Scandinavia House

SOLD OUT — NORTHERN PATTERNS: LEARN TRADITIONAL ARCTIC BEADING DETAILS
2026-05-05 17:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-28 17:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-21 17:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
*Please note: this workshop is now sold out.*
This hands-on workshop draws inspiration from the work of master bone carver Inna Eilyuvna Iadne, whose intricate sculptures and jewelry reflect the cultural depth and artistic traditions of the Indigenous peoples of Yamal. Participants will explore Northern ornamental traditions through beadweaving, translating symbolic patterns and storytelling elements into contemporary wearable art.
Through guided practice, attendees will learn 1 to 3 beadweaving techniques and create an original jewelry piece such as earrings, a bracelet, or a pendant. Along the way, they will gain insight into the symbolism, composition, and cultural context that inform Northern decorative arts, as seen in Iadne’s meticulous attention to detail and narrative craftsmanship.
The workshop aims to develop artistic taste, strengthen compositional thinking, and equip participants with the skills to independently design and create meaningful handmade pieces that connect traditional heritage with modern expression.

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CRAFT YOUR OWN AQUAVIT: A NORDIC EXPERIENCE
2026-05-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Join us to create your own customized aquavit blend for this year’s Midsummer! On May 2, Scandinavia House and Björk Cafe & Bistro will present a special learning, crafting and tasting event in collaboration with Spritmuseumet in Stockholm, Sweden. Participants will learn about the Nordic spirit’s history—including its origins, evolving flavor profiles and traditions—through a video developed by Spritmuseumet. Following the introduction, participants will be able to combine ingredients to create their own unique blend, using ingredients ranging from citrus and/or lingonberry, to juniper and elderflower, to spices such as cumin, dill and star anis, ginger or even BonBon candy! Björk will complement the experience with a selection of upcoming spring/summer menu items, along with a few traditional Scandinavian classics. Following the program, each custom blend can be steeped at home in time to drink at Midsummer.
Please note that the registration deadline for this event is April 30.
Participants must bring:
-A 375 ml bottle of vodka (or non-alcoholic vodka) of your choice
*Ticketholders receive a 10% discount on bottles purchased from 1936 Wine & Spirits, located at 65 E. 34th St. near Scandinavia House.
Björk will supply:
-All materials for the infusion (citrus peels, juniper, dried spices, elderflower, St. John’s wort, dill, cumin, star anis, berries, ginger, BonBon candy)
-Tea bags for the infusion
-Custom bottles for the finished product
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ALL THE FRETS ALL THE TIME: LEARN THE FRETTED DULCIMER
2026-05-02 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-05-02 11:30 - 13:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Discover the beauty and simplicity of the fretted dulcimer in this engaging, hands-on instrument workshop led by musician, writer, and folklorist Nils Caspersson. Rooted in Swedish tradition and influenced by 19th-century Scandinavian-American design, the fretted dulcimer features a distinctive hourglass shape, diatonic fret pattern, elegant scroll, and heart-shaped sound holes. Historically connected to instruments such as the Moraharpa, Hummel, and Psalmodikon, it likely made its way to America with Scandinavian immigrants traveling along the Erie Canal prior to the Civil War.
Participants will learn the fundamentals of dulcimer playing in a welcoming, beginner-friendly environment in two Saturday workshops! No prior musical experience is necessary.
Workshop 1 (90 minutes):
• Introduction to tuning (D-A-D)
• Basic strumming techniques
• Play your first tune within minutes
• Learn a traditional Swedish fiddle tune, “Malberg’s Polska” (printed music provided)
• Understanding the dulcimer’s fret pattern
• Practice time and preparation tips for the next session
• Q&A
Workshop 2 (90 minutes):
• Playing with a wooden noter
• Introduction to harmonics
• Learn familiar tunes including “This Land Is Your Land” and “Winter Wonderland”
• Chord techniques with “Josephine’s Waltz”
• Basics of improvisation
• Exploring CAD tuning
• Instrument care and maintenance
• Q&A
Participants should bring their own fretted dulcimer tuned to D-A-D. A limited number of instruments will be available for those new to the instrument. Come experience how quickly and joyfully you can begin making music!

