Where four cultures meet

Ahmet Akkoç speaks with Karin Elsbudóttir of the North Atlantic House about elevating Greenlandic, Faroese, and Icelandic voices in Denmark.

Photographs: North Atlantic House

Text: Ahmet Akkoç

In February 2025, I interviewed Karin Elsbudóttir, director of Nordatlantens Brygge, or The North Atlantic House in Copenhagen. If you want to learn more about the history and culture of North Atlantic nations (and you absolutely do!), it’s well worth a visit.

About Karin and the North Atlantic House

Karin Elsbudóttir is proud to have been a part of the North Atlantic House since its beginning. Hailing from the Faroe Islands, Karin has a background in culture, literature and languages. Like many other Faroese people seeking to continue their education and gain experience in Denmark, Karin settled in Copenhagen in the 1990s. Before that, she studied music and culture at the University of the Faroe Islands and gained an MA in Modern Culture and Literature from Copenhagen University. After her two children were born, she decided to stay in Copenhagen.

In 2000, by chance, Karin saw a newspaper notice about a centre for the North Atlantic due to open in Copenhagen. Given her Faroese background and specialisation, she was determined to get in one way or another, and she did! Karin worked at the North Atlantic House for its first few years and was promoted to director in 2011.

The North Atlantic House is a private and commercial foundation. Highlights of the impressive complex include the Embassy of Iceland and the two Representation Offices for the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The North Atlantic House includes conference rooms rented out to various companies and the restaurant Barr. Earnings from leasing the facilities are used to pay employees, maintain the historical building, and finance cultural programmes promoting Faroese, Icelandic, and Greenlandic culture.

However, the building holds a far greater symbolic significance, working tirelessly to raise awareness among the North Atlantic nations and foster a more nuanced understanding between them and Denmark itself. Karin believes this lack of awareness and understanding underpins the discrimination and prejudice that North Atlantic people often face in Denmark at present.

Denmark and the North Atlantic: a turbulent history

The North Atlantic nations - Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland - share a complex history with Denmark.

The Faroe Islands were settled around the 4th century AD, and Iceland around the 8th century, both establishing self-governing democracies. These islands were distinct Nordic countries until the Kings of Norway and later Denmark seized control, bringing them under the Danish throne.

Greenland has had human settlement for around 4500 years. In the last millennium, Greenland was inhabited by the Inuit and partially inhabited by Norse settlers. There was little Nordic interest in Greenland until 1721, when the Norwegian-Danish missionary Hans Egede convinced many merchants and King Frederik IV of Denmark and Norway to establish a Colonial Company in Greenland.

Iceland negotiated autonomy from Denmark in 1918, while still recognising the Danish King. World War II marked a major turning point. When Denmark fell to Nazi Germany in 1940, the UK and the US occupied the North Atlantic countries, severing Denmark's control. With Allied support, Iceland declared independence in 1944. The future of Greenland and the Faroes remained uncertain.

Post-war, Greenland and the Faroes reverted to Danish rule. The Faroese attempted an independence referendum, but it was unrecognised. Undeterred, the Faroes pursued autonomy, negotiating Home Rule in 1948 and further autonomy in 2005. Greenlanders similarly sought self-rule, securing Home Rule in 1979 and further autonomy in 2009.

Today, the Faroes, Greenland, and Denmark form the Rigsfællesskab, or Danish Realm. This community is experiencing a significant change as Greenland and the Faroes pursue greater autonomy. But it’s not so simple: while seeking self-sufficiency, Greenland and the Faroes must also acknowledge globalisation. There's a vital need for international connections, trade, security cooperation, technological development, as well as agreements on sustainability and the management of natural resources. Therefore, a balance must be found between national interests and global cooperation, both within and beyond the Danish Realm.

"The North Atlantic House takes on a challenging role in communicating North Atlantic culture and current affairs to Danish society."

