ASF + Scandinavia House

ASF + Scandinavia House The leading center for Nordic culture in the U.S., Scandinavia House offers a wide range of programs and is the home of ASF.
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Located at 58 Park Avenue at 38th St., NYC. Support ASF here: https://go.amscan.org/Donations Established in 1911 by Danish-American industrialist Niels Poulson and a group of other forward-thinking leaders from business and education, the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) was the first international non-governmental society to have as its sole purpose the development of goodwill through educational and cultural exchange. It was designed to meet the needs of its time through fellowships, scholarly exchange, exhibitions, and publications. These programs have grown over the years, and along with the cultural programs at Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, have provided a comprehensive platform for ongoing international exchange between the United States and the Nordic countries. This international work is at the heart of the Foundation’s mission. Each year, ASF awards over $800,000 in fellowships and grants to individual students, scholars, professionals, and artists for study and research in the United States and abroad. To date, some 30,000 Americans and Scandinavians have participated in these and other ASF programs of study, research, or practical training. In October 2000, ASF opened Scandinavia House as a showplace for Nordic culture and life. Since its founding, it has welcomed over 1.5 million visitors, who have come to enjoy exhibitions, performances, lectures, and more. Scandinavia House was financed by the generosity of more than 300 donors from the U.S. and abroad, including individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as the Nordic governments and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, the leading center for Nordic culture in the United States, offers a wide range of programs that illuminate the culture and vitality of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Scandinavia House offerings include diverse exhibitions and film series, as well as concerts and other performances, readings, lectures, symposia, language courses, and children’s activities. Designed by the internationally renowned Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects) and inaugurated in October 2000, Scandinavia House is the headquarters of the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) and the site of ASF’s cultural and educational programming.

Tonight at 6 PM (October 13), in coordination with West Nordic Film Days, our Nordic Book Club will discuss "On the Othe...
10/13/2026

Tonight at 6 PM (October 13), in coordination with West Nordic Film Days, our Nordic Book Club will discuss "On the Other Side is March" by Sólrún Michelsen, a poignant and darkly witty portrait of aging, memory and multigenerational caretaking from the first female Faroese writer to ever appear in English.

Register:

Read and discuss literature with our Nordic Book Club Online! On October 13 we'll discuss "On the Other Side is March."

We invite you to see the film , "Tell Everyone!," directed by former Cultural Grant Award recipient (2012), Alli Haapasa...
10/13/2026

We invite you to see the film , "Tell Everyone!," directed by former Cultural Grant Award recipient (2012), Alli Haapasalo, on October 21st at 7pm, followed by Q&A, at ASF + Scandinavia House!

"Alli Haapasalo, the director of the acclaimed Girl Picture (2022), takes the female body’s built-in violence and imbues that bottled up fury into 19th-century Finland."

"A compelling and ultimately compassionate story..."

More Info & Tickets:
https://www.scandinaviahouse.org/event/tell-everyone-new-nordic-cinema/

On October 14, see the warmly rendered drama Home Sweet Home! Single mother Sofie starts a new career as a caretaker for...
10/13/2026

On October 14, see the warmly rendered drama Home Sweet Home! Single mother Sofie starts a new career as a caretaker for the elderly, only to be humbled by the toll it takes on her physical and mental state, in this authentic and rewarding glimpse at the uncelebrated world of healthcare workers from director Frelle Petersen.

Tickets:

On October 14, see the warmly rendered drama HOME SWEET HOME, an authentic glimpse at the uncelebrated world of healthcare workers.

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! Today we honor the history, culture and resilience of Indigenous communities, and celebra...
10/12/2026

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! Today we honor the history, culture and resilience of Indigenous communities, and celebrate their enormous contributions throughout the world.

This fall, we've had the privilege of hosting programs centered on the Sámi, the Indigenous people of the Sápmi region. On September 15, we welcomed author Elin Anna Labba and moderator Elsa Stamatopoulou (former Chief of the Secretariat, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues) for a discussion on "The Home of the Drowned," a haunting, multigenerational saga of a family of Sámi women fighting for their way of life. And on September 22, we joined ASF Fellow and translator Barbara Sjoholm and moderator Amy Swanson King for a virtual event on "Sámi Folktales From the Near and Far Worlds." If you missed these opportunities to engage with Sámi culture, don't worry — both programs are available to stream via the Scandinavia House YouTube page!

