SWEDISH 1.2 — ENROLLMENT OPEN
2026-01-19 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Learn the Nordic languages in classes offered at Scandinavia House, held in-person and virtually! This course builds upon Swedish 1.1 or its equivalent. Students will learn sentence structure in sentences with more than one verb, placement of adverbs, plural endings, conjugation of adjectives, objective and possessive pronouns, and the past tense. Various cultural aspects will also be highlighted during the course. This class will take place as hybrid learning, with classes offered at Scandinavia House and online via Zoom.
This hybrid class will be held both in-person and via Zoom; in-person attendance for the first four classes is highly recommended. Classes take place on Mondays from 6:00–7:30 PM beginning January 19 through June 15.
At the end of the semester students will know:
• How to structure sentences with more than one verb
• The conjugation of adjectives
• The past tense
And be able to:
• Talk about themselves and what they do in their day
*Please note that there will be no classes on the following dates:
February 16 (Presidents’ Day); March 30, April 6, and April 13 (Spring Break); May 11 (Mother’s Day Weekend); May 25 (Memorial Day); and June 8.*
Prerequisite: Swedish 1.1 or equivalent; instructions for remote learning will be emailed upon registration. For questions about language levels, please contact Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz. Tuition is $675 ($607.50 ASF Members); 22.5 hours total class time.
Enroll

SAUNA LOST IN TRANSLATION: RESTORING FINNISHNESS TO A GLOBAL TRADITION
2026-01-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Join us on January 20 for a talk with Finlandia Foundation’s Lecturer of the Year Eero Kilpi on advancing sauna culture and Finnish tradition in North America and beyond!
Kilpi’s lecture, “Sauna Lost in Translation: Restoring Finnishness to a Global Tradition,” traces the evolution of global sweat bathing cultures—from Lakota sweat lodges to early Nordic sauna—and examines how Finnish traditions can reclaim their central role in today’s rapidly expanding sauna movement.
Drawing on two decades of work with the North American Sauna Society, Eero unpacks what happened when the ancient Finnish practice arrived in North America and morphed into what he calls the “hotbox phenomenon.” He explains how a wellness trend focused on heat, hardware, and health fads often stripped sauna of its spirit, ritual, and deeper mental-emotional benefits.
With humor, clarity, and lived experience as a Finn who has spent more than half his life in North America, Eero offers “hot takes” on where sauna culture went astray—and how returning to traditional principles can restore its meaning. He argues that when we root the practice in its cultural and spiritual foundations, everyone can experience the most authentic and profoundly restorative sauna possible.
Register

GRAPHITE ON PAPER
2026-01-22 17:30 - 20:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
This workshop series for adults offers a gentle introduction to the tactile qualities of materials such as paper, pastel, paint, graphite pencil, and ink. Participants will explore the unique characteristics of various tools and surfaces, learning simple techniques to get started and discover inspiration—whether drawn from the inner world or the world around us. The focus is on the process of making: approaching art as a meditative, exploratory practice. Together, we’ll experiment, play, and pay close attention to what unfolds on the page, moment by moment. There are no expectations for finished pieces or specific outcomes —the class itself is the experience and the goal. Each session will close with a supportive group reflection, where we’ll share and appreciate each other’s progress, process, and discoveries.
In this course, students will explore and experiment with using graphite pencils on paper.
The series can be experienced as a complete progression or as individual, standalone classes. Participation is limited to 12 students. *Please note: this workshop is for ages 20+.*
Purchase Tickets

SONGS FROM HOME | Album Release Celebration
2026-01-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Join sibling duo Skúli and Sæunn on January 22 for an evening celebrating their new album, Songs from Home, on Better Company Records. This concert brings Icelandic lullabies, folk melodies, and beloved tunes into a fresh light through understated arrangements for guitar and cello. Each piece reflects the music they grew up with, how family memories shaped them, long winters, and the poetry of Iceland’s unique landscapes.
With Skúli’s grounded presence from Boston’s vibrant music scene and Sæunn’s expressive, Grammy-nominated playing, their interpretations feel unhurried and personal, almost like being welcomed into their living room. Expect a night shaped by nostalgia, easy warmth, and the quiet power of music rooted in home.

