“I am really thrilled that Nordischer Klang is taking place for the 35th time in Greifswald. In these turbulent times it is particularly important to strengthen our social fabric. Nordischer Klang makes a truly significant contribution towards achieving this goal – for the people and cultural life in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in Germany, northern Europe, and the Baltic Sea region”, said Thomas Østrup Møller, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Germany. As a Dane with Faroese roots, he stressed that it was a double honour for him to open the festival that he was visiting for the first time. A greeting from the Government and the Faroese Ministry of Culture included this passage: “Our artists stem from a unique and distinctive nature and culture and I hope that they will make an enriching contribution to the ambitious programme of the Nordischer Klang festival.”
Festival Director Prof. Dr. Marko Pantermöller revealed at the opening that he has attended every single Nordischer Klang so far: “I have experienced how our Festival has reinvented itself every single year,” he said. “One thing, however, has not changed in 35 years, the festival is not aimed at one specific target group, we are and remain a festival for everyone.” 40 events, 140 artists, 9,000 expected visitors – constitute the numbers and targets of the 35th festival in Greifswald. The remarkable thing: the festival is run by a primarily voluntary organisation team, comprising professors, members of staff and students at the University of Greifswald’s Department of Finnish and Scandinavian Studies.
Delegation visit to the University of Greifswald
That’s why a delegation visited the Department and the Rectorate prior to the opening ceremony in the evening. The Ambassador informed himself – of course in Danish – about the students’ motivation for learning his mother tongue. He also asked the students about their career goals. Rector Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel emphasised: “The Nordischer Klang is an important opportunity for our students to gain skills and experience. In internships that form part of their degree studies they gain valuable experience in cultural management, communication, and publishing – and through their efforts shape the special atmosphere of the festival.”
Further information
Nordischer Klang [de]
Contacts at the University of Greifswald
University Communications
Domstraße 11, Entrance 2, 17489 Greifswald
Tel: +49 3834 420 1150
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Nordischer Klang
Pauline Hübner, Press & PR
c/o Institut für Fennistik und Skandinavistik
Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 3, 17489 Greifswald
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