART INSTITUTIONS

A text by Jan-Erik Lundström

Konstmuseet i Norr (The Art Museum of the North), in Kiruna, is a mobile project producing site-specific projects in various venues and public spaces across the entire county of Norrbotten since 2009. In the fall of 2018, Konstmuseet i Norr will inaugurate its permanent space in the town hall of Kiruna: a five-story museum complex, with approximately 800 m2 of exhibition space. Konstmuseet i Norr will focus on contemporary art, with special attention to practices dealing with socio-political issues and artistic practices engaged within the geopolitical context of Norrbotten, North Calotte and the Barents region. 
Website. www.konstmuseetinorr.se

Havremagasinet - Länskonsthall Boden (County Art Gallery Boden), is Norrbotten's leading contemporary art venue. It was founded in 2010 in a former grain storage building belonging to the city. Havremagasinet’s program, comprises thematic exhibitions showcasing international contemporary art, curated by the gallery itself or by guests curators. The institution has explored many critical issues of the global present: from migration, human rights, democracy to intercultural exchanges. Havremagasinet has pursued a strong international presence in their programming, both in terms of curatorial practices and invited artists. It has simultaneously engaged with an exhibition program exploring the legacy of the local art collective known as Bodenskolan, “The Boden School” ( active in the 1950s/1960s). Havremagasinet exhibition venue comprises five floors, spread over 2000 m2 of exhibition space. In their webpage, it’s possible to download and review current and previous exhibition catalogues.
Website. www.havremagasinet.se

Konsthallen Kulturens Hus is a municipal art gallery located in the city of Luleå, Norrbotten's largest city. Kulturens hus, houses the city library, a concert hall, restaurant, and exhibition space. Konsthallen runs a year-round temporary exhibition program of contemporary art showcasing artists from Norrbotten, the Northern region and beyond.
Website. www.kulturenshus.com/konsthall/

Galleri Syster is an artist-run space and a feminist-based platform in Luleå’s city centre. The gallery curates and showcases group shows and solo projects with contemporary Swedish and/or international artists. The exhibition program is supplemented by a variety of activities such as artist talks/lectures, artists-in-residence programs and more. Since 2012, Galleri Syster supports and hosts Lillasyster (younger sister) project, a youth-run collective engaged in the production of visual arts supporting other young creatives through workshops, events and exhibition projects.
Websites. www.gallerisyster.sewww.gallerilillasyster.se

Konsthall Tornedalen is a private contemporary art gallery scheduled to open in 2019 on the river banks of the Torne river (the river valley between Sweden and Finland). 
Website. www.konsthalltornedalen.se

Bodens Konstgille is an exhibition space located in Boden’s ENTER shopping centre. It is managed by Bodens konstförening, a membership-based organisation supporting the arts and solo exhibitions with contemporary artists from the region.
Website. www.bodenskonstgillet.se

Piteå Konsthall is a municipal exhibition venue in the cultural centre of Kaleido in Piteå.
Website. www.pitea.se/Invanare/Fritid-kultur/Det-hander-i-Pitea/kaleido---kreativa-rum/konsthallen/

Kiruna Konstgille (Kiruna Art Society) is the oldest art society in Norrbotten working and supporting the arts since 1944. In 2018, Kiruna Konstgille will open a new exhibition space in the new house of culture in Kiruna.
Kiruna Konstgille will organise exhibitions, artist talks and an art lottery.
Website. http://kirunakonstgille.se

Konstnärer i Norrbotten (KiN; Artists in Norrbotten) is an association aiming to support and develop artists working conditions and strengthen the field of contemporary art.
Website. https://k-i-n.se/

Norrbottens museum is the museum of cultural history and arts. It runs a mixed exhibition program of cultural history and contemporary society. Norrbottens Museum collaborates as exhibition venue with the Luleå Biennial and the quinquennial regional artist salon (which this year combines the two northern counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten).Website. www.norrbottensmuseum.se

Ájtte - Svenskt Fjäll och Samemuseum (Ájtte; Swedish Sami and mountain museum) is Sweden's main museum of Sami culture. Founded in 1989, the building and permanent exhibitions were developed in close collaboration with a number of Sami artists and commissions. The museum runs a program of temporary exhibitions with artists from across Sápmi, the territory across northern Scandinavia and north-west Russia where the Sami people has lived for millennia.
Website. www.ajtte.com

Luleå Biennial. is the oldest Biennial in Scandinavia founded in 1991 by the artist collective Kilen. After a five-year silence through a reorganisation process, the Biennial is reopening in November 2018. Emily Fahlén, Asrin Haidari and Thomas Hämén are the selected curators taking charge of this upcoming edition. With Luleå as the main hub, the program will extend its activities throughout different venues across the region. Konstfrämjandet are the new organising partners.
Websites. www.lab.se | http://konstframjandet.se/aktuellt/luleabiennalen-2018/ | www.luleabiennial.se/sv

Resurscentrum för konst i Norrrbotten (ArtNorth - Norrbotten Contemporary Art Development Centre) has its headquarters in Luleå. The organisation aims to strengthen the professional art scene in Norrbotten. Resurscentrum för Konst accomplishes this by creating residencies, exhibition opportunities, commissions for public art as well as educational and development programs for visual artists and professional craft makers. Much of the programming carried out is pursued in collaboration with public, non-profit organisations and business partners.
Website. www.resurscentrumforkonst.se

Lindbergs Konst & Ram | Galleri Lindberg in Luleå, is Norrbotten's leading commercial art gallery focusing on artists from the region. Lindbergs combines an all year program of temporary exhibitions with an art boutique and a framing shop.
Website. www.lindbergskonst.se

Sunderby Folkhögskola - Konstskolan (Sunderby school - Art department) was founded in 1963 and is Sweden's oldest art education program. Sunderby folkhögskola offers a basic 2 year course and a 2 year further education program. Many artists actively working today, began their career in the school.
Website. www.sunderbyfolkhogskola.se/konstskolan