Severe geopolitical tensions, growing autocratic tendencies, and increasing pressure on democratic values and press freedom are reshaping the global landscape. As the world changes rapidly, the Nordic region has emerged as a pivotal political and cultural community. In response, NORD 55°—an initiative dedicated to fostering a stronger and more unified Nordic public sphere—is launching the first in a series of annual Nordic culture and media summits. On May 13, 2025, leading Nordic figures from the cultural and media sectors will gather at PRESSEN, JP/Politikens Hus in Copenhagen to set the stage for this new initiative.
NORD 55° is a joint Nordic initiative supported by some of the region’s leading media houses, including Bonnier News, Amedia, Konstsamfundet, Sermitsiaq, and JP/Politikens Hus. The ambition behind the annual culture and media summits is to establish the most significant Nordic forum for idea exchange, societal progress, and cultural development.
“If the Nordic region is to play a stronger role and stand more clearly in this time of upheaval, it is crucial that we build a more unified Nordic public sphere. To succeed, we urgently need to deepen the dialogue between Nordic cultural and media stakeholders. A stronger engagement from the cultural and media sectors is essential for achieving this goal. That is precisely why we are convening a Nordic culture and media summit.”
– Stig Kirk Ørskov, CEO of JP/Politikens Hus and Chair of the Board at NORD 55°.
Meet:
Mona Ibrahim Ahmed (NO)
Hilde Sandvik (NO)
Stig Kirk Ørskov (DK)
Mette Østergaard (DK)
Christian Jensen (DK)
Stina Ekblad (FI)
Thure Lindhardt (DK)
Erja Yläjärvi (FI)
Trine Eilertsen (NO)
Christian Lollike (DK)
Christian Have (DK)
Lise Bach Hansen (DK)
Ida Ölmedal (SE)
Svend Hardenberg (GL)
Peter Wolodarski (SE)
Peter Sandberg (SE)
Kathrine Tschemerinsky (DK)
What challenges are we facing?
01
How can a stronger Nordic public sphere respond to the great powers' ideological battles?
02
Why does the geopolitical situation mark the beginning of a new era for Nordic cooperation?
03
How do we manage the internal tensions of the welfare states?
Programme:
“At sætte problemer under debat” – Why exactly now?
Stig Ørskov (DK), CEO, JP/Politikens Hus
“Opraab”! – What are we defending?
Christian Lollike (DK), Playwright and stagedirector
“Efter længere tids sløvhed” – Should the North rise – or fall?
Peter Wolodarski (SE), Editor-in-Chief, Dagens Nyheter
Trine Eilertsen (NO), Editor-in-Chief, Aftenposten
Erja Yläjärvi (FI), Editor-in-Chief, Helsingin Sanomat
In conversation with:
Christian Jensen (DK), Editor-in-Chief, Politiken
“Hun taler” – Have we forgotten the Nordic common language?
Mona Ibrahim Ahmed (NO), Public speaker
“Terningkast” – What is the Nordic response to the US trade war?
Mette Østergaard (DK), Director of Public Affairs, Communication, Brand & Marketing, Confederation of Danish Industry
Peter Sandberg (SE), Deputy CEO, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce
In conversation with:
Stig Ørskov (DK), CEO, JP/Politikens Hus
“Den vilde jagt” – Why was Strindberg so furious?
Thure Lindhardt (DK), Actor
In conversation with:
Lise Bach Hansen (DK), Program Director, Live, Literature and Talks, The Royal Library
Thure Lindhardt reads:
– Letter from Strindberg to Edvard Brandes about women
– Letter from Strindberg to Axel Lundegård about creating a Nordic newspaper: “Courrier du Nord”
BREAK
“Hvirvel” – Is Greenland the Nordic blind spot?
Svend Hardenberg (GL), Entrepreneur and actor
In conversation with:
Hilde Sandvik (NO), Host of Norsken, svensken & dansken, board member of Amedia Foundation
“Forbi” – How do we fight back against the US narrative?
Ida Ölmedal (SE), Culture Editor, Svenska Dagbladet
In conversation with:
Kathrine Tschemerinsky (DK), Culture Editor, Weekendavisen
“Nu voks!” – What happened when Lagerlöf met Brandes?
Stina Ekblad (FI/SE), Actor
In conversation with:
Christian Have (DK), Strategic Director, HAVE Kommunikation
Stina Ekblad reads Lagerlöf’s description of the fateful meeting with Georg Brandes.
SONG
DRINKS
*All titles in quotation marks are poems by Georg Brandes, the Danish critic who was a central figure in the great Nordic debate culture during the Modern Breakthrough.
May 13, 2025, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
PRESSEN, JP/Politikens Hus
In true NORD55 spirit, we are bringing together some of the Nordic region’s most influential voices from culture, politics, and media – and we want you to be part of it!