An attack on democratic institutions is an attack on all of us.

We condemn the Russian regime’s military invasion of Ukraine, and we stand in solidarity with the people affected by these violent attacks. We are concerned about the well-being of our colleagues in Ukraine, whose lives, freedom, and ability to work—in the field of art and otherwise—changed overnight. We are disturbed by the treatment of those in Russia who are speaking out against the war and their leaders. Art professionals have been restricted from expressing themselves and working freely alongside their families, friends, audiences, and fellow citizens. An entire region that has long been a source of insight and wisdom for the international art community has now been transformed into a conflict zone by the autocracy of the current Russian government.

We call on authorities in the Nordic countries to comply with the EU regulations to facilitate the admission of refugees from the region and from other war-torn areas and to provide a haven for people who have been forced to leave their homes. As professional organizations, we stand in solidarity and join our voices together on behalf of all cultural workers, students, and other professionals in our fields. We speak with one voice in solidarity with international sister institutions and professionals in Russia who acknowledge the aggression, speak out loudly about the war, and condemn it. We will comply with requests to pressure Vladimir Putin by not engaging, or by publicly disengaging, with Russian art collections and magnates who directly and indirectly support this unjustifiable war.

Art contributes to a just society. As we collect funds to provide space and financial support to cultural workers from the region, we celebrate artists who have contributed to building a peaceful and democratic society in Ukraine and abroad. Stop the war.

Art Centers:
Kari Berge, director Sandefjord Kunstforening, Norway
Antonio Cataldo, director Fotogalleriet, Norway
Stefanie Hessler, director Kunsthall Trondheim, Norway
Anne Hilde Neset, director Kunstnernes Hus, Norway
Mats Stjernstedt, director Malmö Konsthall, Sweden
Cecilia Widenheim, director Tensta konsthall, Sweden
Axel Wieder, director Bergen Kunsthall, Norway
Marie Nipper, Copenhagen Contemporary, Denmark
Kunsthall Oslo, Norway
Rikke Komissar, director Nitja senter for samtidskunst, Norway
Susanne Svenseid, Director Norwegian Association of Art Societies, Norway
Diana Baldon and Iben Mosbæk, Directors Kunsthal Aarhus, Denmark
Arild H Eriksen, director Nordisk Kunstnarsenter Dale, Norway
Cameron MacLeod, director Aldea – Center for Contemporary Art, Design and Technology, Bergen, Norway
Mathijs van Geest, director Hordaland Kunstsenter, Bergen, Norway
Sara Rossling, Chair Nordic Art Association (NKF)
Miriam Wistreich and Steffen Håndlykken, director and chair of Unge Kunstneres Samfund, Norway
Solveig Lønmo, curator Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Norway
Randi Martine Brockmann, director Trøndelag senter for samtidskunst (TSSK), Norway
Jacob Fabricius and Lars Bang Larsen, Art Hub Copenhagen, Denmark

Museums:
Tone Hansen, director Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Norway
Kirse Junge-Stevnsborg, director Malmö Konstmuseum, Sweden
Hanne Beate Ueland, director, department of Art, Stavanger kunstmuseum, MUST, Norway
Solveig Øvstebø, director Astrup Fearnley Museet, Norway
Katarina Pierre, director Bildmuseet, Umeå universitet, Sweden
Johan Börjesson, director Trondheim kunstmuseum, Norway
Mia Haltia, acting director Turku art museum, FInland