Arts & Culture
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Arts & Culture
Deeply rooted in long-standing traditions, culture and arts in the Faroe Islands are constantly being renewed and adapted to contemporary Faroese life and identity.

The diversity and depth of creative talent in the cultural scene today is equally due to international influences. Faroese writers, musicians, visual artists, performers, filmmakers and designers have taken trends and impulses from many other countries and cultures and combined these with Faroese influences to create unique new styles. The same can be said about the gourmet scene, which has put a modern twist on traditional Faroese food culture.

In the Faroe Islands, international cultural exchange is highly valued and actively encouraged and supported. Specialised public agencies have been established to promote creative industries in international markets. Writers, musicians, film makers, visual artists and others have access to grants for travel to work, perform and exhibit overseas. Funding schemes and facilities, such as residencies, are available for artists from overseas to spend time working in the Faroe Islands.

Promoting Faroese Arts

Faroe Music Export (FMX) promotes Faroese music in the international commercial marketplace.

FarLit is a publicly funded agency for the promotion of Faroese literature on the international book market.

Faroese Film Institute is responsible for providing advice and guidance for filmmakers, and marketing the Faroese film industry abroad, as well as promoting the Faroe Islands as a film location, which includes financial incentives for foreign film productions.

The Faroese Language

Faroese is the official language of the Faroe Islands. Faroese is a West Nordic language, which like Icelandic, is derived from Old Norse, the language of the first Viking-age settlers in the 9th century. They also gave the islands their name, Føroyar, meaning Sheep Islands.

Online dictionaries
The publish house Sprotin manages the free online authorized dictionary of Faroese, as well as bilingual dictionaries between Faroese and English, Danish, Spanish, German, Greenlandic, Chinese, Russian, French and Italian

The Faroese clinker boat on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List

The Faroe Islands are an Associate Member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In 2021, the Faroese clinker boat was included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Faroe Islands were part of the multinational nomination for the Nordic clinker boat tradition.

Faroese Gastronomy
Nature has blessed the Faroe Islands with excellent raw materials for food. Throughout history, the Faroe Islanders have developed a cuisine deeply rooted in the need to make full use of everything nature has to offer. A heritage that contemporary chefs are building upon.
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Wool Fashion
Faroese fashion has become increasingly popular locally and internationally. Knitting is a common denominator among the Faroese brands as well as the individual craftspeople.
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The Faroese Language
The national and official language of the Faroe Islands is Faroese. The language is spoken only by approximately 75,000 - 80,000 people throughout the world.
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Music
The Faroese have a rich singing and storytelling tradition passed down through generations, often centred around music and dance. These roots can be found in today’s vibrant music scene, which thrives with cultural events and festivals that showcase Faroese art and culture.
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The Faroese Chain Dance
One of the most unique Faroese cultural features is the chain dance, which was originally a medieval ring dance.
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Performing Arts
Theatre enjoys great importance for the cultural life of the Faroe Islands and functions as a unifying medium and developer of a national horizon.
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Visual Arts
A lot has happened since the first Faroese painters, not so much longer than a century ago, painted the first landscape paintings, to show the beauty of their country, and demonstrate their love for the homeland.
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The Faroese Boat
A proverb says that the Faroese people are born with oars in their hands. The ocean has always been an integral part of life on the islands and the boat was the lifeblood of the communities.
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Film
Filmmaking is a new and growing artistic field in the Faroe Islands. Both the quantity and the quality are rapidly improving and new up-and-coming filmmakers are making a splash on the local and global stage.
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Literature
The Faroe Islands are a nation of poets and writers. The love of poetry and story-telling is deeply rooted in Faroese culture.
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Fog Swept Islands: Faroe Islands Culture Days in New York
From April to July 2024, Scandinavia House: The Nordic Centre in America is rolling out the red carpet for a mesmerising showcase of Faroese arts and culture during Fog Swept Islands: Faroe Islands Culture Days.
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We also recommend
The National Museum of the Faroe Islands
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FMX - Faroe Music Export
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Literrature from the Faroe Islands
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Faroese Film Institute
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