The Norwegian government and the Institute of Public Health have issued a ban on all gatherings and cultural events taking place in the country in order to contain further spreading of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

In addition, a severe travel restriction has been issued. Any traveller from countries outside of the Nordic region, who are not residents of Norway, will be asked to return. The alternative for those travellers would be a 14-day quarantine. Travellers presenting symptoms of the virus will be isolated. This policy has retroactive effect and applies to all arrivals since Thursday 27 February, and it will apply until a new decision is made.

Following this announcement, and taking into consideration the potential impact of a large international gathering on the health of our members, participants and staff, it is with a heavy heart that we announce we are cancelling the 2020 IETM Tromsø Plenary Meeting.

We have compiled a page with answers to questions you might have related to this, from getting a refund for your registration fee to how to engage with other participants until our next live meeting. Please read here a more personal note by Ása Richardsdóttir, IETM’s Secretary General.

For information on the decision of the Norwegian  government and an update on the situation in Norway, please visit:  

Information in Norwegian
https://www.helsedirektoratet.no/nyheter/informasjon-om-karantene-etter…

Information in English
https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/coronavirus-and-travelling-t…;

https://www.fhi.no/en/news/2020/norwegian-directorate-of-health-impleme…

The scene for IETM´s 2020 Spring Plenary will be Tromsø, the cultural capital of Arctic Norway. 

The theme of the meeting is Activism -  fitting for an area now in the midst of global attention due to the region's natural resources and strategic location.  The fate of the melting Northern ice cap is a hot political topic, and a new set of challenging power dynamics between different nations has entered the stage.

What is the place of the performing arts in facing the developments which are literally changing the face of our planet?   

IETM Tromsø will discuss, digest and discover the role of activism in our art form, the relation between art and politics, and art as protest. What differs artistic activism from regular activism? Does it have any impact? Are we preaching to the converted? Can the performing arts change minds and bring people together despite the compelling divergence of opinions? If artistic work gets political, are there aesthetic compromises to be made?

Historically a hub for international trade and exchange, Tromsø is home to many different cultures, including several Sami communities, and has a resourceful and diverse artist community that is looking forward to hosting you during the plenary.

Their work and those of other Norwegian artists will be highlighted in the meeting ‘s artistic programme curated by the Vårscenefest festival, in collaboration with various local partners. 

And it wouldn’t be an IETM plenary without a great space for networking, exchange of ideas and informal conversations among international peers. 

Image in banner: © NORDTING / The Northern Assembly marching the streets of Tromsø as part of its election campaign for the Norwegian Parliament, 2017. Photo by Martin Eilertsen.