Verdde is a nomadic art institution aiming to strengthen the visibility of the Sami presence in everyday life, as well as to widen historical descriptions to incorporate more Sami perspectives.
Verdde is organized around collaborations, utilizing site-specific methods and activities to promote dialogue and meetings. We strive towards an expanded understanding and knowledge about Sami history, contemporary conditions and practitioners. Verdde aims to contribute to the further inclusion of the indigenous Sámi people as a natural part of the contemporary art scene and everyday life, within and outside of Sápmi.
Verdde does not have a base of its own, but instead moves into the spaces of other organizations and become part of their public programme, as well as their ongoing structural operations. In collaboration with established organizations which lack, or want to strengthen, their own Sami competences, Verdde involves, activates and affects visitors and institutional frameworks. Each collaboration is customized according to the partner’s organization, operations and needs, and our aim is to have our activities contribute to new and sustainable institutional working methods, which make visible a larger variety of Sami artists. The involved Sami artists work on site, regardless if the collaboration concerns an archive, an urban space or an exhibition hall. The site specific artistic labour is equally important to the public’s meeting with the artwork.
Verdde contributes both knowledge and experience through artistic expressions which take root in and affect each collaborating partner's working methods and audiences going forward. We strive to establish positive conversations, understanding and exchanges across kitchen tables as well as workplace break rooms and the offices of lawmakers.
Verdde is a Northern Sami expression which can be translated into “guest friend”. The meaning of verdde is sprung from the tradition between nomadic reindeer herding Sami and residing people along the paths where the reindeers move throughout the year. Furthermore, verdde is a mutual friendship which includes reciprocal help, transactions of goods and services, and a relationship which is often inherited across generations.
Verdde is intentionally multilingual, with texts and activities being presented in Swedish, English, Northern Sami, Norwegian or other languages depending on the people and organizations we collaborate with as well as the needs of each individual project. The language of each text and activity are marked here on our website with titles in the relevant language. You are welcome to contact us regarding specific inquiries.
