The Art Council of Hafnarborg has selected margins (working title) as the 2026 installation in the museum’s Autumn Exhibition Series, out of proposals submitted by curators earlier this year through an annual open call. The curators of the winning proposal are Katrín Björg Gunnarsdóttir and Úlfur Bragi Einarsson, who intend to focus their attention on the exhibition space itself – on the possibilities that lie in what is unseen or forgotten, in the void that is never truly empty.

The exhibition reconsiders the potential of the exhibition space, which is often approached as a neutral backdrop, redefining it instead as an active participant. By mapping use of space in past exhibitions in the series, the project will highlight areas that have not previously been used to display works, as well as those spaces that have remained on the “margins”. Artists will be invited to create works in an interactive dialogue with these areas, where the artwork shapes the space and the space shapes the artwork. In doing so, the exhibition seeks to challenge the traditional hierarchy between artwork and space, proposing an ecological framework in which artwork, space, text and viewer all carry equal weight.

Katrín Björg Gunnarsdóttir (b. 1994) is based in Japan, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in curatorial practice at the Tokyo University of the Arts. She previously graduated with a BA in fine art from the Iceland University of the Arts in 2021. Her research focuses on the relationship between space, artworks and audiences, exploring how the exhibition space itself affects the experience of art. Her approach draws on the ideas of New Materialism, combining theoretical analysis with curatorial practice. She explored these ideas in a recent exhibition at 5th Floor Gallery in Tokyo and has contributed to other projects and exhibitions in the city. Katrín also curated the group exhibition My Space, featuring artists from North Iceland, which was held at the Akureyri Art Museum earlier this year.

Úlfur Bragi Einarsson (b. 1993) holds a BA in architecture from the Iceland University of the Arts (2020) and later worked at the architectural studio KRADS. He is currently based in Tokyo, where he plans to pursue graduate studies. His research centres on lost traditions, exploring how a turn toward the past can open new paths for the future, particularly in the context of sustainability. Úlfur is especially interested in how architecture both shapes and is shaped by people, behaviour and environment, where buildings exist within a wider ecological framework. He has also taken part in the installation of various exhibitions in Tokyo.

This will be the sixteenth exhibition in Hafnarborg’s Autumn Exhibition Series, where the objective is to collaborate with different curators, who get the chance to submit their own proposals, allowing new voices to be heard. The Director and Art Council of Hafnarborg then review the submissions and select the winning proposal each year. The participating artists will be announced at a later date.

Hafnarborg has received a grant of 750,000 ISK from the Iceland Design Fund for the project “Rúna, Typeface”, which focuses on the redesign and exhibition of the typeface created by Sigrún Guðjónsdóttir (b. 1926).

The aim of the project is to make the artist’s typeface accessible in digital form and present it to the public at Hafnarborg in connection with DesignMarch 2026.

The project also highlights the importance of preservation and innovation in Icelandic type design and is one of 28 diverse design and architecture projects to receive funding from the Fund in this round.

The staff at Hafnarborg sincerely thank the Iceland Design Fund for their support and look forward to sharing the results with visitors when the project is ready.

September marks the beginning of a new concert season at Hafnarborg, with a rich programme of outstanding musicians and promising young performers. Firstly,  The Afternoon Concerts will resume on Friday September 5th, having been on hiatus since the end of last year. The ever-popular Midday Concerts follow on Tuesday September 9th and we look forward to sharing music with you at the museum in the months ahead..

