Artistic Research in Art, Design and Architecture can play a vital role in the Arctic, investigating the interdisciplinary, social and aesthetic dimensions of community building and resilience in the face of climate change and growing geopolitical tensions. In June, artists, researchers and policymakers will gather in Umeå for Arctic Arts Summit 2026. Under the theme “Land, Power, Art”, the summit will explore how arts and culture shape the understanding of societal change in the Arctic

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 are hosting six panel discussions as part of the Summit program on the topics of: Resilient Radio (12A); Crafting Knowledge (2D); Art and Mining (11C); Art and Truth Telling (7B); Deposing Geo-engineering (5B); Land-Based Art Learning (3E).

The UmArts off-summit program is open to the public working in collaboration with Trahppie, U-Arctic, the Swedish Curators Association, Verkligheten, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, Umeå School of Architecture and Umeå Institute of Design to host a series of exhibitions and events that are open to all artists, curators, researchers, students and cultural workers in Umeå and attending the Latitudes conference and Arctic Arts Summit delegates.

Look out for the Real Arctic Tourist Shop at Väven and Tráhppie Sami Cultural Centre, and This is Arctic Land interventions at UmArts, Trahppie and Rådhusgatan. And don’t miss the Resilient Radio Film Screening at Folketsbio with films by artists Helena Wikström and Astrid Ardagh.

The ASAD network Relate North Show & Tell is a great opportunity to meet art and design researchers from across the Arctic, followed by a Conversation about Teaching Art in the Arctic, all taking place at Umeå Institute of Design on 17 June.

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. From Monday 15 June you can visit the Real Arctic Tourist shop in the Kommunhörnan (Kommun corner) in the city library, Väven and the Tráhppie Sami Cultural Center for your real arctic souvenirs provoking questions of identity, ownership and belonging.