LungA Art Festival

LungA was started in 2000 by Björt Sigfinnsdóttir, a 15 year old resident of Seyðisfjörður, and her friends, to provide art and cultural activities that were felt to be otherwise difficult to access for young people in the town.^[3] Helena Aðalsteinsdóttir and Þórhildur Tinna Sigurðardóttir took over as directors of the festival from Sigfinnsdóttir in 2022.^[4]

By 2024 it was felt that the costs of running the festival was no longer manageable given the limited funding available, and it was announced that the 2024 iteration of the festival would be its last.^[5][6]

Over the years, some of the artists and instructors who have been part of LungA Art Festival have included: Bashar Murad, Hjaltalín, Tara Mobee, Reykjavík!,^[7] Reykjavíkurdætur, Sykur,^[8] Daði Freyr, Aron Can, JFDR,^[9] Svala Björgvins, Sóley, Princess Nokia, Ragnar Kjartansson, Henrik Vibskov, Goddur, Andri Snær Magnason, Curver, Hugleikur Dagsson,^[10] Huerco S,^[11] CGFC, Bjössi of Mínus, DJ Gísli Galdur of Trabant, and Biggi of Maus.^[12] In July 2023 Pussy Riot performed at LungA Festival for their first performance in Iceland after band members Maria Alyokhina and Lucy Shtein were granted Icelandic citizenship earlier that year, having fled Russia during the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine.^[13][14]

LungA was a part of Keychange, a global network and movement working towards gender equality in the music industry.^[15]