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KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® | (MORE) MUSIC OF JOY AND PEACE
2026-04-30 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 program, Mr. Siegel’s season closes with the uplifting, soothing music of J.S. Bach, Edvard Grieg, Robert Schumann, Gioachino Rossini, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

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

DREAMS
2026-04-29 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
“An intensely compelling story about first love”—On April 29th, see DREAMS, Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s third installment of the widely acclaimed Oslo Trilogy and winner of the Golden Bear at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival!
17-year-old Johanne drifts and daydreams like any teenager, until one day her restlessness morphs into all-consuming passion for her charismatic French teacher, Johanna. From her vulnerable yet never maudlin inner monologue, to her frank confessions to her poet grandmother and over-curious mother, to nuanced scenes of intimacy with Johanna, Haugerud paints a complex, endearing, and intoxicating portrait of youthful infatuation and self-discovery, laced with the lightest touch of moral inquiry.
“It sweeps you up, assuredly and indeed dreamily… The film’s precise juxtapositions of sight and sound produce brilliant flashes of insight…and a cumulatively seductive, almost musical flow.” (Justin Chang, The New Yorker)
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NORDIC KNIT-IN | ADULT CRAFTS WITH HILARY SNELL
2026-04-25 11:00 - 17:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On April 25, 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/
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INSIDE VOICES, OUTSIDE LIGHT OPENING CELEBRATION | ARTIST PANEL, THE GREEN LAND SCREENING & BOOK LAUNCH
2026-04-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On April 18, in celebration of the opening of Inside Voices, Outside Light, join us for an Opening Celebration featuring a screening of the film The Green Land, Greenlandic artist Inuk Silis Høegh’s land art work centered on his homeland’s staggering nature and its contested future; a book launch of co-curator Kinna Poulsen’s AT EYE LEVEL, a treatise on 21st-century contemporary art of the Faroe Islands; followed by a panel discussion with exhibition artists Hansina Iversen and Jóhan Martin Christiansen, moderated by co-curators Kinna Poulsen and Emily Stoddart.
SCHEDULE

The Green Land—2:00 PM
See a presentation of The Green Land, the Greenlandic artist Inuk Silis Høegh’s staggeringly beautiful Land Art work about his country’s monumental nature at a time when it is undergoing change. The rugged mountains, deep fjords, majestic ice and lush lowlands all take center stage as Silis Høegh intervenes, rearranges, applies colour and adds smoke in an effort to question for how long the Arctic nature will remain untouched. (34 min, no dialogue)

Book Launch & Artist Panel—3:00 PM
Faroese artists Hansina Iversen and Jóhan Martin Christiansen will be joined by exhibition co-curators Kinna Poulsen and Emily Stoddart for a discussion on their works in Inside Voices, Outside Light, on view in the Scandinavia House Galleries through June 20.
This will also mark the launch of Kinna Poulsen’s new book AT EYE LEVEL, an exploration of 21st century Faroese contemporary art. In his poem “Onkran morgun” (Some morning) by Jóanes Nielsen, from the poetry collection Brúgvar av svongum orðum frá byrjanini av øldini from 2003, he states that everything fixed will loosen, and this depiction captures the very essence of this era so full of opportunities whilst also marked by threats and shifts, which in varying ways have changed our ways of living and thinking – also in terms of art. This work sets out with a long essay on significant societal and cultural events that have come to characterise the 21st century both locally and internationally. This is then followed by a description of artistic pioneers – old as well as young – whose influence has carried on well into our time, as well as artistic turning points that have moved us forward. The book concludes with a thorough analysis of the art of over fifty artists and includes an epilogue that sums up significant movements as well as the era itself.

