Discovering Faroe Islands Art & Culture: Top 5 Gems

The Faroe Islands, they’re really something, aren’t they? It’s almost hard to believe how much these little, craggy rocks sticking up from the North Atlantic Ocean actually contain. I mean, you might come for the dramatic landscapes, the puffins, or just to say you’ve visited somewhere truly unique, and, still, the local art and the unique culture, it sort of sneaks up on you, really grabbing your attention. I found myself totally captured by this unique cultural blend. So, if you are thinking of making a trip, you should be excited!

Listasavn Føroya – The National Art Museum

First on the list, that would be Listasavn Føroya, so, that’s like the big deal art museum on the islands. And believe me, for such a small place, you know, the museum is more or less filled with surprises. It holds work from really recognized Faroese artists from different periods, giving visitors like your a solid peek at the creative vibe of the Faroes, through different periods. It is definitely more then just a collection of pictures on walls; it shows so much of the spirit and the way of life that is a little unique to these windy isles. As a matter of fact, I remember gazing at the works of Sámal Mikines, the “father of Faroese painting”, so, his depictions of local life, the harshness but beauty of the land, that really gave me goosebumps.

Read our full review: Listasavn Foroya Museum Full Review and Details

Going there is basically more like you’re going on an adventure into the culture there. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Faroe Islands National Museum Tickets)

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands

The Nordic House, this one is cool too, like a hub, and not just for Faroese art, so, it also brings in creativity from all over the Nordic region. As a matter of fact, I recall they have a schedule packed full of music events, theater shows, also exhibits. In short, there’s more or less always something happening. When you go there, like yourself, you might find an interesting local craftsman showing unique designs, you could be enjoying live music by bands that have travelled pretty far to get there, so you’re getting involved and soaking up art and the culture in real-time. It’s a lively venue, that you should enjoy, a focal point where local imagination sort of meets the pulse of wider Scandinavia.

Read our full review: Nordic House Faroe Islands Full Review and Details

Going to the Nordic house is going to give you insight into how connected the Faroe Islands, also other parts of Nordic region stay tied closely together. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Events at Nordic House)

Ólavsøka Festival

If you can make it, like yourself, the Ólavsøka Festival is like the biggest party in the Faroes, sort of. Celebrated every year on July 29th, this, it’s basically a celebration of Faroese culture, like a full-on immersion experience. Just imagine, all the locals decked out in classic national costume, chain dancing, and boats sailing around, it’s rather a scene to behold. And too it’s almost all happening right in Tórshavn, that is the capital, making it very approachable. If you want to connect to what being Faroese really feels, is that it is hard to beat taking the atmosphere during Ólavsøka; so the blend of history, national pride, and all the community spirit, you will remember the whole experience forever.

Read our full review: Olavsoka Festival Full Review and Details

Try to get yourself invited to someone’s house during the festival to taste traditional food, it will complete the feeling. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Ólavsøka Festival Dates)

Village Churches: Architectural and Artistic Treasures

When I was driving through, that’s on those islands there, some of the smaller village churches, it too’s almost something like a total surprise. And really, there is one in almost every tiny little hamlet. Most of them feature simplistic architecture, with, more or less interiors with locally crafted wooden things, and each village church seems more personal and unique then all the others. Take for example the church at Kirkjubøur, it’s really ancient and it contains all those really cool stories linked, it’s a super compelling story. Visiting these sacred little spaces it more or less gives one a calm feeling and a stronger link with all that land and everyone there. Plus, the photos are basically just amazing.

Read our full review: Village Churches Faroe Islands Full Review and Details

These old places hold a lot of stories inside them, which sort of provide very neat perspectives regarding the history, life on these islands, but do consider dress codes required when you go into them. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Guided Church Tours)

The Guðrið Poulsen Ceramics Workshop

Finally, a bit unlike some others on the list, Guðrið Poulsen’s ceramics shop; you could see, there, that she creates stuff with ceramics and her workshop too shows a great deal of how Faroese art blends seamlessly along with its surroundings, as a matter of fact. Actually, a visit there shows that, from bowls that are sort of colored to match sea glass to cool art reflecting what one can see everywhere of that landscape that, everything is closely connected along with those Faroese themes. Her pieces make a perfect gift and her workshop, so too, you know, it almost showcases perfectly, what is unique regarding making, doing, and producing a little artistic thing upon these beautiful far-flung rocks.

Read our full review: Gudrid Poulsen Ceramics Workshop Full Review and Details

Buy some pieces for a little something to help recall all the gorgeous vistas observed. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Guðrið Poulsen Ceramics)