Concerts Autumn/Winter 2025

September 5th at 6 p.m.
Afternoon Concert
Sara Magnúsdóttir Quartet

September 9th at 12 p.m.
Midday Concert
Hanna Þóra Guðbrandsdóttir

October 7th at 12 p.m.
Midday Concert
Jóhann Smári Sævarsson

October 10th at 6 p.m.
Afternoon Concert
Gulla Ólafsdóttir Trio

November 4th at 12 p.m.
Midday Concert
Aron Axel Cortes

November 14th at 6 p.m.
Afternoon Concert
Scott McLemore’s Multiverse

December 2nd at 12 p.m.
Midday Concert
Hanna Dóra Sturludóttir

December 5th at 6 p.m.
Afternoon Concert
Silva Þórðardóttir

December 6th
Christmas Carols
Choirs from Hafnarfjörður

As in previous years, curators are invited to submit proposals for next year’s Autumn Exhibition at Hafnarborg. The Autumn Exhibition Series began in 2011 and since then fifteen exhibitions have been selected for production as part of the series, from numerous submissions by curators of diverse backgrounds and experience. This year’s Autumn Exhibition, Total Babes, which is curated by Jasa Baka and Petra Hjartardóttir, set to open on August 28th, was selected by the same method, from the proposals submitted last year.

By calling for proposals, the objective is to collaborate with different curators, who submit compelling proposals for an exhibition, as well as creating a platform for emerging curators to present their ideas. For this reason, curators who are new to the field are encouraged to send in their proposals. In years past, the programme has proven its worth, as it has produced diverse and thought-provoking exhibitions, which have been well received all around.

The call is for group exhibitions connecting artists (up to eight persons) or artworks through their subject matter, artistic method and/or other ideas, but exhibitions analysing or focusing on a specific aspect of one artist’s work will also be considered. Proposals for exhibitions of contemporary artists’ works or exhibitions entailing historical analysis are welcome as well. The Director and Art Council of Hafnarborg will review the proposals and select the winning proposal.

The deadline for submitting proposals is midnight on Sunday September 7th.

Applications are only accepted via email at [email protected] (see below).

Application process

The application process is divided into two parts and we ask applicants to read all details about the two-part process and required materials carefully.

Part 1

For the first part of the application process, we request the following information:

• Description of the project with an emphasis on the idea underlying the exhibition (1000 words maximum).
• CV of the curator(s).
• Short CV of the participating artist(s) (up to eight persons), as well as others that might become part of the exhibition project.

Please provide as detailed a description as possible, while respecting the maximum word count. We will also accept illustrative material that is descriptive for the project, though this is not required. Applicants are encouraged to acquaint themselves with Hafnarborg’s layout and spaces before submitting their proposals. The Art Council of Hafnarborg, alongside the Director, will review all proposals and select those that will move on to the second part of the application process.

Part 2

The curators, whose proposals are selected for further review, will be invited to present their ideas and provide additional materials, such as exhibition catalogues, illustrative material or videos, as well as working on a realistic budget plan for the project. The budget plan for the exhibition, including its preparation, is expected to be in line with the museum’s financial plan, or else requiring special grants to fund the project.

When reviewing the proposals, the following will be taken into special consideration:

• Selection of artists.
• Whether the exhibition introduces an innovative view of the subject matter, for example in relation to its context and/or media.
• Whether the exhibition includes new or older works, or even a mixture of both.
• Whether the exhibition has a special relevance to Hafnarborg or Hafnarfjörður, for example in relation to the community or museum collection.
• Whether the exhibition makes use of Hafnarborg’s exhibition space in a creative way.
• The curators’ experience and CV.
• Suggestions for events in connection with the exhibition (curatorial talks, artist talks, seminars etc.).
• Ideas for a possible publication.
• That the budget of the project is within reasonable limits (a more precise cost assessment will take place in the latter part of the process).

Sketches of Hafnarborg’s floor plan can be found here. These are intended to be used as a guide, as it is not required that the curators design the exhibition to fit the space in strict terms.

Please send all proposals via email to [email protected], with the subject “Autumn Exhibition 2026”. In response, we will send a message confirming that we have received the proposal, but we urge you to contact us at (354) 585 5790, if you do not receive said confirmation. Finally, all applicants will be kept informed about the status of their proposals, in due course. All results will be sent via email.

Further information is provided by the office of Hafnarborg at (354) 585 5790.

From its inception, The Hafnarborg Songfest has offered a master class for advanced singers. This year, the class takes place from June 23rd until the 26th, filling the museum with music and song for its duration. The class is held in Hafnarborg’s main gallery, starting in the morning and ending in the afternoon, so guests of the museum will be able to enjoy the singing practice during their visit of the current exhibitions. At the end of the course, the participants will perform at a special concert on Thursday June 26th at 8 p.m. as part of The Songfest. This time, the instructor is renowned singer Kristinn Sigmundsson, with the support of pianist Helga Bryndís Magnúsdóttir, who will also accompany the singers at the concert.

