ABOUT
FESTIVAL THEME
In 1993 - nearly 30 years ago - the Barents Declaration was made in Kirkenes to promote dialogue and cooperation between the countries in the Barents Region. Now, with the foundations of this agreement appearing more fragile than ever due to Russia´s invasion of Ukraine, never has there been a more relevant time to think about what it was exactly that made such a cooperation possible in the first place. In 2023, Pikene på Broen will think through these issues by focusing on one deceptively simple concept:
TRUST
What does it mean to trust a friend, a family member, a stranger, a politician, a government, or different types of information and media? How do we express this trust? What happens when trust is broken, and how can it be repaired or remade?
Finally, what role does trust play in the contemporary moment, as our societies attempt to deal with the rising costs of food and energy, as they navigate the climate crisis, and as they approach the planet´s continuing geo-political uncertainty?
In response to some of these questions, Barents Spektakel 2023 will stage a series of artworks, debates, concerts, performances, artist talks, a bar concept, and a large-scale opening show.
The Barents Spektakel is an annual event that builds cultural bridges across real and imaginary borderlines. The six-day festival consists of contemporary art, theatre, music, debates, film, performances and a bar concept. Through these different elements the festival will again become a meeting place for everyone with an interest in the cultures and contemporary issues related to the high north. The festival first started in 2004 and takes place in February, just as the long polar night comes to an end.