Photo by: Ángel Valiente

Artica Svalbard’s Artica Writings series returns in 2024 with a new focus on the personal stories of international residents in Svalbard.

Svalbard, unlike many Arctic regions, has no indigenous population. Approximately 65% of the population is Norwegian, while the remaining 35% is made up of residents from over 50 countries. This diverse community has shaped life on the archipelago, with people from around the world coming to live, work, and call the Arctic their home.

Recent changes outlined in the Svalbard white paper highlight the Norwegian state’s efforts to strengthen the community in Longyearbyen by making it more appealing to Norwegian families. These policies include introducing incentives related to housing and services aimed at encouraging more Norwegian residents, particularly families with children, to settle in the archipelago. At the same time, the removal of voting rights for non-Norwegian residents in local elections, unless they have ties to mainland Norway, signals a shift in the government’s approach to governance on Svalbard. These efforts reflect Norway’s aim to reinforce its presence on the islands, which remain under Norwegian sovereignty through the Svalbard Treaty. Signed in 1920, the treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access to economic activities for citizens of other signatory countries, a principle that has significantly shaped Svalbard’s diverse population.

Against this backdrop, the 2024 edition of Artica Writings will focus on the experiences of international residents of Svalbard, highlighting their personal journeys both before and after arriving in the Arctic. This collection will not only examine the challenges they have faced since settling in Svalbard but also the experiences they encountered in their home countries before making the move. While media coverage of Svalbard often emphasises geopolitical issues, this series offers a more intimate perspective by focusing on the personal stories of those who have migrated to the region.

The essays will explore the diverse backgrounds of individuals who have come to Svalbard from various parts of the world. They will delve into their personal histories, the reasons behind their migrations, and how their lives have evolved after integrating into Svalbard’s unique international community. Through interviews, the series will provide insights into migration, focusing on how these individuals' previous experiences shaped their decisions to settle in the Arctic.

The collection will also address the obstacles faced by international residents, including cultural adaptation, community integration, and the resilience required to thrive in a town shaped by Norwegian customs. The broader impact of recent policy changes on Svalbard’s international community will also be explored, as residents adapt to a shifting social and political landscape.

The project will be led by Elida Høeg, a journalist specialising in foreign affairs, climate, and migration for Morgenbladet. Høeg has extensive experience covering topics such as Russian memory policy, Sami rights, and global warming. She previously spent six weeks in Longyearbyen in 2022 as part of an Artica Svalbard residency.

Photography for the project will be provided by Ángel Valiente, an Oslo-based photographer and designer whose work focuses on visual narratives that explore the relationship between identity and landscape.

As with all editions of the Artica Writings essay series, this project will culminate in a book to be published in 2025, marking the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the Svalbard Treaty. This centenary is particularly significant, as the treaty’s principles of shared access and non-discrimination directly relate to the themes explored in the essays, which shed light on the lives of international residents navigating Svalbard’s evolving socio-political landscape.

If you think your story would be of interest and would like to get in touch about being involved in the project, please email us at: info@articasvalbard.no