In the conference Norm Critical Leadership. Challenging Norms and Nordic Exceptionalism, we ask, how one can become a change maker and dismantle discriminatory norms, normative structures, and hierarchies within the arts and culture sector? What does norm-critical leadership mean in different situations and contexts?

The aim of the conference is to critically analyze the rhetoric of and the passionate engagement with narratives of “Nordicness” and “Nordic exceptionalism”. Openness, equity, equality and sustainability are seen as the foundations of Nordic societies and Nordic cooperation and the keys to Nordic Exceptionalism. However, the positive narratives often ignore the existence of unjust structures in our societies and art and cultural institutions, too.

The themes – in relation to art and culture – that will be present throughout the conference are:

• Nordic exceptionalism and white innocence

• Tackling ableism

• Norm critical practices and challenging norms

• Working across institutions and Civic organizations

• Anti-racist practices

• Queering organization

• Practices of accountability

The conference is organized by the Nordic Network of Norm Critical Leadership, Gentofte Central Library, and Culture for All Service in cooperation with Cultural Centre Caisa and the City of Helsinki, Goethe-Institut Finnland, IMMART, University of the Arts Helsinki and The Nordic Council.

You can access the conference live stream with a web browser:

Conference Live Stream: Wednesday 8 February

Conference Live Stream: Thursday 9 February