For more information about The Hafnarborg Songfest, please visit the offical website at www.songhatid.com.

This summer, Hafnarborg invites children aged 6–12 to take part in creative art workshops, where imagination takes the lead. Participants will have the opportunity to explore their surroundings in an artistic way, take inspiration from the museum’s exhibitions and engage in a variety of creative projects.

Emphasis is placed on play and artistic creation, where the fundamentals of visual art are introduced through exploration, observation and experimentation. Children will work with various media – drawing, painting and sculpting – with the aim of strengthening visual perception, nurturing creative thinking and supporting personal expression.

Two four-day workshops and one five-day workshop will be offered, for two age groups: 6–9 and 10–12 years old.

The workshop beginning on June 23rd will include a special music and singing component, in connection with the Hafnarborg Song Festival, concluding with the children’s participation in a family concert on Friday June 27th at 5 p.m.

The following summer workshops are available:

June 10th–June 13th (4 days)
6–9 years old: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
10–12 years old: 1–4 p.m.

June 16th–June 20th (4 days)
6–9 years old: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
10–12 years old: 1–4 p.m.

June 23rd–June 27th (5 days)
6–9 years old: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
10–12 years old: 1–4 p.m.

The fee is 18,000 ISK for the 5-day workshop and 14,400 ISK for the 4-day workshops. We kindly ask that parents or guardians inform us of any special needs or requirements.

Note that there is limited availability for the summer workshops.

Registration is open via the registration network Vala. For further information, please call (354) 585 5790 or send an email to [email protected].

The Easter season is almost upon us and the staff of Hafnarborg therefore wishes the friends and supporters of the museum a very happy Easter. Opening hours during the holidays are as follows:

Maundy Thursday April 17th
Open 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Good Friday April 18th
Closed

Holy Saturday April 19th
Open 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Easter Sunday April 20th
Closed

Easter Monday April 21st
Open 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

There are currently two exhibitions on view at the museum. The first, Linger, presents works by eight artists from England and Iceland. In the museum’s lower gallery, Universality by Jóna Hlíf Halldórsdóttir explores the creative power of language through the interplay of text and imagery.

Free entry – everyone welcome.

In collaboration with the City of Uppsala and Uppsala Art Museum, Hafnarborg presents an exhibition of select works from its collection, opening on Saturday, April 12th at 2 p.m., at Uppsala Castle. Titled From Saga to Present (Swedish: Från saga till samtid), the exhibition celebrates the longstanding partnership between the twin towns of Hafnarfjörður and Uppsala. Later this year, as part of this exhibition exchange, a corresponding show will open at Hafnarborg, showcasing artworks from Uppsala’s municipal art collection. The project is supported by the Museum Fund.

The exhibition in Sweden features works by Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson, Tinna Gunnarsdóttir, Guðjón Ketilsson, Jónína Guðnadóttir, Rúna, Marinó Thorlacius, Astrid Kruse Jensen, Gurli Elbækgaard, Eiríkur Smith, Guðmundur Thoroddsen, Margrét Sveinsdóttir, Guðný Magnúsdóttir, Hallgerður Hallgrímsdóttir, Edda Jónsdóttir and Kogga.

The exhibition committee comprises Aldís Arnardóttir, Hólmar Hólm, Mikaela Granath and Tove Otterclou.

The exhibition will remain on view through June 8 and we warmly encourage all those who live in the area, or passing through the city, to visit Uppsala Art Museum and experience the show.

See more here on the website of Uppsala Art Museum.

We wish to inform you that the next Midday Concert at Hafnarborg, originally scheduled for Tuesday April 1st, has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

However, we warmly invite you to the last Midday Concert of the season at Hafnarborg, on Tuesday May 6th, when Edda Austmann Harðardóttir will be the guest of Antonía Hevesi.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to welcoming you at a later date.