It’s not just Taste of Iceland rolling into town next week that will keep the National Nordic Museum buzzing. In addition to hosting events next Friday and Saturday for the Icelandic fest, the Nordic Museum has a slew of events planned throughout October that showcase Nordic culture, history, and art.

On September 28, the museum concludes its 5-part series into the exploration of Nordic design. Curator Morten Spjøtvold from Bergen’s Kode Museum will discuss the influence and evolution of Norwegian design, known for its simplicity, minimalism, and functionality. 

OCT: Art, lectures, and more

October brings even more events including the The 29th Annual Raoul Wallenberg Lecture. The event features Jill Savitt, CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Savitt will address the importance of memorializing painful history and courageous resistance in building a just future.

Seattle suffers no shortage of fans of the written word. You can scratch that literature itch at the National Nordic Museum on October 27 at “Meet the Author.” Acclaimed Icelandic author Jón Kalman Stefánsson will be in town to discuss his latest book, “Your Absence is Darkness.” Described as a comedy, Stefánsson’s latest is said to be a “story of elemental nature and human tragedy.”  

And, art lovers have until October 27 to experience “A Place of Opportunity and Transformation,” an exhibition by Swedish artists Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg. We worked our way through this whimsical installation at a preview last month and highly recommend a visit through this mysterious and fun collaboration. It’s the first showing of this talented pair on the West Coast for over a decade, so you’ll definitely want to check it out before it leaves town. 

But before they pack up the exhibit, there will be a special live concert by Hans Berg on October 26. Berg will perform an hour-long set alongside animations created by Nathalie Djurberg.

Check out the museum’s website for additional information on the events and ticketing.