Björk is the 2019 Artist in Residence of Hafnarfjörður.

The artist Björk
Jakobsdóttir was today awarded the title of Artist in Residence of Hafnarfjörður 2019. Björk
has over the years undertaken a variety of roles and has worked, among other things, as
actress, director, producer, playwright and stand-up comedian. Mayor
Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, on behalf of the City of Hafnarfjörður, presented the award at a ceremony.
A ceremony at Hafnarborg today on the last day of winter. The ceremony is part of the festival.
Bright Days, which is taking place in Hafnarfjörður until Sunday.

This year's Artist of the Year has made a great contribution to
to enhance the cultural life in Hafnarfjörður and worked, among other things, with young people on
projects that have attracted a great deal of attention. „The Heart Beats in Hafnarfjörður“ said
Björk was moved and proud as she accepted the award. She thanked
To the people of Hafnarfjörður for the nomination and to their fellow travellers for all the adventures on
a career spanning almost 30 years, and not least to those young people who today hold,
in her opinion, the junior national team in the performing arts. „It boosts the self-esteem of all teenagers to have a group of great young people."
artists who are leading the future of the Icelandic theatre and music scene. These
Young people are likely to take the lead in social and creative activities.
These are the kids who work with schools to entertain children and teenagers.
by creating music, videos, entertainment programmes and plays. It is important
for children and young people to have strong and positive role models“ says Björk
proud.

Björk has, ever since graduating from the Iceland Academy of the Arts
In 1993, worked on theatre matters in Iceland with headquarters in Hafnarfjörður.
Immediately after graduating, she, along with others, founded the Hafnarfjörður Theatre in
the old cold store on the North Bank. A dynamic theatre was run there which specialised
himself in new Icelandic works such as Himnaríki by Árni Ibsen, which caused a great stir
attention in its time. In the years after 2005, following performances of the blockbuster
Cellophane, in which Björk reflected on the life of the modern woman; she worked mostly abroad.
to direct Sellófon in various countries in Europe. In 2010, Björk founded,
along with others, the Gaflar Theatre, which is now based on Viking Street in
Hafnarfjörður. There, for the last 10 years, she has directed a number of new Icelandic
plays. Her work with young people has attracted well-deserved attention and made
it is causing the nation's teenagers to flock to the Gaflar Theatre in
in the thousands. Björk has also been the vitamin shot in the revival of a flourishing theatre life at Flensborgarskólinn.
in parallel with offering the secondary classes in Hafnarfjörður's primary schools a high-quality
and strong teaching in the creative arts. Mamma Klick by Gunnar Helgason in
Bjarkar's play is scheduled for a run at the Gaflar Theatre this autumn.
shows such as The Teenager, The Girls, The Oven, Stefan Rises and
Blakkát is very popular.

„It is well suited to leading
bring together art and spring by announcing the 2019 Artist in Residence of Hafnarfjörður in
a day on the last day of winter, as optimism, growth and vitality accompany both art
and in the spring. On behalf of the people of Hafnarfjörður, I thank Björk for her selfless and wonderful
I am working and hope that the title of Artist of the Year for Hafnarfjörður in 2019 is an encouragement.
for continued good work for Hafnarfjörður and especially for the young people
of ours. It is important for every municipality to have people like Björk,
individuals who, through selfless work and out of passion, contribute to
The cultural life may flourish and water the shoots of growth, thereby contributing to a better
Society and a brighter future“ says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, mayor of
in his speech at the presentation of the award. When selecting the town artist
Hafnarfjörður calls for nominations from residents and annually a large number are received.
a nomination that clearly demonstrates the dynamism and growth prevailing in Hafnarfjörður
society.

Those who have received
The recipients of the title 'Artist in Residence of Hafnarfjörður' over the years are:

• 2005 Sigrún
  Guðjónsdóttir (Rúna), visual artist
• 2006 Elín
  Ósk Óskarsdóttir, singer
• 2007 Jónína
  Guðnadóttir, visual artist
• 2008 Sigurður
  Sigurjónsson, actor
• 2009 Jóhanna
  Guðrún Jónsdóttir, singer
• Not
  were appointed as artists in residence between 2010 and 2013
• 2014 Andrés
  Thor Gunnlaugsson, musician
• Not
  were appointed as town artists in 2015 and 2016
• 2017 Steingrímur
  Eyfjörð, artist
• 2018 Björgvin
  Halldórsson, musician