Register

SOLD OUT — YOUR FIRST KNITTING PROJECT
2026-01-24 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-31 12:00 - 14:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
*This program is now sold out.*
Now that you’ve learned the basics of knitting – or you want to hone your skills – you are invited to join us for a weekly knitting group in January. You’ll choose from three simple patterns, choose and buy your own yarn, needles, and notions, and we’ll get started on the first day!
Join a small group to make something from start to finish, with guidance and feedback from experienced knitter Hilary Snell. Enjoy stretching your brain with a new skill while engaging in the social bonding that only crafts can provide. Plus, there will be snacks! Class size is limited to 12 people.
Before arriving for class, please choose and purchase the according materials for your respective project. (Projects are pictured on banner image) PLEASE NOTE: Students will receive 10% off their purchase at Knitty City (208 West 79th Street) upon showing their Scandinavia House class receipt.
Wrist warmers: Chunky wool yarn – 110 yards. Color(s) of your choice. US size 11 straight needles.
Chunky hat: Approximately 100 yards of any chunky wool yarn. Color(s) of your choice. US size 10 circular needle 16 inches long (from tip to tip) and 4 double pointed bamboo needles US size 10.
Washcloth: Any DK weight cotton yarn. US size 4 straight needles.
PS. Chunky yarn is also called bulky yarn!
Students should also bring a tapestry needle, scissors and some kind of bag to carry their project back and forth from home.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Hilary Snell, a longtime visitor services staff member of Scandinavia House, is of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, and loves everything about Nordic culture. She was taught to knit by her grandmother and mother when she was eight years old and took it up again in her late 20s, and has been knitting ever since. She enjoys sharing her love of the craft and of fiber arts in general. See her work at: https://www.instagram.com/lockwoodknits/

WEATHER CLOSURE
2026-01-25 08:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Scandinavia House will be closed on Sunday, January 25 and Monday, January 26 due to inclement weather. This includes Björk Café and Bistro, the Shop at Scandinavia House, the Galleries, Children’s Center and Offices at Scandinavia House.
The building will reopen with normal hours on Tuesday, January 27. This includes the galleries, restaurant, shop, and Children’s Center.
See you after the storm!

SWEDISH 1.1 — ENROLLMENT OPEN
2026-01-26 19:35 - 21:35, 2026-02-02 19:35 - 21:35 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Learn the Nordic languages in classes offered at Scandinavia House, held in-person and virtually! This course is for absolute beginners.
In this course students will learn vocabulary, the very basics of Swedish structure and pronunciation while also discussing some quirks of Swedish life. No prerequisites necessary.
This hybrid class will be held both in-person and via Zoom; in-person attendance for the first four classes is highly recommended. Classes take place on Mondays from 7:35–9:35 PM beginning January 26 through June 22.
At the end of the semester students will know:
• Sentence structure in statements and questions
• How to greet people
• Numbers and how to tell time
And be able to:
• Talk about themselves and what they do in their day
*Please note that there will be no classes on the following dates:
February 16 (Presidents’ Day); March 30, April 6, and April 13 (Spring Break); May 11 (Mother’s Day Weekend); May 25 (Memorial Day); June 8.*
No prerequisites required; instructions for remote learning will be emailed upon registration. For questions about language levels, please contact the instructor Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz. Tuition is $700 ($630 ASF Members); 30 hours total class time.
Register

GALLERY TOURS | A TIME FOR EVERYTHING
2026-01-28 17:30 - 18:00, 2026-02-11 17:30 - 18:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On view from October 18, 2025 to February 14, 2026 at Scandinavia House, A Time for Everything, a group exhibition of internationally acclaimed Nordic artists — all of whom have presented work in the Scandinavia House Galleries over the past 25 years — will underscore the vision of the Scandinavia House Galleries as a steward for new and established Nordic voices in the contemporary artistic landscape, and for promoting the exchange of ideas and culture between the United States and Nordic region.
In this guided tour by Eve O’Shea, ASF’s Exhibitions and Cultural Programs Assistant and assistant curator of the exhibition, learn about the artists in this exhibition and their works.
These free, 35-minute public tours meet in the Gallery elevator lobby. Gallery tours are subject to change; please check with the Scandinavia House front desk or email info@amscan.org.
Register