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CURATOR WALKTHROUGH - INSIDE VOICES, OUTSIDE LIGHT
2026-04-18 13:00 - 14:00
Join us on Saturday, April 18th for an Opening Day Celebration for Inside Voices, Outside Light: Perspectives on West Nordic Art at Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America. The show will be on view through June 20, 2026.
A group exhibition featuring 21 contemporary artists from the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway, Inside Voices, Outside Light highlights the unique perspective of these North Atlantic territories, who share cultural and historical ties while each possessing distinct identities and communities. With works ranging across photography, paintings, textiles, film, and sculpture, including three site-specific installations, the exhibition also showcases the diversity and complexity of the region.
In this free 30-45 minute guided tour led by Emily Stoddart, ASF’s Manager of Exhibitions & Community Programs — and curator of the exhibition — you’ll learn about the artists in this exhibition and their works.
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SUDDEN OUTBURSTS OF EMOTIONS
2026-04-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
“An insightful, compassionate, and witty debut”—On April 8, see Sudden Outbursts of Emotions, a tender dramedy about the complexities of modern love and mid-life crises!
Travel agent Jane (Iina Kuustonen) lives a comfortable, stable yuppie existence in Helsinki with Mikki (Riku Nieminen), her theatre-actor boyfriend of 10 years. While their sex life appears active and content on the surface, Jane is thrown for a loop when Mikki suggests trying an “open relationship” to spice things up. Jane is initially resistant but eventually agrees to attend an exclusive sex-positive weekend retreat, where the 40-ish couple can explore other romantic pursuits. While Mikki wanders off, Jane bumps into Valma (Laura Malmivaara), a free-spirited woman and veteran of the polyamorous lifestyle, who encourages Jane to explore hidden facets of her love language. As their bond deepens, Jane finds herself navigating unfamiliar territory—desire, jealousy, and self-discovery—while her once-stable life begins to unravel. What began as an experiment in freedom becomes a profound turning point that challenges everything Jane thought she knew about relationships.
This debut feature from Finnish TV writer/director Paula Korva, could be called a “rom-dramedy” for its skillful depiction of the awkwardness, excitement, and befuddlement felt by newbies to the 3D chess game of polyamory. Korva treats her characters with grace and humor, allowing them room to evolve gradually in this modern spin on the joys and absurdities of gender-fluid dating.
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THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF SEA LEVEL CHANGE
2026-04-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
The Columbia Climate School and Scandinavia House invite you to a reception and conversation on sea level change.

Changes to the world’s ice sheets and sea levels are reshaping the places we call home. From flooding and intensifying storm surge risks in New York City to dramatic shifts along the coasts of Greenland and the Nordic region, rising and falling seas deeply affect our infrastructure and cherished landscapes.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the Columbia Climate School’s powerhouse research hub, is at the forefront of tracking sea level change. Its scientists study the past to understand long-term climate patterns and make accurate projections for the future, providing essential insights for coastal planning, policy, risk assessment, and community preparedness.
In this special Earth Month program, Scandinavia House is proud to partner with the Columbia Climate School to bring this research directly to you. We invite you to join us, bring your questions, and engage with leading earth and climate experts, Lamont Professor Jacky Austermann and Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson.

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RACHMANINOFF’S PIANO CONCERTO WITH PER TENGSTRAND
2026-04-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Join us on April 9 for our final installment of a special concert series celebrating 25 years of Music on Park Avenue, the acclaimed performance series curated by Swedish pianist Per Tengstrand that has been with Scandinavia House since its inauguration in 2000. In honor of Scandinavia House’s silver anniversary year, Tengstrand has presented a program of chamber music performances featuring distinguished guest musicians.
The most popular piano concerto ever written, played in a way you never heard before! For the final performance of the series, Per Tengstrand will be joined by students from Princeton University for a version of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s iconic Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor arranged for piano and string quartet. We will also hear all of the string players in solo pieces by J.S. Bach, César Franck and York Bowen.
Thanks to a generous loan by Victor Borge’s grandson Finn, concerts will be performed on Victor Borge’s personal Steinway piano.

LONG GOOD THURSDAY
2026-04-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
“Heartwarming… a great accomplishment”—On April 8, see Long Good Thursday, Finnish director Mika Kaurismaki‘s fourth installment of the rollicking Grump film series!
Set in the lush days of a Finnish summer, Long Good Thursday is a gentle comedy of growing older and of accepting the never-ending possibility of finding joy. Finnish comedy star Heikki Kinnunen plays an aging, stubborn farmer intent on finishing his life in the home he shared with his late wife. Much to his surprise, he finds himself smitten with a free-spirited artist, called Saimi, who is intent on using him as a model for her photography.
His sons are skeptical– even jealous –of their father, and don’t trust Saimi’s intentions. Who knows, maybe she’s after his inheritance? Family meetings, misunderstandings, swimming in the moonlight, and sleepless nights show that the power of love can pierce through even the oldest of flannel shirts.
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NORDIC BOOK CLUB ONLINE | OUT OF THE BLUE: NEW SHORT FICTION FROM ICELAND
2026-04-07 18:00 - 19:00
Read and discuss literature with our Nordic Book Club Online! Nordic Book Club meets monthly via Zoom to discuss contemporary literature in translation. On April 7, 2026, in coordination with our upcoming West Nordic art exhibition Inside Voices, Outside Light, we’ll be discussing Out of the Blue: New Short Fiction from Iceland, edited by Helen Mitsios.
This extraordinary collection, the first anthology of Icelandic short fiction published in English translation, features work by twenty of Iceland’s most popular and celebrated living authors—including Andri Snær Magnason, Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Kristín Ómarsdóttir, and Auður Jónsdóttir—granddaughter of Halldór Laxness, who won the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Celebrated in Europe and Scandinavia but less known in the English-speaking world, these writers traverse realms of darkness and light that will be familiar to readers who have fallen under the spell of Scandinavian fiction. While uniquely Icelandic in topography and tenor, with a touch of the island’s supernatural charm, the stories traffic in the enduring and universal complexities of human nature. Here is a fictional universe where the ghosts of Vikings and spirits tread, volcanoes grumble underfoot, and writers trip the Northern Lights fantastic across the landscape of the Icelandic imagination.

