Culture Over Division: Bringing Creative Europeans Together in Reykjavík

On 19 September 2025, Reykjavík played host to Culture Over Division, an international seminar bringing together artists, filmmakers, researchers, and cultural practitioners from across Europe to explore the power of creative collaboration.

A Meeting of Creative Minds

Organised by Moving Classics: Sonic Bridges (MCSB) — a Creative Europe-funded initiative — the seminar welcomed 45 guests for a day of presentations, open dialogue, and meaningful exchange. Partners from Iceland, Ireland, Cyprus, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia were all in attendance, sharing their experiences and visions for cross-border artistic work.

Big Ideas, Bold Voices

The day opened with a keynote from Clara Ganslandt, EU Ambassador to Iceland, followed by a funding overview from Creative Europe Desk Iceland, introducing exciting opportunities including the new AgoraEU programme. Speakers reflected openly on the successes and challenges of international collaboration — from film and music to dance, theatre, and street festivals.

Culture as a Force for Unity

A central theme throughout the day was the role of storytelling and the arts in building a shared European identity. As Jóna Hlíf Halldórsdóttir of the Federation of Icelandic Artists put it: "Arts and culture form the very foundation of societies."

Looking Ahead

The seminar closed with the launch of an open call for a composer to join one of the MCSB creative teams — an exciting next step in a project dedicated to amplifying diverse voices across Europe.

The event was covered by RÚV, Iceland's national broadcaster, and reached over 13,000 people across social media.