Ben Hamilton
January 4th, 2023

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A Space Saga can still be seen at DAC (photo: SAGA Space Architects)

A record 226,000 guests visited Danish Architecture Center in 2022 – some 12 percent more than its previous record year in 2019, and 60 percent more than last year.

The year began with a 17-day shutdown due to COVID-19, but that didn’t stop DAC from reeling them in thanks to exhibitions such as ‘A Space Saga’ (see photo).

Public awareness growing fast
Since inhabiting its new home in the BLOX building on the harbour waterfront near Langebro in 2018, visitors numbers have risen four-fold and the public’s awareness of DAC has grown from 54 to 73 percent.

And things will only get better in 2023, for which Copenhagen has been named World Capital of Architecture. 

Queen removes patronage of Hans Christian Andersen award
The Danish chapter of the International Council for Books for Young People (IBBY), which biennially awards prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Awards to authors and illustrators of children’s books, has decided not to officially oppose the appointment of a Russian as president of the council. Nevertheless, Queen Margrethe has withdrawn her patronship, which she had held since 1992. Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Baltic countries and several others have all signed a letter protesting against the election of Anastasia Arkhipova in September. She will preside over the jury that chooses the 2024 winners. Since its creation, Denmark has won three prizes: author Cecil Bødker in 1976 and illustrators Ib Spang Olsen and Svend Otto S in 1972 and 1978.

Tributes pouring in for feminist icon
In the wake of the death of ‘Matador’ creator Lise Nørgaard on January 1, the Danish media has been awash with tributes, with many choosing to salute the way she championed women’s rights. According to MediaCatch, female characters tend to hold the screen for 44.5 percent of the 24-episode show’s running time, compared to the industry average of 30 percent. MediaCatch used AI, algorithms and machine learning to analyse every episode. “A lot of what she writes is about herself, and about the expectations that have been placed on you as a woman, when you have dreams and expectations that don’t quite match what society expects of you,” historian Cecilie Nielsen told DR. “She becomes a feminist icon through her work, because she breaks so many glass ceilings and becomes the first female career journalist – someone who everyone knows.”

From Matador’s mor to Margrethe II, it’s hard work being a historian
Historian Cecilie Nielsen (see story above) was also in demand following the Queen’s Speech on December 31, which the monarch traditionally gives at 18:00 ahead of all the festivities starting. Queen Margrethe made a point of mentioning the “difficulties” she has encountered in her relationship with her son Prince Joachim after she chose in the autumn to withdraw the HRH titles from all four of his children. It became official on January 1. ”I was surprised at how specific she was,” Nielsen told DR. “She specifically mentioned the crisis with Joachim and Marie and laid it out completely openly. Not in general phrases and terms as I had expected.” 

One of Italy’s top DJ is in the house!
Electro house pioneer DJ Benny Benassi will be performing a one-off show at Stagebox on Refshalevej in Copenhagen on March 11. Visit this link for tickets to see the Italian maestro.

A chilly tale for your long winter evenings? Playmate has the perfect package
Playmate Theatre Malmö recently became the latest Anglophone theatre group in the region to produce an audio short play – the first of a series. Voiced by Jakob Hulten and Vanessa Poole, the eight-minute chilly thriller ‘10 Abbey Court’ is the work of playwright Cheryl Barrett. Tantalisingly, it concerns “what happens when an appointment with the estate agent takes an unexpected turn”. Click on this link to listen.