INK AND WATER
2026-01-29 17:30 - 20:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
This workshop series for adults offers a gentle introduction to the tactile qualities of materials such as paper, pastel, paint, graphite pencil, and ink. Participants will explore the unique characteristics of various tools and surfaces, learning simple techniques to get started and discover inspiration—whether drawn from the inner world or the world around us. The focus is on the process of making: approaching art as a meditative, exploratory practice. Together, we’ll experiment, play, and pay close attention to what unfolds on the page, moment by moment. There are no expectations for finished pieces or specific outcomes —the class itself is the experience and the goal. Each session will close with a supportive group reflection, where we’ll share and appreciate each other’s progress, process, and discoveries.
In this course, students will explore and experiment with using ink and water on paper across various techniques.
The series can be experienced as a complete progression or as individual, standalone classes. Participation is limited to 12 students. *Please note: this workshop is for ages 20+.*
Purchase Tickets

DOWN AND OUT IN UTOPIA WITH KELLY MCKOWEN & ELLEN CUSHING
2026-01-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On January 29, join us for a talk on Down and Out in Utopia with cultural anthropologist & ASF Fellow Kelly McKowen! With The Atlantic writer Ellen Cushing, McKowen will discuss his research into the experiences of unemployment in social democratic welfare systems, the topic of his forthcoming Down and Out in Utopia: Unemployment as Moral Education in Norway from University of Toronto Press.
Based on more than a year of fieldwork among a diverse cast of unemployed in Oslo, Down and Out in Utopia offers unparalleled insight into life without work in one of the world’s wealthiest and most egalitarian countries. Though both Norway and the United States measure unemployment rates, McKowen argues, the everyday experience of unemployment is very different in a society with a social democratic welfare system, and so too are the lessons that being unemployed teaches people about government, work, welfare, taxes, freedom, and belonging.
Register

Gallery Closure — Nationwide Shutdown
2026-01-30 12:00 - 18:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
The Scandinavia House Galleries will be closed today, January 30, for the nationwide shutdown.
Other spaces in the building including Björk Cafe & Bistro, the Shop, and the Children’s Center will remain open. The Galleries will reopen with normal hours on Saturday, January 31.

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® | BEETHOVEN — THE YOUNG GENIUS
2026-02-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Internationally acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns this fall for his ever-popular Keyboard Conversations® series at Scandinavia House. Each evening comprises an informal commentary on the music and its composers, a full performance of each work, and a short Q & A session. The engaging format both makes friends of classical music and enriches the listening experience for avid music lovers.
In tonight’s performance, celebrate Ludwig van Beethoven’s early period with the passionate Sonata “Pathétique,” the high-spirited “Rage Over a Lost Penny,” the deeply moving Largo e mesto from Sonata Op. 10, No. 3, and the exhilarating Finale of Sonata Op. 31, No. 3.

Thanks to a generous loan by Victor Borge’s grandson Finn, concerts will be performed on Victor Borge’s personal Steinway piano.

A ROYAL AFFAIR | SILVER ANNIVERSARY RESCREENS
2026-02-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
“Quietly magnificent” —on February 4, see A Royal Affair to continue our Silver Anniversary Rescreens! First screened at Scandinavia House in 2013 and nominated for an Academy Award that same year, this period drama chronicles the scandalous love triangle between an 18th-century Queen (Alicia Vikander), her German doctor (Mads Mikkelsen), and the mad King of Denmark.
As the halls of the European aristocracy struggle with the birth pangs of the Enlightenment, young Catherine Matilda of Britain feels adrift after her marriage to Denmark’s mad King, the erratic and unfaithful Christian VII. Johann Friedrich Struensee, a town physician and closet radical, accompanies the King on a year-long trip around Europe in the hope of treating his insanity, but finds himself drawn ever closer to the headstrong Catherine– and the prospect of using the King’s condition to amass power. Drawn together in the pursuit of freedom for their people, their high-flown idealism is undone by blind passion in this notorious true story of illicit love and political intrigue.
“A gripping chapter of European history is recounted with elegance, intelligence and clarity…” (The Hollywood Reporter)
“A slam dunk in the genre, satisfying every period piece craving.” (Mary Pole, Time)
Purchase tickets
This program has been supported by the Monika and Charles Heimbold Fund for Exhibitions and Programs.