Out of the Blue is available in paperback and e-book from University of Minnesota Press and from Barnes and Noble and other retailers.

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EASTER PRIX-FIXE AT BJÖRK CAFE & BISTRO
2026-04-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-04 16:00 - 21:00, 2026-04-03 16:00 - 20:00 | Björk Cafe & Bistro at Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Celebrate Easter Nordic-style at Björk Café & Bistro! Prix-fixe specials throughout Easter weekend will include family-style appetizers featuring three types of herring, gravlax with honey mustard, and egg with shrimp salad; a range of entrees including roasted lamb loin, seafood casserole, and spring baked beets; and a dessert plate with Scandinavian sweets. Drink specials include wine, aquavit and beer. ASF Members receive a 10-percent discount; book now to guarantee seating!
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WOMAN AT WAR | SILVER ANNIVERSARY RESCREENS
2026-04-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
“A thoughtful and dynamic blend of genres”—On April 1, see Woman at War to continue our Silver Anniversary Rescreens! First screened at Scandinavia House in 2020, this contemporary environmental fable follows one Icelandic woman’s stubborn efforts to be on the right side of history.
Behind the scenes of her quiet routine, the independent 50-year-old Halla leads a double life as a passionate environmental activist. Known to others only by her alias “The Woman of the Mountain,” Halla secretly wages a one-woman-war on the local aluminium industry. As Halla’s actions grow bolder, from petty vandalism to outright industrial sabotage, she succeeds in pausing the negotiations between the Icelandic government and the corporation building a new aluminium smelter in the mountains.
But right as she begins planning her biggest and boldest operation yet, she receives an unexpected letter that changes everything: her application to adopt a child has finally been accepted, and a little girl is waiting for her in Ukraine. As Halla prepares to abandon her role as saboteur and savior of the Highlands to fulfill her dream of becoming a mother, she decides to plot one final attack to deal the aluminium industry a crippling blow.
“Deftly centralizes a profound humanity…” (Variety)
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This program has been supported by the Monika and Charles Heimbold Fund for Exhibitions and Programs.

