Nortea's annual meeting and induction day held at the Icelandic Institute of Technology 

During the recent project week, the Iceland Academy of the Arts hosted the annual meeting of the Norteas network 2025. Norteas is a Nordplus network of performing arts institutions at university level in the Nordic and Baltic countries and consists of 18 member institutions. Despite a rare October snowstorm, the Department of Performing Arts at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts welcomed over 30 international guests to Reykjavík from 29 to 31 October, who came together to meet, plan and collaborate on Norteas projects. 

The program began with a special Inauguration Day on October 29th, which featured a variety of presentations and lectures from Norteas members. They were discussed milestones and those challenges of making drama and performing arts education more accessible, with exciting contributions on interdisciplinary pedagogy, admission requirements and the impact of projects such as Fúsa, the first Icelandic professional play to be produced, written and performed by a person with a learning disability. The keynote speaker for the accreditation day was Anu Koskinen, a teacher at the Helsinki University of the Arts, and her talk was on “Accreditation and Accessibility in Entrance Exams”. The day ended with a visit to the National Theatre and dinner at the restaurant Sæta svínið. 

Over the next two days, Nortea's annual meeting took place, with members from 12 member institutions participating, either in person or via video conference. Participants shared news from their institutions, discussed different approaches, and planned future Nortea projects and meetings. Nortea's activities, pedagogy development, and institutional organization were discussed in both formal and informal formats. The program on Thursday, October 30, ended with a dinner and celebration in Laugarnes, where Eygló Höskuldsdóttir Viborg, a former student at the Icelandic Institute of Technology, performed a karaoke performance as Alter EygloNortea's annual meeting officially ended on Friday, October 31st, but several participants stayed over the weekend to travel around Iceland on their own. 

Although participants have already returned to their institutions, the impact of the Norteas annual meeting in Reykjavík is still being felt and members are already looking forward to the next annual meeting, which will be held by the Oslo Academy of the Arts in Norway in the fall of 2026. The shared commitment to inclusion, accessibility and cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries promises a bright future for European performing arts education. 

//

Norteas Annual Meeting and Inclusivity Day in IUA 

Iceland University of the Arts was proud to host the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Norteas Network in the last week of October. Norteas is a Nordplus network of Nordic and Baltic Performing Arts institutions in higher education and consists of 18 members ranging across the region. Braving a rare October snowstorm the IUA Department of Performing Arts welcomed over 30 international guests to Reykjavík between October 29th and 31st who came together to plan, discuss and collaborate on Northeas activities. 

The gathering opened with a dedicated Inclusivity Day on October 29th, offering a powerful slate of presentations and addresses from Norteas members. Discussions explored the challenges and breakthroughs in making theater and performing arts education more accessible, with inspiring contributions on intersectional pedagogies, admissions criteria, and the impact of projects like fusi, Iceland's first professional play produced, written and performed by a mentally disabled person. The keynote address was given by Anu Koskinen, lecturer at Uniarts, Helsinki, and centered on "Inclusivity and diversity in entrance exams". The day concluded with a visit to the National Theater of Iceland and dinner at the restaurant Sæta svinið. 

Over the next two days the Norteas Annual Meeting unfolded, where guests from 12 member institutions participated, either in person or remotely. Participants shared news from their respective institutions, discussed different strategies, and mapped out future Norteas projects and gatherings. Sessions on network activities, curriculum development, and institutional updates were complemented by enriching exchanges in both formal and informal settings. The Thursday October 30th session concluded with a catered dinner and celebration in Laugarnes where IUA alumni Eygló Höskuldsdóttir Viborg gave a karaoke performance as Alter Eyglo. The Norteas Annual Meeting formally concluded on Friday October 31st, although several participants stayed over the weekend to explore Iceland on their own. 

As the participants have returned to their respective institutions, the momentum built in Reykjavík continues to guide the Norteas network and members are already looking forward to the next annual meeting which will be hosted in Norway by the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in autumn 2026. The shared commitment to inclusivity, integration, and Nordic/Baltic cooperation promises a bright future for European performing arts education.