"Girjegumpi" is coming home!
After several years travelling across the Nordic region, Europe and North America, Joar Nango’s “Girjegumpi” – The Sámi Architecture Library will now have a new and long-term home for the next five years at the Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum in Tromsø.
Together with Sáme Tjuoja / Samiske klanger, we are presenting a rich weekend programme throughout the museum, including Family Sunday and food service.
Free entry all weekend!
Program for the period 19–22 March
Thursday, 19 March
13:00 –14:00
Birástiddje beljustallam in the Great Hall.
Ánndaris Rimpi (listening session). The event is free, but you must reserve a spot.
Book here.
Birástiddje beljustallam (“sharpened listening to the surroundings”) is an eight-channel immersive sound installation by Ánndaris Rimpi. The work is constructed from elements of Rimpi’s practice across installation, performance, and music. This electroacoustic piece aims to create space for focused listening and to give the listener the potential for inner journeys. You will lie on reindeer hides on the floor and travel into the sound universe for 45 minutes together with the artist.
Rimpi lives in Gothenburg, Sweden, and through his art seeks a place in the city for his Sami hometown Oalloluokta. He elevates field recordings from both Gothenburg and Oalloluokta and cultivates melodies and rhythms to create a new musical world.
50 Hz is the frequency of the electrical mains — the hum that constantly surrounds us, a fundamental tone of modern life. Likewise, we are continuously bound by the tempo of the clock: the second hand ticking at 60 bpm. By combining this tempo and the fundamental tone, the listener receives a foundation for finding their safest place, and from that safe place they can travel freely away from the surrounding city.
15:00–16:00
Book launch: Blok P Greenland, in collaboration with Mondo Books.
In Girjegumpi.
18:00 – Official Opening
Welcome to the official opening, led by Pål Bendik Jåma from the Sami Parliament Council and the Director of the Northern Norwegian Art Museum, Stina Högkvist.
The evening includes artistic contributions, and the culinary skills of Maret Rávdná Buljo, creating a warm atmosphere around the celebration.
Later in the evening, audiences will experience Sáme Tjuoja, a sound concept developed by sound artist Ánndaris Rimpi. Afterwards, DJ Inuuteq sets the tone for a club night and housewarming party in Girjegumpi.
20:00–20:30
Ánndaris Rimpi, Niko Valkeapää & Ánte Niillas Bongo
21:00–23:00
DJ Inuuteq
Friday, 20 March
12:00–13:00
(ENG) Lunchtime talk:
"Indigenous Designed University Buildings: Built-Environment Agency and its Impact on Campus Sense of Place, Belonging, and Wellbeing"
— by Serge Ansen Marek
The lunchtime talk is part of the housewarming celebration for Girjegumpi. Free and open to all; held in English.
How can university buildings shaped by Indigenous ontologies and ways of knowing support the wellbeing of students, staff, and faculty? Worldwide, universities have begun creating buildings that function as both sacred spaces and academic spaces — yet there is little research on this new global trend.
In this talk, Serge A. Marek, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Geography and Sustainable Urban Development at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, presents a multi-country study exploring these buildings, their roles in university indigenization efforts, and their impact on placemaking, the built environment, and wellbeing.
13:00–14:00
Birástiddje beljustallam — listening session with Ánndaris Rimpi in the Great Hall. Free, but requires registration. See ticket link.
17:00–23:00
Sáme Tjuoja in Girjegumpi
Ánte Siri hosts the evening. Additional names announced soon.
From 17:00, Ánndaris Rimpi and Ánte Siri host an evening where they have invited artists including Joar Nango, Slincraze, Sigbjørn Skåden, Herborg Rundberg, and Niko Valkeapää to explore new artistic collaborations never seen before!
Ánndaris Rimpi’s project Sáme Tjuoja / Sami Resonances highlights and shares the diversity of Sami art forms, with a special focus on sound and music.
Sáme Tjuoja is a Sami sound festival for experimental music, where writers, researchers, actors, and artists also participate, exploring new collaborations, experimental expressions, and giving insight into their processes.
Across four days, audiences will meet artists including Joar Nango, Sara Marielle Gaup, Niko Valkeapää, Elina Waage Mikalsen, Ánte Niillas Bongo, Ánte Siri, Sara Inga Utsi Bongo, Herborg Rundberg, Slincraze/Nils Rune Utsi, Marianne Sihvonen, Charlotte Bendiks, and Lauri Marjakangas.
Most appear on Friday evening, but join as much as you can — there will be new constellations and collaborations each day!
(Program subject to change)
Saturday, 21 March
11:15
Birástiddje beljustallam
in the Great Hall. Free with reservation — see ticket link.
Sami Architecture Seminar #4
The seminar will be held in English.
Sami Architecture Seminar #4: “Institutional Architecture in Sápmi.”
Part of the EUmies Awards Out&About program, featuring Čoarvemátta as one of the shortlisted projects for the 2026 prize.
12:30–14:00
Kubb 1
Sami Institutional Architecture — Historical Perspectives
Hosted by Joar Nango, Máret Rádvná Buljo, and Hallstein Guthu.
In Kubb 1, Bente Aass Solbakken presents research on Norwegian architect Kjell Borgen and his lifelong work with Sami architecture, while Elin Haugdal shares reflections on buildings erected in Sápmi from the 1970s to today.
14:20–16:00
Kubb 2
“What Can Sami Institutional Architecture Be Today?” — Perspectives from the Architecture Field
Gisle Løkken from 70°N Arkitektur presents Čoarvemátta, a building designed in collaboration with Joar Nango and Snøhetta.
Hallstein Guthu gives a brief insight into the mapping project Kven Architecture.
Trine Hansen from Skjervøy presents perspectives from coastal Sami architectural practice, and Eveliina Sarapää introduces the grassroots initiative Oadjut from Kiruna.
The session ends with a conversation with all contributors and Sami architect Joar Nango. Audience questions and comments are welcome.
16:20–17:15
Kubb 3
Pre-launch of the book Girjegumpi – The Sami Architecture Library from Sternberg Press.
With Mathias Danbolt, Petri Henriksson, Tone Huse, Joar Nango, and editor Axel Wieder.
Discussion moderated by Liv Brissach.
17:45–19:30
Sáme Tjuoja presents:
Elina Waage & Sara Inga Utsi Gaup, Sara Marielle Gaup, Charlotte Bendix, and Marianne Sihvonen.
Museum closes at 19:30