OPENING NIGHT | THE 2026 SÁMI FILM FESTIVAL
2026-02-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
The Annual Sámi Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House and virtually nationwide! Now in its 8th year, the festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, an Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut Stolen reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024.
OPENING NIGHT FILMS
In My Hand (2025)
Dir. Liselotte Wajstedt & Marja Helander | 24 min.
Labelled a terrorist and left disabled, a Sámi activist paid a brutal price in 1982 while battling Norwegian authorities to protect his ancestral land. Masterfully blending archival footage and re-enactments, In My Hand retraces his battle and legacy, and challenges us to ask: Is it finally time to stop exploiting nature and start preserving it? Narrated by Niillas Somby, the film navigates between imprisonment, protests, and surreal encounters, providing a unique insight into one man’s journey of resistance, exile, and return.
Máhccan /Homecoming (2023)
Dir. Suvi West & Anssi Kömi | 76 min.
As museums worldwide are increasingly pressured to return cultural property, co-directors Suvi West and Anssi Kömi share a personal and insightful story about the return of Sámi artifacts, long held in a museum, to their homeland. Set at a turning point in which museums must grapple with their colonialist history—including the National Museum of Finland, which has now returned thousands of everyday objects to the Sámi—this “keenly observed film” (POV Magazine) tours museum vaults across Europe, where filmmaker unravels layers of history, grappling with questions of representation, exploitation and the intricate tapestry of her own cultural identity.
Purchase Tickets
See Full Schedule

VIRTUAL SCREENINGS | THE 2026 SÁMI FILM FESTIVAL
2026-02-06 - 2026-02-13 | NY
The Annual Sámi Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House and virtually nationwide! Now in its 8th year, the festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, an Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut Stolen reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024.
In-person screenings will take place on Thursday, February 5; Friday, February 6; & Saturday, February 7 at Scandinavia House. Virtual screenings will be available nationwide from February 6 through 13. Other opening weekend in-person screenings will take place at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle.
PROGRAM
In My Hand (2025)
Dir. Liselotte Wajstedt & Marja Helander | 24 min.
Labelled a terrorist and left disabled, a Sámi activist paid a brutal price in 1982 while battling Norwegian authorities to protect his ancestral land. Masterfully blending archival footage and re-enactments, In My Hand retraces his battle and legacy, and challenges us to ask: Is it finally time to stop exploiting nature and start preserving it? Narrated by Niillas Somby, the film navigates between imprisonment, protests, and surreal encounters, providing a unique insight into one man’s journey of resistance, exile, and return.
Máhccan /Homecoming (2023)
Dir. Suvi West & Anssi Kömi | 76 min.
As museums worldwide are increasingly pressured to return cultural property, co-directors Suvi West and Anssi Kömi share a personal and insightful story about the return of Sámi artifacts, long held in a museum, to their homeland. Set at a turning point in which museums must grapple with their colonialist history—including the National Museum of Finland, which has now returned thousands of everyday objects to the Sámi—this “keenly observed film” (POV Magazine) tours museum vaults across Europe, where the filmmaker unravels layers of history, grappling with questions of representation, exploitation and the intricate tapestry of her own cultural identity.
Stöld / Stolen (2024)
Dir. Elle Márjá Eira | 107 min.
Based on the novel by Ann-Helén Laestadius, Stolen follows the Sámi peoples’ struggle to defend their Indigenous heritage, and the woman who puts her life at stake to bring them justice. Ten years after witnessing the slaughter of her beloved reindeer, a young Sámi woman is determined to track down the killer—and confront the other forms of quotidian violence her community faces along the way. A “tense, thoughtful dramatic thriller,” Stolen is part coming-of-age story, part love song to a vanishing natural world, and part electrifying countdown to a dramatic resolution.
Oro Jaska / Shut Up (2025)
Dir. Silje Bürgin-Borch & Vegard Bjørsmo | 144 min.
Set in a remote town in the heart of Sápmi, Shut Up follows Elli Anne, a young Sámi woman whose intimate world collapses after a brutal assault. As she seeks justice within a tightly knit community bound by tradition and family loyalty, the narrative takes a gripping turn when Issat, a celebrated snow cross racer, is accused. The allegation not only threatens his reputation but forces him to confront his own closely guarded secret: that he is queer. Praised as “powerful and timely,” Shut Up marks a historic first—it is the first Sámi TV drama of its kind to center social issues from within the community, told by Sámi voices.
Purchase Passes
Viewing FAQ