NORDIC KNIT-IN | ADULT CRAFTS WITH HILARY SNELL
2026-03-28 11:00 - 17:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On March 28, 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/
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MAIL ART WORKSHOP WITH RIITTA IKONEN
2026-03-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the practice of mail art as a collaborative and time-based artistic process involving sender, postal system, and receiver. Led by acclaimed Finnish artist Riitta Ikonen ahead of her exhibition at the American Swedish Institute, the workshop invites participants to work with everyday materials and found ephemera to create postcard-sized artworks intended for mailing.
During the full-day session (10:00 am–4:00 pm, with a 30–45 minute lunch break), participants will receive an introduction to the history and contemporary contexts of mail art, followed by guided studio time. Each participant will create up to three postcards, including one work to be sent to the Finnish Postal Museum as part of a dedicated exhibition documenting the journey of the artworks from New York to Finland.
In advance of the workshop, participants will be invited to collect a hand-created mail art postcard by Riitta Ikonen from a designated “mailbox” at Scandinavia House. The postcard provides conceptual prompts and practical guidance for observing and gathering materials from daily life, offering participants the opportunity to experience mail art as recipients prior to making their own works.
All materials, postage, and addresses are provided. No prior experience is required.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Originally from the deep forests of eastern Finland, Riitta Ikonen works through performance, wearable sculptures, participatory performances and mail art. After completing her MA at the Royal College of Art in London in 2008, she has exhibited internationally holding shows at the Barbican Centre, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Peabody Essex Museum and the London- and Pyeongchang Olympics. Ikonen lectures at schools and universities and advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration for actionable change.
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DEAF (SORDA) | LUX AUDIENCE AWARDS 2026
2026-03-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
See five of the shortlisted finalists for this year’s LUX Audience Awards this season at Scandinavia House! On March 27 we’ll be screening Deaf (Sorda), a “beautifully nuanced” debut by Spanish director Eva Libertad. Winner of the International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas and the coveted Audience Award at the Panorama Section of the Berlinale, Sorda offers a personal, vital, and profoundly moving look into the complexity and rarely explored relationship between the deaf and hearing worlds.
Ángela, a deaf woman, and Héctor, her hearing partner, are expecting a child. They are excited about the pregnancy, although they do not yet know whether the baby will be deaf or hearing. Despite both claiming they can handle whatever comes, their underlying concerns are evident. After a complicated and emotionally intense labor, Ángela gives birth to their daughter, but the pair will have to wait a couple of months to learn if the baby is hearing or not. Navigating this limbo, Héctor struggles to fully grasp the challenges Ángela is facing, while she must come to terms with raising a daughter who may not share her experience of the world. This journey forces both of them to question their roles as partners and parents, as Ángela grapples with her identity in a society that does not fully accept or understand her.
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This event has been organized by the European Parliament in partnership with Scandinavia House. The LUX Audience Award is a joint initiative of the European Parliament and the European Film Academy in collaboration with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas. It is the largest audience award worldwide and the only film prize in the world where citizens together with Members of the European Parliament -with each group weighting 50% -can decide who the winner will be by rating the nominated films online. The LUX Audience Award fosters dialogue and engagement between politics and the public through the medium of film. The nominated films address European values and raise awareness about some of today’s main social and political issues such as mental health, poverty, climate change, freedom of expression, gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights.

