Harriet Nilsen Cultural Grant Celebration

We are thrilled to announce our four outstanding grant winners, each deserving of recognition for their contributions to the cultural landscape.

In today’s world, culture plays a vital role; it connects us, grounds us, and shapes our identity. Let’s come together to celebrate the richness of our diverse heritage and the impactful work being done in our communities. Join us in honoring these remarkable individuals and their commitment to fostering cultural growth.

Since 1908, the American Scandinavian Society of NY has been promoting and celebrating the cultural and intellectual ties between the people of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the US. Providing Cultural Grants is one way to support our mission to strive to enhance awareness and appreciation of Scandinavian culture through supporting the arts. Cultural Grants are awarded annually to both performing and non-performing artists of all ages who are actively engaged in creative work focused on exploring, interpreting, and promoting Scandinavian Culture.

Meet the 2025 Grant Recipients:

Julia Korpinen (Finland), Acting, Screenwriting, Producing | Julia Korpinen is a Finnish actress, screenwriter, and producer currently pursuing an MFA in Film (Creative Producing) at Columbia University in New York. Korpinen starred in the lead role of Conflict (2024), one of the largest television productions in Nordic history. Her work focuses on female-driven narratives and international storytelling, combining creative ambition with a practical understanding of production, financing, and audience strategy… [Continue reading… ]

Elle Kunnos de Voss (Sweden), Designer, Producer, Filmmaker | Elle Kunnos de Voss, born in Sweden, is an award winning designer, producer and filmmaker with an M.A. from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Design. The work of Kunnos is rooted in a background of visual art, design and architecture resulting in a keen awareness of narrative tied to set, space, music and movement… [Continue reading… ]

Maija Mäkinen (Finland), Literary Arts / Writer | Hailing from a family of migrants, Finnish-born Maija Mäkinen grew up nestled next to the Soviet Union and moved to the US when she was young. Her debut story collection, THE GHOSTS OF OTHER IMMIGRANTS, was published in 2023 by New American Press… [Continue reading… ]

Laura Splan (USA), Vocalist and Songwriter | Laura Splan is a New York City based artist working at the intersections of Science, Technology, and Culture. Her research-based studio practice and interdisciplinary collaborations culminate in multimedia exhibitions and events that cultivate intuitive comprehension of the interconnectedness of cultural and biological systems… [Continue reading… ]