DAY TWO | THE 2026 SÁMI FILM FESTIVAL
2026-02-06 19:00 - 21:30 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
The Annual Sámi Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House and virtually nationwide! Now in its 8th year, the festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, an Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut Stolen reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024.
SCHEDULE — DAY 2
Stöld / Stolen (2024)
Dir. Elle Márjá Eira | 107 min.
Based on the novel by Ann-Helén Laestadius, Stolen follows the Sámi peoples’ struggle to defend their Indigenous heritage, and the woman who puts her life at stake to bring them justice. Ten years after witnessing the slaughter of her beloved reindeer, a young Sámi woman is determined to track down the killer– and confront the other forms of quotidian violence her community faces along the way. A “tense, thoughtful dramatic thriller,” Stolen is part coming-of-age story, part love song to a vanishing natural world, and part electrifying countdown to a dramatic resolution.
Purchase Tickets
See Full Schedule

NORDIC KNIT-IN | ADULT CRAFTS WITH HILARY SNELL
2026-02-07 12:00 - 18:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On Saturday, February 7th, join us for a day-long Nordic Knit-In with Scandinavia House’s veteran knitter Hilary Snell! We will provide participants with a relaxed and warm environment for beginning, continuing or finishing up a craft of your choosing. You bring your materials and create whatever you want. Knitting, crocheting, painting, drawing, finger knitting, embroidery, whatever sparks your creativity— we welcome you!
Participants are encouraged to drop in and stay for a minute or stay for hours — and create, create, create — alongside other crafters. Children over 5 are welcome with supervision. BYOY = Bring Your Own Yarn (or your own art supplies). We will provide limited art supplies.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Hilary Snell, a longtime visitor services staff member of Scandinavia House, is of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, and loves everything about Nordic culture. She was taught to knit by her grandmother and mother when she was eight years old and took it up again in her late 20s, and has been knitting ever since. She enjoys sharing her love of the craft and of fiber arts in general. See her work at: https://www.instagram.com/lockwoodknits/
Purchase tickets

DAY THREE | THE 2026 SÁMI FILM FESTIVAL
2026-02-07 14:00 - 17:30 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
The Annual Sámi Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House and virtually nationwide! Now in its 8th year, the festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, an Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut Stolen reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024.
SCHEDULE — DAY 3
Oro Jaska / Shut Up (2025)
Dir. Silje Bürgin-Borch & Vegard Bjørsmo | 144 min.
Set in a remote town in the heart of Sápmi, Shut Up follows Elli Anne, a young Sámi woman whose intimate world collapses after a brutal assault. As she seeks justice within a tightly knit community bound by tradition and family loyalty, the narrative takes a gripping turn when Issat, a celebrated snow cross racer, is accused. The allegation not only threatens his reputation but forces him to confront his own closely guarded secret: that he is queer. Praised as “powerful and timely,” Shut Up marks a historic first—it is the first Sámi TV drama of its kind to center social issues from within the community, told by Sámi voices.
Purchase Tickets
See Full Schedule

NORDIC BOOK CLUB ONLINE | CLEARING OUT
2026-02-10 18:00 - 19:00 | NY
Read and discuss literature with our Nordic Book Club Online! Nordic Book Club meets monthly via Zoom to discuss contemporary literature in translation. On February 10, 2026, we’ll be discussing Norwegian novelist Helene Uri’s novel Clearing Out, exploring a search for identity and Sámi heritage, in translation by Barbara Sjoholm.

Inspired by Helene Uri’s own journey into her family’s ancestry, Clearing Out tells two intertwining stories. A novelist, named Helene, is living in Oslo with her husband and children and contemplating her new protagonist, Ellinor Smidt—a language researcher, divorced and in her late 30s, with a doctorate but no steady job.
An unexpected call from a distant relative reveals that Helene’s grandfather, Nicolai Nilsen, was the son of a coastal (sjø) Sami fisherman—something no one in her family ever talked about. Uncertain how to weave this new knowledge into who she believes she is, Helene continues to write her novel, in which her heroine Ellinor travels to Finnmark in the far north to study the dying languages of the Sami families there. What Ellinor finds among the Sami people she meets is a culture little known in her own world; she discovers history richer and more alluring than rumor and a connection charged with mystery and promise. Through her persistence in approaching an elderly Sami activist, and her relationship with a local Sami man, Ellinor confronts a rift that has existed between two families for generations.
Intricate and beautifully constructed, Clearing Out offers a solemn reflection on how identities, like families, are formed and fractured and recovered as stories are told. In its depiction of the forgotten and the fiercely held memories among the Sea (sjø) Sami of northern Norway, the novel is a powerful statement on what is lost, and what remains in reach, in the character and composition of contemporary life. A masterful blend of fiction and autobiography from one of Norway’s most celebrated authors, the novel’s expert translation by Barbara Sjoholm was a winner of ASF’s Nadia Christensen Translation Prize.
Clearing Out is available in paperback and e-book from University of Minnesota Press and various retailers.
Register

SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD
2026-02-11 19:00 - 21:00 | NY
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, winner of the award for Best Documentary at the 2023 European Film Awards, returns to Scandinavia House on February 11 for National Sauna Week! Join us for director Anna Hints’ intimate delve into the cultural tradition of Vana-Võromaa’s smoke saunas in South Estonia (included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list) and see how they are unique spaces for healing and community. The film draws inspiration from the smoke saunas’ historical role in childbirth, where women gather to share secrets, connecting family and friends to cleanse the body and — more importantly — the soul, inside a place of peace and contemplation.
This documentary, which was the first Estonian film to win an award for directing at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, captures the essence of the smoke sauna experience with masterful cinematography, evoking Vermeer and Rembrandt. Hints authentically portrays women, delving into themes of trauma, healing, and sisterhood. The film concludes with a runic verse, “Thank You Song for Smoke Sauna,” performed by director Anna Hints and producer Marianne Ostrat, expressing gratitude to the spirit of the smoke sauna, the women in the film, and all those who contributed to bringing Smoke Sauna Sisterhood to life. The film has been selected as Estonia’s contender for next year’s Academy Awards.
“This is a film that records a little-known aspect of a little-known national identity…the visual poetry is magnificent”—(Jonathan Romney, Financial Times)
Purchase Tickets

SOLD OUT — PASTEL CHALK ON PAPER
2026-02-12 17:30 - 20:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
*This workshop is now sold out.*
This workshop series for adults offers a gentle introduction to the tactile qualities of materials such as paper, pastel, paint, graphite pencil, and ink. Participants will explore the unique characteristics of various tools and surfaces, learning simple techniques to get started and discover inspiration—whether drawn from the inner world or the world around us. The focus is on the process of making: approaching art as a meditative, exploratory practice. Together, we’ll experiment, play, and pay close attention to what unfolds on the page, moment by moment. There are no expectations for finished pieces or specific outcomes —the class itself is the experience and the goal. Each session will close with a supportive group reflection, where we’ll share and appreciate each other’s progress, process, and discoveries.
In this course, students will explore and experiment with using various pastel chalks on paper.
The series can be experienced as a complete progression or as individual, standalone classes. Participation is limited to 12 students. *Please note: this workshop is for ages 20+.*
Purchase Tickets

WHAT CAN AMERICAN CITIES LEARN FROM THE EUROPEAN NONPROFIT SAUNA MOVEMENT?
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
In honor of National Sauna Week, join us on February 12 for a panel on how American cities can take inspiration from Europe’s sauna movement to embed community health and wellbeing into the heart of public spaces. Moderated by Therme Group US’ Adam Bamba Tanaka, the panel discussion features a pioneer of Norway’s nonprofit sauna movement, a global expert on bathing culture, and a leader in programming New York City’s public realm.
Across European cities — from London to Oslo and beyond — a rapidly growing nonprofit sauna movement is charting a dynamic new model of public health infrastructure: low-priced, high-design public saunas located along waterfronts, rooftops, and public parks. At the center of the story is the Oslo Sauna Association (Oslo Badstuforening), a nonprofit that operates over 25 floating saunas across the Norwegian capital. Supported by a grassroots volunteer operation, these saunas have become beloved pieces of civic infrastructure, social lifelines for a city with long winters and a high proportion of residents who live alone. In 2025, the Oslo Badstuforening was recognized by Time magazine as one of the World’s Great Places.
Drawing on Oslo’s experience, the panel will examine how creative activation of public spaces for community health can support physical and mental wellbeing, strengthen social ties, and make cities more livable year-round.
This event is organized by Culture of Bathe-ing, a global community that celebrates the modern resurgence of communal bathing as a tool for preventative health and a response to growing social isolation within modern urban life. Beginning February 12 and running through March 1, 2026, Culture of Bathe-ing will transform Domino Park on the Williamsburg waterfront into the site of an unprecedented sauna festival. The festival marks the first event of its kind in New York City and the largest sauna village ever staged in the United States.
Register