THE GOOD TRAITOR
2026-03-26 19:00 - 21:00
On March 26, Scandinavia House is proud to present the 2020 film The Good Traitor (Vores mand I Amerika)!
April 9, 1940: Denmark is invaded by Nazi Germany with demands for immediate and unconditional surrender. The government surrenders after a few hours and begins cooperating with the Nazis. On the other side of the Atlantic is Denmark’s ambassador to the United States of America, a daredevil and a man of the world — Henrik Kauffmann, who is willing to put everything on the line. He refuses to follow the German directives and engineers a rebellious plan to defeat Hitler and give the Danish people their freedom back.
Based on a true story and starring Ulrich Thomsen, Burn Gorman, and Zoë Tapper, The Good Traitor explores the actions of Ambassador Kauffmann’s unsung heroism in WWII history.
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MIDTOWN CULTURAL ALLIANCE OPEN HOUSE
2026-03-26 - 2026-04-05 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Inaugurated in September 2025, the Midtown Cultural Alliance (MCA) is a presenters’ union founded by Japan Society, The Korea Society, Korean Cultural Center, L’Alliance New York, and Scandinavia House to highlight Midtown NYC as a global cultural destination.
Following the successful launch of the inaugural Open House events in September 2025, MCA’s second cross-organizational Open House beginning March 26 will offer both free and paid programming spread across all five partner organizations!
Upon attendance to any one event at any of the five organizations during this Open House, a participant will receive a special “passport” and collect a stamp. Once collecting three stamps on their passport, a participant may then redeem a free gift from up to three different organizations of their choice.
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FACING WAR | NEW NORDIC CINEMA
2026-03-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
“Gripping…with remarkable access”—On March 25, Scandinavia House presents a special screening of the harrowing political documentary Facing War!
With a unique inside look at NATO’s leadership at the brink of geopolitical crisis, Facing War follows the day-to-day tenure of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as he nears retirement. As Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on, then U.S. President Joe Biden persuades Stoltenberg to extend his tenure as NATO Secretary General for one final year. During a visit to Kyiv, Stoltenberg vows that the Alliance will stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” But as Western support falters and divisions among allies deepen, this promise is increasingly at risk. With NATO decisions requiring unanimous approval, Stoltenberg must navigate conflicts and rally member nations behind him.
With unprecedented access to NATO’s inner sanctum, Facing War takes viewers inside the high-stakes power struggles between global leaders like Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The film chronicles the delicate art of diplomacy in a time when safety and democracy are at stake, asking the question on everyone’s mind: can Stoltenberg keep his promise?
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INTERGENERATIONAL ART WITH MARGRETHE AANESTAD
2026-03-23 17:45 - 20:15 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
In this two and a half hour class, kids and their accompanying adults will dive into the exciting world of color through hands-on exploration and playful experimentation. Using water-based paints, water, and a variety of brushes on paper, participants will discover how colors move, blend, and transform. We will begin by working with the three primary colors—red, blue, and yellow—and explore how they interact. Through guided mixing, students will create secondary colors and experiment with making lighter and darker shades by adjusting the amount of water and paint.
Along the way, we’ll notice how colors can feel warm or cool, bright or soft, bold or subtle. 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.
This workshop is designed for ages 10 and up and accompanying adults.
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WOMEN IN NORDIC DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE: CRAFT MEETS INDUSTRY
2026-03-19 18:30 - 19:30 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
Nordic American Connections: Conversations on Architecture and Design is a four-part series that presents prominent architects, critics and scholars to reflect on Scandinavian and Nordic design’s enduring impact in shaping modern American design since the 19th century.
With renewed interest in the Nordic tradition and its resilient building strategies for climate action and wellbeing, this four-part architecture series engages contemporary Nordic and American architects and designers highlighting their design approaches with an emphasis on ‘complete design’ and award-winning projects that shape the American landscape and reflect Nordic design’s pivotal role in Modernism in America. This series is offered in collaboration with AIA New York and AIA Continental Europe. The third panel of the series, marking Scandinavia House’s 25th Anniversary, will focus on women in Nordic design—from Aino and Elissa Aalto, Loja Saarinen, and Greta Magnusson Grossman to contemporary women architects. Historically, women have made significant contributions to modern architecture and design, shaping both public buildings and residential spaces, as well as furniture and textile design. Their innovative approaches and distinctive styles have combined nature, craftsmanship, and human-centered principles with modern aesthetics, helping to define and transform the industry.
Participants include Eva Christine Jensen of Eva Jensen Design; Jennifer Yoos, design partner and President at VJAA; and Suchi Reddy, founder of Reddymade. The program will be moderated by Susan Chin of DesignConnects.
Tickets are now available HERE.
The series continues this spring with a final discussion on May 14, 2026. Purchase a series pass here.
AIANY Continuing Education Credits are approved for this session; attendees receive 1.5 Learning Units | 1.5 HSW credits. To receive the credits, please ask to sign the AIANY student form at check-in.

MOTHER OF SNOW CRANES
2026-03-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On March 18, see Mother of Snow Cranes, Finnish director Iiris Härmä’s stirring documentary following a strong, adventurous ornithologist whose journey from love to tragedy to revolution earned her the title “The Mother of Snow Cranes.” Director and producer Iiris Härmä and cinematographer Visa Koiso-Kanttila will be present for a film talk following the screening.
“Ellen, why are you staying here?” Iiris Härmä’s film begins with this question before following the remarkable life of Ellen Vuosalo (1931–2025), who was born in Toronto to Finnish immigrants, studied zoology in the United States, and married an Iranian man. Ellen’s situation changed drastically after she decided to travel to Iran to seek custody of her children following her divorce. What started as a personal journey brought her to the wetlands of northern Iran where she stayed for five decades, dedicating her life to studying and protecting the last flocks of the critically endangered Siberian crane.
This heartfelt and inspiring documentary captures a lifetime of conservation, blending scientific research with community involvement and challenging cultural and gender norms along the way. It’s a gentle portrait of one woman’s unwavering commitment to wildlife and a reflection on resilience, belonging, and connections across nature, humanity, and cultural borders.
Photos: Visa Koiso-Kanttila
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KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® | THE ROMANTIC MUSIC OF CHOPIN
2026-03-12 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 program, experience Frédéric Chopin’s dreamy nocturnes, charming waltzes, poignant mazurkas, and heroic polonaises—including one written when the composer was seven years old!
Thanks to a generous loan by Victor Borge’s grandson Finn, concerts will be performed on Victor Borge’s personal Steinway piano.
