Greifswald (dpa/mv) – The “Nordic Sound” art and music festival has been bringing Northern European culture to Greifswald since Friday. According to the organizers, around 60 artists from six northern European countries are offering concerts, exhibitions and readings until May 15th.
Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) praised the festival at the opening as an “expression of community in the Baltic Sea region”https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/.”What has been achieved here in 31 years for international understanding is exemplary,” said them according to the press release.
Schwesig explained that the festival was taking place in politically turbulent times. The head of government had been widely criticized for holding on to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline for Russian natural gas for a long time. Schwesig said in Greifswald that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring suffering, escape and death to the heart of Europe. “We on the Baltic Sea are now moving even closer together. Together we stand for peace and democracy, for solidarity and open societies.” Cooperation with neighbors and partners in Scandinavia and the Baltic States is a cornerstone of the state government’s work.
Before the opening of the festival, the prime minister reportedly had a conversation with the Estonian ambassador Alar Streimann in Greifswald town hall. The focus was on deepening cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.
According to the organizers, the artists at the festival come from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia and this year’s patron country Norway. Performers will include Norwegian pop band D’Sound and Estonian funk band Lexsoul Dancemachine. There is also a photo exhibition about security policy in Finland’s Åland Islands. Many of the approximately 40 program items will take place in the open air.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220506-99-189783/2
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