A new results film looks back at how the Interreg Aurora funded project Arctic Music Circles connected musicians and cultural organisations across northern Norway, Sweden and Finland — and how the cooperation continues under the shared name Arctic Pulse.
Long distances and national borders can make it harder to find collaborators and organise concerts in neighbouring regions. From 2023 to 2026, seven partner organisations shared contacts, expertise and production resources to bring people together across the North. Working as Arctic Pulse, they organised and supported music camps, professional gatherings, workshops, concerts and tours.
Four music camps gave participants time to create new music with professional mentors. Three main network gatherings brought musicians, producers and organisers together to develop joint activities. Music students from all three countries also formed Arctic Pulse Orchestra, a big band that toured five cities in Finland and Sweden with professional musicians leading its sections.
The partners organised or supported around 150 public performances, including music rooted in Sámi, Kven and Meänkieli languages and traditions. Thirty school and student concerts reached combined audiences of around 4,200, mainly pupils and students.
For some musicians, an initial meeting became a continuing artistic partnership. A gathering in Pajala in 2024 brought together musicians from Sweden, Norway and Finland to explore Kven, Finnish and Meänkieli music. Six musicians developed a joint programme, toured in Norway and Finland and released a four-track live EP under the name Kainunmaa. They also went on to perform together outside the project-funded programme.
The project ended in August 2026, but the cooperation continues. Six working groups still meet to develop joint activities. A shared pool of substitute musicians based in the North helps orchestra producers find qualified players across borders at short notice.
Norrbotten World, a project pilot bringing musicians from different cultures together, became a permanent part of Norrbottensmusiken in 2024. New productions with Norrlandsoperan and Musikk i Nordland are scheduled for 2027. Three shows developed through the project’s Creative Camps are also included in Norrbottensmusiken’s 2027 programme for children and young audiences.
Arctic Pulse continues as the shared name for this cooperation.
More films, recordings and stories are available at arcticpulse.eu
Project partners
- Sweden: Norrbottensmusiken (EU Lead Partner) and Norrlandsoperan.
- Finland: City of Oulu and Novia University of Applied Sciences.
- Norway: Scene Nord (Norwegian Lead Partner), Musikk i Nordland and Nordnorsk Jazzsenter.
Funding
Arctic Music Circles was co-funded by the European Union through Interreg Aurora, with co-financing from Region Norrbotten, Luleå Municipality, Region Västerbotten, Umeå Municipality, the Regional Council of Lapland (Lapin liitto), Troms County Council and Nordland County Council.
Learn more about the project Arctic Music Circles
