Event Summary

Greenland Music Policy & Artist Development Conference 2026

April 23-24 | Nuuk, Greenland

About the Conference

This two-day conference was produced by the Centre for Music Ecosystems, the Nordic Institute in Greenland (NAPA), and the Culture Department of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, with support from the Nordic Culture Fund and the Levitt Foundation.

It brought together Greenlandic artists, policymakers, municipal leaders, and international industry professionals to explore the future of Greenland's music ecosystem through policy dialogue and practical artist development.

Programme Summary

DAY 1 Policy Day

Thursday, April 23
Katuaq Cultural Centre

The first day centred on policy dialogue, stakeholder collaboration, and the practical realities of building a sustainable music ecosystem in Greenland.

The day included:

  • A comprehensive and enlightening intervention panel moderated by Jonas L. Nilsson — featuring Laura Lennert Jensen, Frederik Elsner, Inunnguaq Petrussen, and Varna Marianne Nielsen — examined what a locally focused Greenlandic music policy could look like in practice.

  • Keynote presentations explored national sovereignty, cultural identity, and economic resilience through music, alongside international best practices from Iceland, presented by Signý Leifsdóttir (Iceland Music).

  • An expert panel on mapping Greenlandic music infrastructure, moderated by Shain Shapiro, with Ivaaq Kriegel (CEO, Katuaq) and Poul Petersen (Acting Mayor, Sermersooq), explored pathways for developing venues, funding, and support structures.

  • Working groups developed the foundations of a collaborative strategic framework for Greenland's music ecosystem, including presentations from local musicians and practitioners.

DAY 2 Artist Day

Friday, April 24
Entrepreneurs and Artists House

The second day, focused on practical skills and career development for Greenlandic musicians. This was also the informal launch of the Nuuk Entrepreneur and Artist House, a new cultural hub being developed by Sermersooq Municipality and set to be the first of its kind in Nuuk.

The day included:

  • Informal group discussions led by Stephen Budd, Stephen Budd Management and Shain Shapiro.

  • Topics included marketing, management, sync licensing, songwriting, music production, and career management, all within a Greenlandic context.

  • Informal jam sessions with delegates throughout the day.

  • A closing discussion explored the key components of artist support, mentorship, and infrastructure needs for Greenlandic creatives.

Highlights, Key Takeaways & Attendees

This was an important dialogue between musicians, businesspeople and policymakers who met to discuss how Greenland can develop a thriving music economy as a cultural export while still maintaining and respecting local traditions, cultures and expressions.

A number of local challenges were addressed, including how to democratise and expand streaming opportunities for Greenlandic artists, how to develop a more formal Greenlandic Music Export Office and how to establish more formal contacts with international buyers.

It was noted that over the last few years, there has been increased attention on Greenland, and this could be seen as an opportunity if the narrative is controlled and opportunities are managed locally. A much more united musicians' and business environment is needed for that, and all participants agreed that this is the goal moving forward.

What's Next?

The most important takeaway is that this needs to be done more often. As a result, a number of initiatives are being explored to follow up from the conference.

This includes:

  • Another conference, in winter/spring 2027

  • The development of an international conference and showcase festival in Nuuk, to be held alongside the Suialaa Arts Festival in October 2027. This is currently being developed with the aim of confirmation in spring 2027. 

  • More structured meetups between musicians and ecosystem participants, to be led by the Nordic Institute in Greenland and Sermersooq Municipality. 

In the meantime, if you have reflections, feedback, or ideas to share, please contact us at info@centerformusicecosystems.com, napa@napa.gl or ks97jolu@sermersooq.gl