The Nordic and Baltic creative community in New York gathered at the historic Estonian House on November 13th for the inaugural event hosted by the Nordic Artists of New York (NANY). The event, titled “Art After Work,” marked the soft launch of this independent organization, which aims to unite, elevate, and inspire Nordic and Baltic art and culture in the city.
The evening brought together cultural leaders, consulate representatives, foundation heads, and industry influencers for an intimate mixer that celebrated shared values, artistic collaboration, and live performances. Among the distinguished attendees were Ambassador Jarmo Sareva of the General Consulate of Finland in New York and Eero Kilpi, President of the Finlandia Foundation New York Metropolitan Chapter, who lent his support and enthusiasm to this grassroots initiative.
“It was an honor to have Ambassador Sareva join us,” the NANY team shared in a social media post. “His participation and support mean a lot to us as we work to unite and elevate Nordic and Baltic culture in NYC.”
Amongst other attendees were representatives from the Finnish, Danish and Lithuanian Consulates, Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce, Finland Center Foundation, Scandinavian Club Fairfield, Scandinavian American Theater Company, Scandinavian Museum of Brooklyn, and Estonian Educational Society, reflecting the organization’s dedication to fostering connections between Nordic and Baltic communities and their representatives in New York.
A Vision of Collaboration
NANY is a nonprofit organization with a bold mission to connect the Nordic and Baltic art and cultural networks in New York. The platform seeks to foster collaboration between artists and art foundations, elevate the visibility of Nordic and Baltic creators, and inspire projects that align with shared values, including sustainability.
“Our goal is to create a community that bridges the gap between Nordic and Baltic artists and local art and cultural programs,” said Petra Jasmiina Haapamäki, founder and Lead Producer of NANY. “We believe that collaboration and shared resources can elevate the presence of our creative community in the city while staying true to Nordic values of innovation and sustainability.”
A Night of Music and Connection
The event featured live performances, including heartfelt musical numbers by Finnish singer-songwriter Ida Metsberg and Lithuanian kankles-player Simona Smirnova, whose music added a personal touch to the evening’s conversations. Attendees mingled over drinks and appetizers, exchanging stories, experiences, and ideas about how NANY can support both emerging and established creatives.
Valev Laube, one of NANY’s core team members, reflected on the success of the evening in a social media post:
“It was truly inspiring to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. There’s a significant need to support our fellow artists, and I’m incredibly excited to see what the future holds. The acorn has been planted, and I can’t wait to see it grow.”
Looking Ahead
NANY has already set its sights on its next major gathering, an immersive event featuring Nordic and Baltic art collaboration called True North, scheduled for Earth Day, April 22, 2025. The organization also announced its new artist registration platform, allowing Nordic and Baltic creatives to join the community and access resources, collaboration projects and showcase and work opportunities.
The soft launch was supported by a dedicated production team and hosted by New York Estonian House, a historic cultural institution that resonated with the mission of bringing together diverse Nordic and Baltic voices under one roof.
With the support of notable figures such as Ambassador Sareva, Eero Kilpi and the Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce’s Begga Laxdal, the evening highlighted the power of collaboration in building a vibrant and connected community.
Artists and supporters are encouraged to join the movement and stay updated through the organization’s website and newsletter.
For more information and to register, visit www.nordicartistsofnewyork.com.
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