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Iceland and The American-Scandinavian
Foundation
Internet
Resources
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Icelanders have been included in the exchange programs of the American-Scandinavian Foundation since 1919. In 1940, The Icelandic-American Society (Íslensk-ameríska félagið) was established as a sister organization of ASF, and Iceland has been an active and integral part of the ASF since that time.
H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland, graciously serves as the ASF's Patron from Iceland.
Exchange Activities
Over the years, more than 27,000 young Americans and Scandinavians have participated in ASF's exchange programs of study, research and practical training. Collaborating in this effort in Iceland is The Icelandic-American Society.
Fellowships
The ASF provided over $70,000 in funding to 11 Icelanders for study or research in the United States and to three Americans for study in Iceland during the 2007-2008 academic year. Many of these grants were made from ASF’s Thor Thors Icelandic Fund. New monies are raised for the Thors Thors Fund each year through efforts coordinated by Sigurdur Helgason. Over the years, donors to the fund have included Icelanders and Americans interested in Iceland, as well as both the American and Icelandic governments.
Scandinavian Review
The Foundation's magazine presents articles in English on contemporary Scandinavian culture and society. Recent issues have included articles on:
- The Man Behind Jar City
- Grímsey: Iceland’s Piece of the Arctic
- The Nordic Roots of Tolkien’s Middle Earth
- Leading a New Nation: Iceland’s Five Presidents
- Iceland’s Role in a Time of Globalization: President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
- The Icelanders: A Study in Contradictions?
- Iceland’s Gentle Wave of Immigration
- The Saga of the Icelanders: The first Thousand Years
Public Projects
The ASF helps bring a wide range of cultural programs to the public through funding for public projects throughout the U.S. and Scandinavia. Recent programs supported by the ASF include:
- Performance of For Philip Guston by American composer Morton Feldman at Adapter, Reykjavik.
- Solo installation by Icelandic artist Magnus Arnason at Locust Projects, Miami.
- Participation of two Icelandic craft artists in summer program at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Island, ME.
- Participation of an Icelandic educator at Luther College, Decorah, IA.
Programs at Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America
Recent programs at Scandinavia House include:
- The Myths & Magic of Iceland, children can read and listen to stories in a lively play space the evokes the stunning Icelandic landscape
- Artist Guðjón Bjarnason in Conversation with Art Critic Richard Vine, discussing his large-scale steel sculptures.
- Vikingur Heiðar Ólafsson, performing the works of Robert Schumann at a lunchtime piano concert
- New films from Iceland are regularly shown as part of the ASF film program. Recent Icelandic screenings include: Thicker Than Water, Children and various short films
- Skoppa & Skritla, Icelandic children’s theater, with programs in both Icelandic and English.
- Icelandic Pocket Theater: A presentation of “The World’s Smallest Giant”
- Faces and Figures: Contemporary Photography in Scandinavia, an exhibition which included work by Icelandic photographers Ragnar Axelsson, Einar Falur Ingólfsson, and Spessi (Sigurdór Hallbjörnsson)
- The exhibition, Young Nordic Design: The Generation X, showcasing furniture, industrial, textile, graphic, and fashion design representing contemporary Scandinavia, including work by Icelandic designers Ásmund Hrafn Sturluson, Berþóra Guðnadóttir, Guðbjörg Kr. Ingvadóttir, Karolína Einsdóttir, Linda Björg Árndadóttir, and Sesseja H. Guðmundsdóttir
Cultural Awards
The ASF's Cultural Award is presented to individuals whose achievements in the fields of art and culture have significantly furthered understanding between the United States and the Nordic countries.
Icelandic recipients of ASF's Cultural Award include Halldór Laxness, author and Nobel Laureate, Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Ballet and Louisa Matthíasdóttir, painter.
Translation Prize
ASF awards an annual prize for the finest English translation of prose or poetry by a Nordic author born after 1800. Winners for translations from Icelandic include:
- Pétur Knútsson for selected poems by Arní Ibsen
- Philip Roughton for portions of Iceland's Bell by Halldór Laxness
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