Christel Durand, the founder of FIKA(S), discovers the music of Swedish artist Kristofer Åström.
Christel discovers and is passionate about
all the arts of Scandinavian and Nordic
countries: music, cinema, literature,
design ...
Christel Durand and friends, all volunteers, decide to develop the first
Scandinavian and Nordic festival in Montréal. This festival will be called
FIKA(S) in reference to the Swedish word fika, which designates the coffee
break or the sharing of a special moment. In this spirit, FIKA(S) will be
an intimate festival, on a human scale, and will uphold the values of the
Nordic countries: eco-responsibility, accessibility, equality, sharing
Several partners join the project (Nordic Embassies in Ottawa, Montréal
cultural organizations and Nordic granting agencies)
1st edition of the multidisciplinary FIKA(S) festival / cinema, gastronomy, theatre, conference and a special Swedish musical set with, among the guests, Kristofer Åström, whose music is ultimately at the origin of this.
2nd edition of FIKA(S) and first FIKA(S) Tour: a Québec tour of emerging
Scandinavian artists.
Multi-award winning Icelandic writer Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir and Michelin starred
chef Magnus Nilsson are featured on the program.
FIKA(S) will now be biennial and will collaborate in the musical programming of the Printemps Nordique at Place des Arts, which will be presented as OFF FIKA(S).
3rd edition of FIKA(S): inauguration of the “Nordic Remakes” evening with
Québec singer KROY. FIKA(S)’ Papas - Swedish Dads exhibition by Swedish
director Johan Bävman brings together 32,243 spectators and will be on
display at Place des Arts (Montréal), Laval University (Quebec) and the Assemblée nationale du Québec.
The FIKA(S)' 4th edition, scheduled for March 2022 has been postponed from October 18 to 23, 2022. The Festival has been presented as part of NORDIC BRIDGES 2022, in collaboration with Harbourfront Center, Toronto.
The 5th edition of the festival took place from March 9 to 15, 2024. During this edition, FIKA(S) inaugurated La Maison Hygge de FIKA(S): a headquarters offering free activities for everyone.
The 6th edition of the FIKA(S) Festival took place from March 7 to 13, 2025. On the program: The New Swedish Wave (cinema), Claire Morrison (QC) & Lay Low (Iceland) in a duo performance, Icelandic writers Jón Kalman Stefánsson & Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir, the Collectif Place Courage, Florence-Léa Siry’s pop-up café, the Swedish Choir of Montreal, the Montreal Kantele Ensemble, and much more...
