Breiðholt Festival Erasmus Project

Project Title

Breiðholt Festival

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Rural development and urbanisation; Creativity and culture; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

Breiðholt Festival is a cross-country collaborative project focusing on culturally neglected district Breiðholt, Reykjavík’s biggest suburb. The festival showcases emerging artists from Breiðholt alongside established and renowned artists, motivating outsiders to visit the area and experience the local craft while empowering the artists and providing a platform for their work and a pride in their home turf. The idea comes from a need expressed by locals and the city of Reykjavík alike – the importance of highlighting the diverse culture in Breiðholt – a population of around 20,000, 10% of which hold foreign citizenship. Two Danish partners will bridge the gap between context and culture even more – bringing in Danish artists to participate and co-create with artists from Breiðholt during the festival – and then bringing chosen output to their organizations in Denmark. The festival is organized by three organizational groups – Bedroom Community (artist collective/multimedia outlet), Mejlgade For Mangfoldighed (culture & diversity festival) and Artoteket (art lending library) and aims to attract and impact approx. 5400 people for its first year. The young organizers will work together using tools and methods from extensive experiences and entrepreneurial studies with an overall project leader and one for each organization working closely together. Activities within the festival will include cross-country co-creation with Breiðholt artists, art performances within the fields of music, visual arts, literature, dance and much more (Breiðholt-based artists) as well as educational workshops to empower young people. Young artists from the area will have a chance to apply. The festival will then branch out with its partners to showcase performances by Breiðholt artists at the large festival MFM and the up-and-coming Artoteket art-lending-library and exhibition.It is the hope of the organizers that the impact will be long-lasting and result in a culturally renown Breiðholt district, local funding for young artists from the area, recognition outside Iceland, interest and motivation to contribute to one’s community and cultural diversity.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 20560 Eur

Project Coordinator

Valgeir Sigurdsson ehf & Country: IS

Project Partners

• Artoteket I/S
• Mejlgade for Mangfoldighed