The Arctic Art Summit is coming to Umeå 15-18 June 2026!
UmArts is leading on Umeå University’s program for the summit working with the Arctic Centre, Várdduo Centre for Sámi Research, Tráhppie Sami Cultural Centre and the UArctic University. We will host: six panel discussions as part of the Summit program; the Relate North Show & Tell with posters and an exhibition; a meet-up for University Art tutors across the Arctic; Relient Radio Film Screening at Folketsbio, and Real Arctic interventions across the town. Panel dialogues will cover topics such as Resilient Radio, Crafting Knowledge, Art and Mining, Truth Telling, Deposing Geo-engineering, and Sustainable Transformation through land based art and education.
The UmArts program starts on 11 June, so if you are in Upmeje – look out for the pre-summit events.
Exhibitions open 11-18 June 14.00-18.00
On the East side of town, alongside the river, you will find the Arts Campus with the Bildmuseet, and the schools of Art, Design and Architecture along with the Bygden Cafe and UmArts Research Studio. During the Summit, and the week proceeding, UmArts will present Tonia Carless’s exhibition House_Flow Counter Move investigating the practice of physically moving houses in the region. Just five minutes walk along Pilgatan Umeå School of Architecture will present artists Elena Mazzi and Rúrí in the exhibition Future Cartographies at Verkligheten artist-run gallery.
Monday 15 June
10.00-19.00 Real Arctic Tourist Shop, Kommunhörnan, Väven
14.00-18.00 House_Flow Counter Move, Tonia Carless, exhibition, UmArts Studio
14.00-18.00 Future Cartographies, Elena Mazzi & Rúrí, exhibition, Verkligheten Galleri
17.00-19.00 Swedish Curators’ Association meet-up, UmArts Studio
Tuesday 16 June
10.00-19.00 Real Arctic Tourist Shop, Kommunhörnan, Väven
10.45-11.45 Crafting Knowledge Panel, Multisalen, Väven
13.00-14.00 Art and Sustainable Development Panel, Multisalen, Väven
15.30-16.30 Deposing Geo-Engineering Panel, Women’s History Museum, Väven
Wednesday 17 June
10.00-19.00 Real Arctic Tourist Shop, Kommunhörnan, Väven
10.45-11.45 Art and Truth-Telling Panel, Vävenscenen, Väven
13.00-15.00 Relate North#14 Show & Tell, Project Studio, Umeå Institute of Design
15.30-17.00 Teaching Art in the Arctic, Project Studio, Umeå Institute of Design
20.00 Avant Joik, Norrlandsoperan
Thursday, 18 June
10.00-16.00 Real Arctic Tourist Shop, Kommunhörnan, Väven
10.45-11.45 Art and Mining Panel, Tagnig, Väven
13.00-14.00 Resilient Radio Panel, Multisalen, Väven
18.00-19.30 Resilient Radio Film Screening, Folketsbio, Väven