The National Museum of Iceland and Strætó have joined forces to celebrate the milestone of Icelandic swimming culture being inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As a living tradition, swimming culture has now received international recognition as a distinctive element of Icelandic society and culture.
To mark the occasion, the Swimming Bus has been launched and will operate on Route 1 over the coming weeks. The bus will be on display at the National Museum at the start of Safnanótt (Museum Night), where a pool-themed celebration will take place in the museum at 5:00 PM. Addresses will be given by Harpa Þórsdóttir, Director General of the National Museum of Iceland; Logi Einarsson, Minister of Culture; and Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, former President of Iceland and a long-time supporter of Icelandic swimming culture.
The programme will also include short presentations related to the nation’s swimming culture, a swimming pool cinema in collaboration with the National Film Archive of Iceland, and performances by Linus Orri Gunnarsson Cederborg, representative of old traditions in Icelandic folk poetry, and Erpur Eyvindarson, representative of new nuances. Together, they will entertain guests with a timeless blend of rímur (narrative poetry) and modern flair.
