ILLU Science and Art Hub, a place for scientists, artists and locals
Polar Journal AG Team, 05/13/2025

ILLU Science and Art Hub, a place for scientists, artists and locals

Siri Veland (geographer), Skade Henriksen (artist), Anna Lindal (artist), and Marie Stougaard Østertorn (student and activist) explain the concept behind the Ilulissat Art and Science Hub. We open the doors to this anchor point, which marks the end of our series in this Greenlandic town. The sun dog

The Herds’ Epic Migration Towards an Arctic Reckoning
Dr. Michael Wenger, 04/23/2025

The Herds’ Epic Migration Towards an Arctic Reckoning

A unique herd of African wildlife is currently moving from the Congo to the Arctic circle in an attempt not only to highlight the global effect of climate change but also to renew the bond between humans and nature. An unprecedented procession has started to traverse the globe currently, not of fles

“Honouring Our Future” at the NONAM
Mirjana Binggeli, 04/04/2025

“Honouring Our Future” at the NONAM

After Canada and Great Britain, the exhibition of regalia worn by young Indigenous graduates from the Yukon opens this weekend at NONAM. An opportunity to discover, through this symbolic garment, a little-known aspect of the culture of these communities in north-western Canada, between tradition and

Talking about Nanuk, the Inuit narratives about polar bears
Mirjana Binggeli, 02/27/2025

Talking about Nanuk, the Inuit narratives about polar bears

As we celebrate International Polar Bear Day today, Polar Journal AG invites you to discover Nanuk Narratives, an online documentary series that sheds light on the link between Inuit and polar bears.Nanuk, nanuq, nanoq. Whatever the dialect, the term always refers to its majesty, the polar bear. Pho

Arctic culture in sound and music at the Museum of Contemporary Circumpolar Art
Mirjana Binggeli, 02/19/2025

Arctic culture in sound and music at the Museum of Contemporary Circumpolar Art

The Museum of Contemporary Circumpolar Art (MCCA) in Bern is kicking off the year in music and style with a new exhibition devoted to Arctic sounds. The opening takes place this Thursday, February 20, with a performance by the Inuit throat-singing duo PIQSIQ.From 20 February to 21 June, the MCCA in

An Arctic Day on the move and in voices at the NONAM
Mirjana Binggeli, 02/07/2025

An Arctic Day on the move and in voices at the NONAM

NONAM organizes an Arctic Day this Sunday in Zurich, with a focus on movement and voice. The program includes Inuit sports games and a famous duet of throat singers. The PIQSIQ duo will perform this Sunday at NONAM. Photo: Inuksuk Mackay For this year’s Arctic Day, the North American Native Museum (

A designer who envelops bodies in the spirit of the Sami people
Camille Lin, 02/06/2025

A designer who envelops bodies in the spirit of the Sami people

A shift in direction in 2008 enabled Anne Berit Anti to tell the story of her people through fashion. With one foot in modernity and one in tradition, she invites everyone to wear original creations inspired by life on the tundra. Some of the patterns used by Anne Berit Anti refer to traditional nec

Christiane Ritter, a woman in the polar night
Mirjana Binggeli, 01/17/2025

Christiane Ritter, a woman in the polar night

A Woman in the Polar Night has become a classic of its kind, and is now being reprinted in French. An opportunity to revisit the tale of a polar adventurer like no other. Christiane Ritter overwintered in Spitsbergen between 1934 and 1935. Photo: Bjørn Klauer Summer 1934, Spitsbergen. Christiane Ri

Inuit art on show at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Mirjana Binggeli, 12/20/2024

Inuit art on show at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Attributed to Bobby Quppaapik Tarkirk, this delicate work shows birds carved in soapstone and serpentine and perched on a caribou antler. Probably Bobby Quppaapik Tarkirk (1934-2000), Untitled (Birds in a Tree), late 1960s-early 1970s. MMFA, gift of the Museum of Inuit Art, Toronto. Photo: MMFA, Chr

Katajjaq, an Inuit voice
Mirjana Binggeli, 12/13/2024

Katajjaq, an Inuit voice

The katajjaq, a throat singing game typical of Canada's Inuit, has enjoyed a revival in recent decades. So much so that it has become a strong marker of Inuit identity. The essence of katajjaq. Two women standing face to face, singing. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve probably come across thi

The PolarJournal Christmas book selection
Mirjana Binggeli, 12/06/2024

The PolarJournal Christmas book selection

With Christmas just around the corner, Polar Journal AG has put together a selection of the best polar books. Enough to fill Santa's sack or to offer yourself a moment of escape. With Christmas just around the corner, the gift-giving race is in full swing. And since a good book is always a great pre

The Polar Retrospective – Arctic terror and horror on the big screen
Dr. Michael Wenger, 11/04/2024

The Polar Retrospective – Arctic terror and horror on the big screen

Beyond its beauty and magic, the Arctic is a unique canvas of horror that has been the backdrop to numerous films. Ghosts and spectres are not only seen in the Western world, especially on Halloween. The Arctic indigenous peoples also see the dancing Northern Lights as spectral beings. (Photo: Mich