VALENTINE'S DAY PRIX FIXE
2026-02-14 16:00 - 21:00 | Björk Cafe & Bistro at Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special prix fixe at Björk Cafe & Bistro! Björk will offer a special dinner menu from 4-9 PM featuring appetizers including lobster bisque or potato mille-feuille, main courses including braised flank steak, roasted monkfish or barley risotto, and a sweet finale ($78 pp). Björk will also offer a brunch menu and fika special that day.
RESERVATIONS
VALENTINE’S DAY 2026
Brunch Menu
11 AM-4 PM
Fika Special with Princess Cake & a Frozen Mimosa
3-5 PM ($25 pp; $22.50 ASF Members)
Dinner Prix Fixe
4-9 PM ($78 pp; $70.20 ASF Members)

NORWEGIAN 1 — SPRING 2026 ENROLLMENT OPEN
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Learn the Nordic languages in classes offered in-person and virtually at Scandinavia House! This course is for absolute beginners.
In this beginner’s course, you will build your Norwegian vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar skills, while also learning about Norwegian culture and life. By the course’s end, you should be able to conduct simple conversations in Norwegian. Students are welcome to bring facts they know about Norway into class discussions.
You will get to practice small conversations and reading in class, and there will be a focus on pronunciation and certain Norwegian vowels and sounds which may be new to your ear. There will also be at-home assignments focusing on reading, writing, and grammar, as well as an optional end-of-semester presentation. Outside of class, students are encouraged to watch Norwegian shows/movies, read children’s books, and have podcasts on in the background.
This hybrid class will be held both in-person and via Zoom; in-person attendance for the first four classes is highly recommended. Classes take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6–7 PM beginning February 17 through May 21. *Please note that there will be no classes March 24-April 15.*
No prerequisites required; instructions for remote learning will be emailed upon registration. For questions about language levels, please contact Marie-Therese Bjornerud. Tuition is $675 ($607.50 ASF Members); 20 hours total class time.
The required text will be provided via PDF, before the first class.
Enroll

NORWEGIAN 4 — SPRING 2026 ENROLLMENT OPEN
2026-02-17 19:15 - 21:15 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Learn the Nordic languages in classes offered in-person and virtually at Scandinavia House!
Designed for intermediate learners who have taken Norwegian 3 or equivalent, this course continues to expand and refine your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, enabling grammatically correct conversations, and language structure. A stronger focus will be given to pronunciation, Norwegian structure, tone, and flow.
You will get the opportunity to hone in your knowledge of grammatical structures, thus engaging more confidently in conversations and discussions in class, expanding your vocabulary, and fine-tuning your listening skills. Students are actively encouraged to talk more in-depth about their own experiences in Norwegian.
There will also be weekly at-home assignments, and more, focusing on reading, writing, and grammar, as well as a strongly recommend end-of-semester presentation. Students are strongly encouraged to watch and read Norwegian news, and articles, watch Norwegian shows and movies, and listen to podcasts and audio books, as often as possible, on a weekly basis at a minimum. These classes are conducted in Norwegian, with the occasional English word/sentence.
This hybrid class will be held both in-person and via Zoom; in-person attendance for the first four classes is highly recommended. Classes take place on Tuesdays from 7:15–9:15 PM beginning February 17 and ending on May 19. *Please note that there will be no classes March 24-April 15.*
Please note that in order to take this course, you should be comfortable using the simple past tense, and have knowledge of regular and irregular verbs, as well as their irregularities and rules. You should also be able to use indefinite, definite, and plural forms of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns; conjugate adjectives; and apply intermediate Norwegian sentence structure, including “inversion.”
Prerequisite: Norwegian 3 or equivalent; instructions for remote learning will be emailed upon registration. For questions about language levels, please contact Marie-Therese Bjornerud. Tuition is $675 ($607.50 ASF Members); 20 hours total class time.
The required text will be provided via PDF, before the first class.

Enroll

THE UGLY STEPSISTER | NORDIC & BALTIC OSCAR CONTENDERS
2026-02-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On February 18, see Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt’s sinister reimagining of the Cinderella story, The Ugly Stepsister, a nominee for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 98th Academy Awards!
Elvira (Lea Myren) is preparing to earn the prince’s affection, at any cost. But in a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira must compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss) to become the belle of the ball. The Ugly Stepsister is a chilling, visually stunning exploration of beauty, worth, and the societal systems that shape women’s lives (Norway, 2025).
“A fascinating exploration of beauty standards, and the way in which women are repeatedly placed into competition with one another” (THN).
“Emilie Blichfeldt blends the more brutal folktale elements with phantasmatic longing” (Sight & Sound).
