From 9–13 April 2026, NordSync Project held its third NordSync Lab in Mo i Rana, bringing together professional musicians and performing artists from Norway and Sweden to explore new ways of combining music, storytelling and contemporary social themes.
This edition focused on interdisciplinary artistic collaboration and the role of performing arts in creating dialogue between cultures, generations and communities. Through rehearsals, creative workshops and public performances, the participating artists explored how music and theatre can make complex questions of cultural identity, language and belonging accessible to a wider audience.
ÁRRAN – A Space for Dialogue and Community
At the heart of NordSync Lab #3 was the development and presentation of ÁRRAN – A Space for Dialogue and Community, an interdisciplinary production exploring Sámi culture, national minorities and the relationship between cultural heritage and contemporary society.
The production brought together music, theatrical storytelling and educational elements in an innovative infotainment format – combining artistic performance with information, reflection and dialogue.
Rather than presenting historical and cultural questions through a conventional lecture, the artists used live music, personal narratives and theatrical expression to create an engaging encounter with subjects that are often difficult to address.
Questions of minority languages, cultural identity, assimilation and the preservation of traditions formed an important part of the artistic exploration. The production examined how historical experiences continue to shape communities today, while encouraging curiosity, understanding and dialogue across cultural boundaries.
For NordSync, this approach represents an important direction in the development of interdisciplinary performing arts: using artistic collaboration not only to create new musical experiences, but also to engage audiences with the social and cultural realities of the Nordic region.
The Lab Ensemble
The production was developed through close collaboration between musicians, vocal artists and theatre professionals with different artistic backgrounds.
The Lab ensemble featured:
- Carina Henriksson – soprano, storyteller and artistic mentor (Sweden)
- Roger Norén – piano and accordion (Sweden)
- Kristin Solberg – dramaturgy, Åarjelhsaemien Teatere (Norway)
- Stepan Frolov – violin, NordSync Project / Nordavind Ensemble (Norway)
- Maria Frolova – viola and traditional string instruments (Norway)
- Iida-Alina Poijärvi – cello, KammeRana (Norway)
The ensemble combined classical instrumentation, traditional musical influences, vocal performance and theatrical storytelling.
An essential part of the Lab was the collaborative creative process. Musicians and theatre artists worked together to develop a shared artistic language, experimenting with the relationship between spoken text, musical interpretation, improvisation and dramaturgy.
The laboratory format allowed the participants to approach the material from different perspectives and adapt the production through collective experimentation.
Performances in Mo i Rana and Umeå
The artistic work in Mo i Rana culminated in a public presentation on 12 April 2026 at Rana Kulturskole, bringing the production to a local audience.
The collaboration subsequently continued across the Norwegian–Swedish border. On 24–25 April, ÁRRAN was presented in connection with Umeå Musikbranschdagar, in cooperation with AC Live Västerbotten.
These presentations provided an opportunity to share the artistic results with audiences and cultural professionals in both countries, while developing further connections between the performing arts communities of Nordland and Västerbotten.
The cross-border dimension was particularly relevant to the production’s themes. Questions concerning minority cultures, languages and historical experiences are shared across national borders, making Nordic artistic collaboration a valuable platform for dialogue and mutual understanding.
Seminar for Young Talents
An important part of NordSync Lab #3 was the youth seminar held in Mo i Rana on 11–12 April, organised in collaboration with Rødøy Orkesterforening.
The seminar brought together approximately 30 young participants, offering opportunities to work with professional musicians and performing artists from Norway and Sweden.
Through musical workshops, ensemble activities and creative exploration, the young musicians encountered different artistic traditions and approaches to performance.
The seminar also introduced cultural themes connected to the ÁRRAN production, demonstrating how music can serve as a starting point for learning about cultural heritage, identity and diversity.
Bringing young musicians into contact with professional artists is a central part of NordSync’s mission. By connecting artistic production with educational activities, the Labs create opportunities for inspiration, knowledge exchange and long-term development of regional music communities.
The collaboration with Rødøy Orkesterforening also demonstrates the importance of connecting professional artistic initiatives with voluntary organisations and local educational environments.
Art as a Platform for Cultural Understanding
One of the defining features of NordSync Lab #3 was its focus on the role of performing arts in addressing questions concerning national minorities and cultural diversity.
Across the Nordic countries, minority communities have faced challenges related to language preservation, cultural representation and historical assimilation. These issues remain relevant today and call for continued dialogue and understanding.
ÁRRAN explored how music and storytelling can contribute to this conversation without reducing complex cultural experiences to simple explanations.
The infotainment approach made it possible to combine artistic expression with educational content, creating an accessible format for audiences with different backgrounds and levels of prior knowledge.
By bringing together artists from different disciplines and cultural environments, the Lab also encouraged reflection within the ensemble itself. The creative process became an opportunity for artistic exchange, learning and the development of new approaches to cultural communication.
For NordSync Project, this work reflects a broader ambition to make interdisciplinary performing arts a meaningful part of regional cultural and social development.
Partners & Regional Collaboration
NordSync Lab #3 was developed through collaboration between professional artists, regional cultural institutions and voluntary organisations, including:
- KammeRana
- Rødøy Orkesterforening
- Rana Kulturskole
- AC Live Västerbotten
The Lab strengthened connections between the professional performing arts communities of Northern Norway and Sweden, while demonstrating how artistic production, cultural education and international collaboration can reinforce one another.
Through projects such as ÁRRAN, NordSync continues to develop a collaborative model in which professional artists, young musicians, cultural organisations and local communities contribute to a shared artistic and educational process.
🌐 What’s Next?
NordSync Lab #3 demonstrated the potential of combining music, theatre and cultural dialogue in a flexible, interdisciplinary production format.
The experience provides a foundation for further artistic collaborations exploring cultural identity, minority perspectives and the role of performing arts in contemporary Nordic society.
NordSync Project will continue developing new Labs, concerts and educational activities across the Nordic-Baltic region, bringing together artists and communities through shared creative experiences.
Visit: nordsyncproject.com
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