Everything changes – unique exhibition about Greenland at the ALPS Museum
Dr. Michael Wenger, 10/24/2024

Everything changes – unique exhibition about Greenland at the ALPS Museum

The Swiss ALPS Museum is opening a new, unique exhibition on Friday featuring the massive changes taking place in Greenland and how the people there are dealing with them. Greenland goes ALPS: the former Alpine Museum of Switzerland, now the ALPS Museum, in Bern, allows visitors to immerse themselve

Three Swiss will sail solo in the Southern Ocean
Camille Lin, 10/01/2024

Three Swiss will sail solo in the Southern Ocean

With 41 days to go to the start, Oliver Heer, Justine Mettraux and Alan Roura finish preparing for the Vendée Globe. They will attempt to sail solo around the world via the Southern Ocean. The adrenalin of the race doesn’t fade after the first few days at sea. Drawing: Gisèle Durand RuizWith 41 days

The Polar Retrospective – The Arctic in Switzerland’s capital
Dr. Michael Wenger, 09/30/2024

The Polar Retrospective – The Arctic in Switzerland’s capital

Several institutions in Switzerland's capital Bern are sending out a strong signal for the Arctic and inviting visitors to various events and exhibitions, some of which will be on display for up to two years. Bern will be a hotspot for Arctic enthusiasts this fall. A series of exhibitions, events an

How a professional bicycle race is showcasing Norway’s Arctic landscapes
Ole Ellekrog, 08/08/2024

How a professional bicycle race is showcasing Norway’s Arctic landscapes

This year, the Arctic Tour of Norway was centered around Bodø, the European Capital of Culture, but during its 11 years, it has been through all municipalities of Northern Norway. Photo: Aurelien Vialatte, Arctic Race of NorwayThe four-stage-long Arctic Race of Norway finished with an uphill sprint

Polar Journal AG summer book selection
Mirjana Binggeli, 07/10/2024

Polar Journal AG summer book selection

What would a summer vacation be without a good book? From recent publications to favorites, the editors of Polar Journal AG have put together a selection of books to accompany you on your summer break. Whether you’re on a sandy beach basking in the sun, or in the heart of more icy climes, our select

The Faroe Islands, a whole festival
Mirjana Binggeli, 07/05/2024

The Faroe Islands, a whole festival

With its 53 000 inhabitants, isolated location, sheep and typical landscapes, the Faroe Islands offer music lovers several festivals to suit a wide variety of tastes. Festival-goers will be able to discover Faroese folk, which has a strong presence on the local music scene, alongside a plethora of o

Indigenous Peoples Day in Olympic form in Zurich
Mirjana Binggeli, 06/21/2024

Indigenous Peoples Day in Olympic form in Zurich

NONAM Zurich invites you to the Indigenous Peoples Day. The event will feature Native American Nations guests from North America, such as world hoop dance champion Tony Duncan and his son Naiche, flute player Allan Demaray and guests from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara nations of North and South Da

A cultural centre to reconnect with Inuit heritage
Mirjana Binggeli, 06/19/2024

A cultural centre to reconnect with Inuit heritage

With a design that blends into the landscape and a limited carbon footprint, the future 5 500 m2 Nunavut Inuit Heritage Centre will house permanent and temporary exhibitions, workshops and events, as well as a conservation laboratory. The project estimated cost is CAD 140 million (€90 million), and

Greenlandic PhD tv-show is looking for international participants
Ole Ellekrog, 06/18/2024

Greenlandic PhD tv-show is looking for international participants

The five Paasisavut finalists from 2023 all represented Nordic universities. This year, researchers from other parts of the world can participate too. Photo: Emil Nørgaard Stach, Arctic HubUnlike last year, the Paasisavut competition is now open to applications from researchers from across the world

The Polar Retrospective – Playfully into the Polar Regions
Dr. Michael Wenger, 06/17/2024

The Polar Retrospective – Playfully into the Polar Regions

Video gamers and the gaming industry have also discovered the polar regions, bringing together history, the environment, culture and the economy. Investigating the effects of climate change as an Antarctic explorer in 2035 is the aim of the video game “Metaverso Antártico”, developed in Chile. Video

Bodø2024: Half-time for the first European Capital of Culture in the Arctic
Julia Hager, 06/14/2024

Bodø2024: Half-time for the first European Capital of Culture in the Arctic

Bodø’s transformation began with the opening of the new concert hall (center) and is now being rewarded with the title of European Capital of Culture. Bodø2024 is the biggest cultural event in Norway for more than ten years and the biggest ever in Northern Norway. Bodø shares the title with Bad Isch

The electric alloy of art and science
Camille Lin, 06/12/2024

The electric alloy of art and science

Based on a polar bear picture taken in Wrangel by François Bernard – Sebastião Salgado’s guide in Greenland – Sara Bran has produced Captif. Picture: Camille Lin Sara Bran, a lace-maker on gold, is off to Greenland this summer to enrich her artistic practice. The programme includes an expedition on