NORD 55° grew out of a desire to bolster and expand the national culture of debate in the Nordic countries. We live in a time of extraordinary change, placing great demands on our ability to adapt. And we live in a world in which authoritarian forces are gaining traction and democratic values are under threat. Considering the current geopolitical situation, it seems obvious that the Nordic countries must boost their shared cultural awareness and strengthen their ties to one another. We want to protect the values that we share and hold dear, for example the right to express our thoughts freely and critically and the right to envision a better future. We must be ready for the inevitable change that lies ahead.

NORD 55° wants debate at Nordic level; if we enter this new age together, armed with freedom of artistic expression and trust, we will be able to ask even more critical questions, think bigger thoughts and spot new opportunities.

At the initiative of JP/Politikens Media Group in Copenhagen, several Nordic media groups with a history of working together have supported NORD 55°. NORD 55° plans to host annual summits bringing together the most important Nordic thinkers, artists and opinion makers. The aim of these summits is to kick-start a new Nordic consciousness. Our aspiration is to start a debate that will spread geographically and create new trends in the world.