The Scandinavian Association for Artists and Scientists, in Italian ''Circolo Scandinavo per Artisti e Scienziati'' and in Swedish officially known as ''Skandinaviska föreningen för konstnärer och vetenskapsmän'' eller ''Skandinaviska föreningens konstnärshus i Rom'' is an association and

artists residency Artist-in-residence, or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs which involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs which provide artists with space a ...

located in

Trastevere Trastevere () is the 13th ''rione'' of Rome: it is identified by the initials R. XIII and it is located within Municipio I. Its name comes from Latin ''trans Tiberim'', literally 'beyond the Tiber'. Its coat of arms depicts a golden head of a lio ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, providing short-term residencies for Nordic artists.

History

Circolo Scandinavo was founded by Scandinavian artists in Rome in July 1860, when the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian libraries in Rome united to create a space for their countrymen in Italy.Lång, Fredrik 2010: Till Rom : nordiska konstnärer i Rom under 150 år There was a strong Nordic presence, starting with the sculptor

Thorvaldsen Thorvaldsen is a surname. People with the name include: * Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770–1844), Danish/Icelandic sculptor * Randi Thorvaldsen (1925–2011), Norwegian speedskater * Thor Thorvaldsen (1909–1987), Norwegian Olympic sailor * Unn Thorva ...

, and the Danish library had been established in 1833. The first location of the association was in the now demolished Palazzo Correa next to the Mausoleum of Augustus, and has had 12 different locations since.Wulffson, Madeleine: The Story of the Casino Farnese: Home to artists in Rome Between the late 19th century to the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Circolo Scandinavo was visited by many of the greatest artists in Scandinavian history, including

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

, Carl Bloch, Selma Lagerlöf and Sigrid Undset.Bull, F 1960: Nordisk kunstnerliv i Rom Henrik Ibsen was one of the more active members of the 1870s, and is credited for opening the association to women. In 1879, while working on A Doll's House, he protested against women not being allowed as members of the association, and in 1882, Circolo was opened to women as well Circolo Scandinavo was more like a meeting point for Scandinavians than it was a working space until the end of the Second World War. In 1962, the association started a residency programme, and in 1975 was transformed exclusively into an artists residency. This was done with financial help from the

Nordic Council of Ministers The Nordic Council of Ministers is an intergovernmental forum established after the Helsinki Treaty. The purpose of the Nordic Council of Ministers is to complement the Nordic Council and promote Nordic cooperation. Structure The governme ...

, which is still today the main sponsor of Circolo Scandinavo. P-309-R Skand

Notable guests

* Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson * August Strindberg * Edvard Grieg *

Walter Runeberg Walter Magnus Runeberg (29 December 1838 – 23 December 1920) was a Finnish neo-classical sculptor. He was the son of Finnish national epic poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. Biography Runeberg was born in Porvoo as the eldest son of J. L. Runeberg ...

* Carl Bloch * Sigrid Undset * Selma Lagerlöf *

Evert Taube Axel Evert Taube (; 12 March 1890 – 31 January 1976) was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer. He is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most respected musicians and the foremost troubadour of the Swedish ballad tradition in the 20th c ...

Circolo in the 21st century

The main purpose for the association is to provide artists from the five Nordic countries with a place to work in Rome. The artists granted residency are determined through an application process. Each year over 300 artists from all the Nordic countries apply for residency and about 60 artists each year get a residency. The residencies are usually one or two months. The artists come from every discipline of art.Homepage of Circolo Scandinavo
/ref> The association is also an active player in Roman cultural life. It arranges events with Nordic artists, and participate in mainly Nordic themed events in Rome. Alongside the Nordic embassies of Rome, Circolo arranges the Nordic Film Fest, a film festival held every spring. The Director of Circolo Scandinavo from 2012 to 2020 was Ingo Arnason an Icelandic theatre and opera director. From September 2020 onwards the Director of Circolo Scandinavo is Marie Kraft, a Swedish architect.

Casino Farnese

Circolo Scandinavo currently resides in a

renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

palace in Trastevere, next to Palazzo Corsini and Villa Farnesina, called Casino di Vigna or Casino Farnese, after the Farnese family. The area was developed in the end of the 15th century on the slopes of the Tiber where Julius Caesar's vineyards were situated. The Casino is a three-story palace owned by the Lincean Academy, where Circolo occupies the top floor.

References

{{reflist

External links

Homepage of Circolo Scandinavo
Arts organisations based in Italy