Project Overview
The Arena North Calotte project, led by Föreningen Norden Norrbotten and carried out in collaboration with partners in Finland and Norway, aimed to explore and validate the need for a cross-border arena in the North Calotte region. The Arena North Calotte project was led by Föreningen Norden Norrbotten in Sweden, in collaboration with Tornionlaakson Matkailuyhdistys Ry and Pohjola-Norden Tornio in Finland, and Foreningen Norden Tromsø in Norway. The project focused on creating a platform for civil society, public institutions, and youth to strengthen cooperation, democratic participation, and regional dialogue across Northern Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
Key Activities
The project carried out several key activities during its duration (Nov 2024 – Aug 2025):
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Mapping actors: A comprehensive study identified 84 relevant actors from civil society, public, and private sectors.
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Workshops: Four workshops engaged 71 participants across Sweden, Norway, and Finland, including a digital session with participants from all three countries. These workshops explored local needs for cross-border collaboration and gathered input for the design of the arena.
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Youth involvement: Youth members contributed to a brand book for the arena and participated in a summer program called Changemakers, developing concepts like Demos Camp, a democratic engagement initiative for young people.
Key Findings
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There is a clear need for a cross-border arena that facilitates both physical and digital meetings. Physical formats were preferred by older participants, while youth favored digital engagement.
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The arena should focus on democracy, civic engagement, innovation, and regional challenges, supporting collaboration across sectors and age groups.
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Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening ties across borders due to geopolitical considerations and improving local influence in decision-making processes.
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Civil society, businesses, and public institutions all expressed interest in continued cooperation, confirming the potential for a sustainable, long-term platform.
Cross-Border Cooperation
Collaboration across Sweden, Finland, and Norway was central to the project. Partners coordinated through online meetings, emails, and physical planning sessions. This cooperation strengthened networks across the region and led to future partnerships, especially among youth organizations and local NGOs in Tromsø.
Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities: Empowered citizens, including youth, to participate in regional decision-making.
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SDG 16 – Peace, justice, and strong institutions: Promoted transparent and inclusive governance through dialogue and workshops.
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SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals: Demonstrated effective cross-border collaboration among NGOs, public institutions, and youth organizations.
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Climate impact: Emphasis on digital collaboration minimized travel and reduced emissions.
Next Steps and Sustainability
The partnership has agreed to continue working together toward a full-scale application for a long-term cross-border arena. Efforts will focus on strengthening partnerships with public sector actors to ensure a sustainable structure for future collaboration. A regular project application is expected in 2026.
Publication of Results
The results of Arena North Calotte are openly accessible at https://norden.se/norrbotten/arena-north-calotte/, ensuring transparency and broad dissemination of insights and recommendations from the project.
Conclusion
Arena North Calotte has successfully demonstrated the need for a collaborative cross-border arena in Northern Scandinavia. By engaging youth, civil society, and public institutions, the project has laid the groundwork for stronger regional cooperation, democratic participation, and inclusive solutions to shared challenges in the North Calotte region.
Maja Mella from Föreningen Norden Norrbotten says, “Arena North Calotte has confirmed that there is a need for a cross-border meeting place by, between, and for people.”
Read more about the completed Interreg Aurora project Arena North Calotte here.