Starting on October 27, our popular Northern Patterns workshop series will also return, drawing 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.

Learn more about all upcoming programs— and past ones available to stream anytime— at our bio link!

Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Scandinavia House honors the Indigenous peoples whose cultures, languages, traditions...
10/12/2026

Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Scandinavia House honors the Indigenous peoples whose cultures, languages, traditions, and knowledge have shaped our world for generations. We recognize the importance of honoring Indigenous histories, celebrating cultural resilience, and supporting the continued visibility and vitality of Indigenous communities today.

Wishing everyone a meaningful Indigenous Peoples’ Day!

(Photo by Nikola Johnny Mirkovic)

How can we rethink the future of our cities by transforming what already exists? Join leading architects, designers, pol...
10/09/2026

How can we rethink the future of our cities by transforming what already exists? Join leading architects, designers, policymakers, researchers at Scandinavia House for an afternoon of conversation and exchange during Archtober 2026!

As the built environment faces growing challenges related to climate change, resource use, and urban development, architecture is increasingly turning its attention toward renovation, adaptation, and reuse.

On Thursday, Octiver 22, 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 brings together Nordic and American perspectives on how we can move beyond demolition and replacement toward a more responsible approach to building. Through two connected sessions, the programme examines both architectural practice and the policies, economic structures, and partnerships needed to make transformation a more common approach to the existing city.

Presented by the Consulates General of Denmark (), Finland (), Norway (), and Sweden in New York (). Made possible with support from the OBEL Foundation ().

Registration is free, but space is limited; snag your spot at the link in our bio! 🇩🇰🇫🇮🇳🇴🇸🇪

This weekend, starting today, join us for the festival West Nordic Film Days, a celebration of cinema from Greenland, Ic...
10/09/2026

This weekend, starting today, join us for the festival West Nordic Film Days, a celebration of cinema from Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands! Screenings take place in Victor Borge Hall from October 9-11 and will include a range of acclaimed recent feature films, documentaries and shorts. Curated by Birgir Thor Møller, the selection of films at West Nordic Film Days reflects the current development and tendencies in West Nordic cinema.

Learn more and get tickets:

On Opening Night of West Nordic Film Days, see the feature THE LAST PARADISE ON EARTH and the short films BLAÐBERINN and OQALUTTUAP AKIA.

On October 13th, Experience an evening with Faroese knitwear designer and wool advocate, Sissal Kristiansen! The founder...
10/08/2026

On October 13th, Experience an evening with Faroese knitwear designer and wool advocate, Sissal Kristiansen! The founder of Shisa Brand and producer of The Wool Islands invites you to experience the textures, behavior, and history of wool and knitting from the Faroe Islands, while showing how heritage stitches and coarse wool became modern, wearable garments of today.

Register:

Learn the lived stories behind Faroese wool and knitting culture in this artist talk and “wool tasting” with Sissal Kristiansen.

Join us TONIGHT on October 8 for an evening with Danish pianist and former ASF Fellow Ruben Høgh! With a strong focus on...
10/08/2026

Join us TONIGHT on October 8 for an evening with Danish pianist and former ASF Fellow Ruben Høgh! With a strong focus on sonic experimentation and commitment to artistic innovation, Høgh moves freely between European classical traditions and the raw energy of New York’s Downtown scene.

Tickets:

Join us on October 8 for an evening of experimental performance with Danish pianist and former ASF Fellow Ruben Høgh!

Want exclusive early access to Scandinavia House's most popular events? Sign up for our online newsletter! Published wee...
10/07/2026

Want exclusive early access to Scandinavia House's most popular events? Sign up for our online newsletter! Published weekly, our newsletters are often the first (and sometimes only!) place we announce our diverse range of upcoming programs, including those that sell out early like our Climate Week panel with Columbia Climate School or The Cold Stitch Opening Celebration.

Don't miss out on the best of Nordic culture this season — subscribe today at the link in our bio!

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58 Park Avenue
New York, NY
10016

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