The North Atlantic people in Denmark today

Today, there are around 17,000 Greenlanders and 20,000 Faroese in Denmark. Denmark offers them opportunities, but also many challenges. As Danish citizens, people from the North Atlantic region have access to free education and healthcare, offering good prospects for employment and further study. However, many Greenlanders in Denmark face prejudice and discrimination that negate those amenities. Studies show Greenlanders struggle to access education, healthcare, and equal employment opportunities. In recent weeks, there has been a reigniting of the scandal of Greenlandic mothers’ babies being removed by the Danish authorities due to concerns around their fitness to parent.

I asked Karin if Danes seem to recognise the situation of the Greenlanders or if these are invisible issues. “There has been growing attention in Danish media on the political issues in Greenland, where some serious cases are being investigated and reexamined,” she states. “And there is also some focus on the struggle for a Greenlander residing in Denmark. Language barriers between Greenlanders and Danes are one factor, and so are cultural differences. It can be a challenge to identify as a Greenlander in Denmark or to feel included by the Danes.”

Karin emphasises that Greenlandic culture, in addition to being part of the Nordic countries' culture, also shares its roots with the Inuit culture in Canada. While the Faroese and Icelanders may face some minor cultural diversity, this is more marked for Greenlanders, who, apart from Danish-speaking, speak a totally different language.

“In Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes, the children at school are taught in the Danish language,” she says. “Although Danish, Faroese and Icelandic all share a similar origin, Faroese and Icelandic can seem unfamiliar to Danes. Not to mention Greenlandic comes from a different language family altogether, so it’s nearly impossible for the uninitiated Dane to comprehend a Greenlander unless they speak either Danish or English. So the North Atlantic House takes on a challenging role in communicating North Atlantic culture and current affairs to Danish society. All in all, it’s important to recognise that the four nations have close historical ties and maintain ongoing cooperation.”

Elevating North Atlantic voices in Denmark

I asked Karin about the North Atlantic House’s efforts to elevate North Atlantic voices in Denmark, particularly Greenlanders, in light of recent events.

“The North Atlantic House has always been a platform for North Atlantic experiences and, importantly, one inclusive of Greenlandic voices,” she says. “As a cultural mediator, The North Atlantic House hosts a broad range of events. Concerts, film festivals, music festivals, discussions, and debates are some events you can expect to see focusing on both historical and current issues from the four countries. The North Atlantic House is also a stage for the dissemination of research in the humanities and natural sciences related to the North Atlantic.”

Earlier this year, the North Atlantic House showcased an exhibition by contemporary artist Ivínguak` Stork Høegh called You Gaze On Me As I Gaze Upon You. The Greenlandic artist explores how Danish artists tended to exoticise Greenland and Greenlanders, and her collages put Greenlanders outside of their stereotypical roles.

This fall, the North Atlantic House will feature a new exhibit by an artist from Greenland: Storis (Big Ice, sounds like ‘Stories’) featuring the work of sculptor Isle Hessner. There will also be an exhibition showcasing the work of various other Greenlandic artists titled Forbindelser (Connections), in reference to how Greenlanders are connected to Denmark and a globalised world.

Every March, the North Atlantic House hosts their annual film festival Nordatlantiske Filmdage. Current feature films, documentaries and short films are all presented.

In addition, the annual Arctic Festival attracts around 3000 visitors for a weekend of talks, research and debates about the Arctic. This year it takes place from 1-2 November.

If you’re a music fan, you will enjoy the cafe concerts on Friday afternoons, featuring young, upcoming and lesser-known artists. From time to time, established artists affiliated with the North Atlantic also make surprise appearances. Entrance is free.

The North Atlantic House offers a broad range of events, offering something for everyone. There are free educational tours and courses for schools, often booked months in advance. “We have a big responsibility to convey the nuances of the North Atlantic to children and teenagers who represent the future of Denmark,” Karin believes.

Through all of their projects, the North Atlantic House hopes to help spread awareness about the North Atlantic countries, creating a better understanding and deeper relationships - a very admirable goal.

Find out more about North Atlantic House at: www.nordatlantens.dk