128 years ago, at the edge of the forest in Bergen/Birgon where Kanadaskogen meets Liavatnet, Bergenser and tourists would pay to go and see a group of Sami people and their reindeer, displayed as exotic curiosities.

Skogen forteller/Meahccehallan presents a new commissioned sound work for this area of forest by Sámi artist, writer, politician and activist Katarina Dorothea Isaksen, in partnership with the Birgon ja biras sámiid searvi. Saturday 1 February, 14:00–15:00, in the forest area by Tennebekk Turparkering

Listen to artists Maya Al Khaldi and Sarouna talk about the Palestinian music scenes and about their own musical approaches and artistic practices in a new episode of SON[I]A, recorded by Radio Web MACBA at Borealis 2024.

In the podcast, they question the electronic music genre from a decolonial point of view and talk about the issues around fusion and the exoticisation of cultural expression. Folklore emerges as a complex and often disputed concept. The conversation touches on the tensions between the archive and lived experience, the challenges of non-existent or inaccessible archives, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. They also reflect on the crucial need for collective mourning as Palestinians and talk about the weight of imposed guilt, and about resilience.

Photo: Frid Lilleskog Tronstadt/ Borealis

Peter Meanwell has served as Artistic Director of Borealis – a festival for experimental music – since his first festival in 2015. Under his leadership, the festival has established itself as one of the most important platforms for innovative and boundary-pushing music in Norway and internationally.

Meanwell has played a key role in expanding the artistic profile of the festival through programming and commissioning a bold mix of local and global experimental music and strengthening the organisation’s focus on diversity, sustainability, and social engagement, creating unique connections between music, society, and audiences.

“Led by Peter Meanwell (…) Borealis (…) has created a rare space for lively exploration in a notoriously selfserious field.” Jennifer Gersten, The New York Times

His last term will conclude after Borealis 2026, and the position will be advertised in the course of 2025.

Photo: Thor Brødreskift

We are so happy to have Aistė Žumbakytė join our team as our new Head of Production!

Aistė comes from Lithuania, where she studied Art Management and worked with film, music and festivals. In Bergen, she started as an intern during Borealis 2013, and volunteered for BIT Teatergarasjen’s Oktoberdans. This was the start of her professional journey with experimental music and interdisciplinary stage production. She has worked as a freelance producer for Neither Nor, Ursus Produksjoner, Open Window Theatre, nyMusikk Bergen, Alwynne Pritchard and a number of other artists. Previously, she has been a Producer and Managing Director for the concert series Avgarde, and recently she has been substituting for the tour manager of Carte Blanche, as well as having been employed in project positions for Borealis. Now we are very happy that she is more permanently joining our team!