Misplaced Pages

LungA Art Festival, LungA Festival or simply LungA, was an annual art and music festival held in Seyðisfjörður, East Iceland from 2000 to 2024. The festival took place in mid-July and was organized as a week of workshops, lectures and other activities, ending with a weekend of exhibitions and concerts.

The festival's name is a contraction of 'Listahátíð ungs fólks á Austurlandi' (Art festival of young people in the East).

In 2013 the festival sparked the creation of the LungA School, an artist-run art school that operates independently of the festival.

History

LungA was started in 2000 by Björt Sigfinnsdóttir, a 15 year old resident of Seyðisfjörður, and her friends, to provide art and cultural activities that were felt to be otherwise difficult to access for young people in the town. Helena Aðalsteinsdóttir and Þórhildur Tinna Sigurðardóttir took over as directors of the festival from Sigfinnsdóttir in 2022.

By 2024 it was felt that the costs of running the festival was no longer manageable given the limited funding available, and it was announced that the 2024 iteration of the festival would be its last.

Artists / Instructors

Over the years, some of the artists and instructors who have been part of LungA Art Festival have included: Bashar Murad, Hjaltalín, Tara Mobee, Reykjavík!, Reykjavíkurdætur, Sykur, Daði Freyr, Aron Can, JFDR, Svala Björgvins, Sóley, Princess Nokia, Ragnar Kjartansson, Henrik Vibskov, Goddur, Andri Snær Magnason, Curver, Hugleikur Dagsson, Huerco S, CGFC, Bjössi of Mínus, DJ Gísli Galdur of Trabant, and Biggi of Maus. In July 2023 Pussy Riot performed at LungA Festival for their first performance in Iceland after band members Maria Alyokhina and Lucy Shtein were granted Icelandic citizenship earlier that year, having fled Russia during the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine.

LungA was a part of Keychange, a global network and movement working towards gender equality in the music industry.

References

1. Pétursdóttir, Elfa Hlín; Halldórsdóttir, Tinna Kristbjörg; Rømer, Lene; Holm, Dennis; Hansen, Marianne (May 2015). Home is where the island heart beats: Out-migrants contribution to their former homes through cultural events (PDF) (Report). Austurbrú. p. 78. Retrieved 21 July 2024. LungA stands for Listahátíð UNGs fólks á Austurlandi{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Yamasaki, Parker (2013). "Kicking It New School". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Reykjavík: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
3. Rogers, John (2013). "Fill Your Lungs: Seyðisfjörður's LungA Festival Is A Breath Of Fresh Air". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Reykjavík: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
4. Zubenko, Iryna (2024). "LungA Comes Full Circle". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Reykjavík: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
5. Jósefsdóttir, Sólrún Dögg (2024). "Síðasta LungA-hátíðin haldin í sumar". Vísir. Reykjavík: Sýn. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
6. Jonsson, Steindor Gretar (2024). "Popular Town Festivals Coming to an End". Iceland Review. Reykjavík: MD Reykjavík. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
7. "LungA Art Festival: A Final Farewell". Business Iceland. 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
8. "Crowds of creative people at LungA". Iceland Monitor. Reykjavík: Árvakur hf. 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
9. Hannah Jane, Cohen (2017). "Socially Experimental Summer Camp: LungA Festival 2017 Reviewed". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Reykjavík: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
10. Hæ, ég heiti LungA og ég er 10 ára (anniversary booklet). LungA Art Festival. 2010.
11. Iryna, Iryna (2022). "A Crazy Microcosm On A Fjord: LungA Is Back And Better Than Ever". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Reykjavík: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
12. Dagsson, Þormóður (2007). "LungA: A Huge Little Festival". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Reykjavík: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
13. Magnúsdóttir, Ásta Hlín (2023). "Pussy Riot á LungA á Seyðisfirði". RÚV. Reykjavík: RÚV. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
14. Tómas, Ragnar (2013). "Pussy Riot Performs at LungA Art Festival in Seyðisfjörður". Iceland Review. Reykjavík: MD Reykjavík. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
15. "LungA Art Festival". keychange.eu. Retrieved 9 August 2024.

• Art festivals in Iceland
• Music festivals in Iceland
• Summer events in Iceland