Southnord is an artist-run platform dedicated to the vast and varied artistic expressions, approaches and narratives the Afro-Nordic experience gives birth to.
Current and Upcoming
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UPNEXT 2026: Surfacing
9 September – 30 October 2026
Southnord is proud to present the UPNEXT 2026 exhibition Surfacing with this year's winner Hugo Mugerwa Klockars (b.2003, Sweden). Working in large scale multi-medium installations, he examines tenderness, fragility, impermanence, memory, and how the body responds when encountering something vulnerable or difficult to hold onto.
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Southnord Artfest 2026
14 October 2026 – 21 March 2027
We are excited to announce that the next edition of Southnord Artfest lands in Helsinki in 2026. While the full programme is still under development, plans are already underway for a headline exhibition and a dynamic series of events in collaboration with one of the city’s leading art institutions. More details to follow in the coming months.
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Research Presentations, Panel Discussions + Screenings: Rosa Emilia Clay Day
25 October 2026
A symposium centred on the works of Lebo Tlali and Sasha Huber, exploring Namibia's colonial history through film, performance and critical dialogue, anchored by the story of Rosa Emilia Clay (1875–1959). This event takes place at Oodi Helsinki Library.
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Southnord Book Launch + Opening of Mobile Reading Room
27 October 2026
The C& Center of Unfinished Business mobile reading room will be officially opened with readings, a panel discussion and the celebration of the launch of Southnord Vol. 1: 2023-2026, a brand-new publication documenting the first three years of Southnord’s existence and activities.
Click here our full calendar
Click here our full calendar
Library
Explore our growing directory of black and Afro-Nordic artists, literature, works and performances. This content is made available to inspire and enrich new works and research projects.