ERROR: gender is an interdisciplinary Nordic art project exploring bodies, gender, sexuality, identity and representation through performance, dance, music, visual art, workshops and conversation.

 

At the centre of the project is the Hub – a flexible artistic space where audiences are invited to experience art, meet the artists, take part in conversations or simply spend time. Rather than separating performances from the encounters around them, ERROR creates a space where art and dialogue can exist side by side.

About the project

ERROR premiered at the Arctic Arts Festival in Harstad, Northern Norway, in 2021. In 2025, the project expanded into a Nordic collaboration with artists from Norway, Finland and Iceland, with two artistic exchanges:

August 28th - August 30th 2025:

Muhos Lifestyle Festival, Muhos, Finland 

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November 12th - November 16th 2025:
Reykjavik Dance Festival, Reykjavik, Iceland

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Across the two exchanges, ERROR brought together 20 artists working across different disciplines and artistic practices. More than 40 events were presented over eight performance days, reaching 732 audience members.

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The project asks how art can create openings in conversations about subjects that can be personal, political or difficult to talk about. Through dance, performance, drag, music, sound, photography, literature, workshops and moderated conversations, the artists approach these questions from very different perspectives.

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Some works invite audiences to watch, while others ask them to move, draw, dance, listen, share experiences or join a conversation. Audiences can encounter a two-hour durational dance performance, a drag king teaching Meänkieli and movement, children dancing their way through a picture book, people with intellectual disabilities discussing love and sexuality, or parents and babies simply being given a space to rest and spend time together.

The Hub

The physical and social centre of ERROR is the Hub, originally developed as a dome-shaped structure constructed by Maxim Narbrough in collaboration with scenographer Ingvill Fossheim in Finland.

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The Hub can become a stage, exhibition space, workshop room, meeting place or a space for intimate conversations. Its form changes according to the artists, audiences and surroundings.

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In Muhos, the Hub was placed prominently in public space and became a visible part of the town during the festival. In Reykjavík, it was transformed and integrated into Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhúsið as part of Reykjavík Dance Festival. These very different settings became an important part of the artistic research: how can the same space respond to different communities, institutions, audiences and artistic practices?

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Link to performance ”Bodies meet matter”

Link to video about ”Story Circle”  

Link to workshop performance ”Linedance With Me”

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Art, audiences and conversations:

Audience interaction is central to ERROR. When the Hub is open, artists are present to welcome visitors, talk about the works and take part in conversations. Some encounters are planned, while others emerge spontaneously through the art. 

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The programme has included durational performances, concerts, drag, dance, performative readings, photography, sound and video works, workshops, silent discos and moderated discussions. Works have explored subjects ranging from queer identity, menstruation and pleasure to disability, parenthood, cultural heritage, language, intimacy and the ways bodies are seen and understood.

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The exchanges also allowed us to work with very different audiences. In Muhos, ERROR collaborated with local schools and met young people through performances, workshops and discussions. In Reykjavík, we developed activities for younger children and families, including Mieko Dances with Mariko Miyata-Jancey and a local kindergarten, and Parents’ Party – Bring Your Baby. The event My True Love created a space where people with intellectual disabilities could speak about relationships, bodies, love and sexuality.

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The encounters have not always been uncomplicated. In Muhos, the project also generated public debate around queer representation, young people, art and censorship. This became an important part of the experience of ERROR:gender: exploring what happens when artistic perspectives on gender, sexuality and bodies are placed visibly in public space, where disagreement and conversation can exist alongside curiosity and participation.

From ERROR:gender to Fluid Moves:

Working with children and young people through ERROR led to a new question: what would happen if some of the project's artistic methods were developed specifically for a school context?

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In 2025, Mari Bø and Alma Bø Getachew began exploring this through DKS-LAB at Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter in Svolvær. This became Fluid Moves, a new performance installation developed for young audiences and Den kulturelle skolesekken (The Cultural Schoolbag).

Fluid Moves carries elements of ERROR into a new format, combining installation, silent-disco headphones, movement, facts and reflection. The project builds on what we learned from meeting young audiences: that art can offer a playful and open way into conversations about bodies, identity, difference and belonging.

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Fluid Moves is will be touring schools in Norway from 2027.

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Thank you to our wonderful supporters, we could not have done it without you:

- 2025 Davvi - Centre for Performing Arts - producer support

- 2025 Fond for utøvende kunstnere

- 2024 - 2025 Nordic Culture Point

- 2023- 2025 Nordic Culture Fund

- 2023 - 2025 Norsk-Finsk Kulturfond

- 2022 - 2025 Norsk Kulturråd, Formidling/gjestespill
- 2021 Residency at Dansearena Nord with project funding
- 2021 Residency at Figurteatret i Nordland with project funding
- 2020 KORO

- 2020 Norsk Kulturråd, Fri Scenekunst Dans 

- 2020 Fond for lyd og bilde 

- 2020 Norsk Kulturråd, Norsk-Islandsk Kultursamarbeid 
- Norsk Kulturråd - Kunstnerstipend for yngre nyetablerte kunstnere

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Has played: 

- 2025 Lókal International Theater Festival, Reykjavik, Iceland
- 2025 Muhos Lifestyle Festival, Finland
- 2021 Arctic Arts festival, Harstad, Norway

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Contributing artists 2021:

Mari Bø, Íris Stéfanía Skúladóttír, Eva Svaneblom, Josefin Winther, Ingvill Fossheim, Jóhanna Vala Höskuldsdóttir, Sigríður Eir Zophoníasardóttir, Alma Bø, Åsne Storli, Karianne Andreassen, Rósa María Óskarsdóttir, Mali Galaaen Røsseth

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