Press release —
Sámi artist network Dáiddadállu is the recipient of the MUNCH Award 2026
MUNCH is delighted to announce that the Sámi artist network Dáiddadállu is the third recipients of the MUNCH Award, which is awarded by the museum in Oslo to honour artistic freedom of expression, which is under increasing political and social pressure.
Dáiddadállu consists of 22 artist partners and an administration, representing art forms such as visual arts, film, dance, theatre, choreography, TV-production, performing arts, design, authorship, music and joik.
The network was founded in 2014 by artist and author Máret Ánne Sara and choreographer and filmmaker Elle Sofe Sara, both from Guovdageaidnu in Sápmi. Dáiddadállu’s members live and work across the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish sides of Sápmi in a unique and high-quality interdisciplinary Sámi arts community.
Sámi epistemology and knowledge systems form the foundation of Dáiddadállu’s work, with a particular emphasis on holistic thinking, openness, solidarity, and sustainability for nature, people, animals, culture, and livelihoods. The network is committed to the development and preservation of a healthy and vibrant Sápmi, striving to foster fair, lasting, and sustainable development through all of its activities, which are carried out in Sápmi and in other regions of the world.
Recent projects include artist Máret Ánne Sara's Hyundai Commission at Tate Modern, Goavve-Geabbil (2025), which argued that energy is a sacred life-force rooted in ancestral knowledge and interconnection, rather than a resource to be exploited; and choreographer Elle Sofe Sara's dance production Láhppon/Lost(2025), a performance which reflects on the Kautokeino Rebellion of 1852 –a violent religious and political uprising by the Sámi population against the authorities’ official assimilation policy, Norwegianization. Also in 2025, the EU-funded research project Birgejupmi Through Art & Duodji, executed with partners from Sápmi, Kalaallit Nunaat, and Canada, explored how art and duodji (traditional Sámi handicrafts) function not only as expressions, but as methods for mobilising knowledge and strengthening Indigenous perspectives. An understanding of Birgejupmi as a lived practice, a knowledge system, and a way of being in relation to land, sea, and community, forms the foundation of this work.
The MUNCH Award is presented annually in the spirit of Edvard Munch (1863–1944), who was a champion of artistic freedom, experimentation and individual liberation, using the museum's international reach to highlight important issues that artists have raised through their work and participation in public discourse.
Dáiddadállu commented: We have worked hard for many years to build Dáiddadállu into what it is today. It has been about creating a platform and an infrastructure where Sámi artists can develop, work, collaborate, and engage with the world on their own terms. That is why this award means so much to us. It is a recognition of the work put in over many years, of the people who have built Dáiddadállu, and of the importance of having strong Sámi art institutions. At the same time, the award gives us the inspiration and energy to continue developing Dáiddadállu further,” – Managing Director Dine Arnannguaq Fenger Lynge
Former MUNCH director Tone Hansen commented: Sámi culture is an invaluable part of the cultural heritage of Norway, Sápmi and the wider world. Dáiddadállu has demonstrated how artistic communities can protect cultural knowledge, create new possibilities for future generations and bring Indigenous perspectives into international art discourse. Their work reminds us that cultural heritage is not something static, but something that is continually reimagined through artistic practice. Through the MUNCH Award, we honour Dáiddadállu’s extraordinary contribution to artistic freedom and to the preservation and advancement of Sámi cultural heritage for future generations."
The MUNCH Award jury notes: “The MUNCH Award Jury would like to honour Dáiddadállu for their significant work in supporting Indigenous artists, and for actively inserting Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into established art worlds. Dáiddadállu operates as a network focused on creating and building infrastructures, which have been lacking for their practices. With an emphasis on solidarity and sustainability, they nurture the next generation at the same time as they honour their elders. Whilst fundamentally committed to their communities, they also challenge Sámi culture from within, always aiming to highlight and confront the status quo.”
Dáiddadállu were selected for the MUNCH Award by a jury of visual artists, art critics, curators, institutional leaders and academics appointed for three iterations of the MUNCH Award.
The jury is comprised of members Wanda Nanibush, Dr. Yvette Mutumba and Cosmin Costinaş alongside director of MUNCH Tone Hansen and Tominga O’Donnell, MUNCH’s Head of Contemporary Art.
About Dáiddadállu
Dáiddadállu is established by artist/writer Máret Ánne Sara and choreographer/filmmaker Elle Sofe Sara. Both grew up and live in Guovdageaidnu, and have worked actively with art for many years. Dáiddadállu is the result of their desire to form a stronger art environment locally and in Sápmi. Guovdageaidnu municipality provided initial financial support for the pilot project, and Dáiddadállu became a reality in 2014.
About The MUNCH Award
The MUNCH Award is a mark of recognition that is conferred on a contemporary visual artist or artist group. The Award is given out on an annual basis, and for the first time in 2024, consisting of a monetary prize of NOK 300 000 payable to the recipient of the Award. The MUNCH Award statutes are available upon request. The 2024 recipient was Brazilian artist and educator Rosana Paulino, and the 2025 recipient was Palestinian artist and activist Samia Halaby.
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MUNCH is home to the world's largest collection of works by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. 22 October 2021, MUNCH will open in a brand new building on Oslo’s waterfront. The bespoke structure, designed by estudio Herreros, will house more than 26,000 works that Edvard Munch bequeathed to the City of Oslo. The museum also manages collections donated by Rolf Stenersen, Amaldus Nielsen and Ludvig Ravensberg.
The new museum will trace the artist’s profound influence both on modern art and on artists through to the present day. Alongside displays of iconic artworks from the renowned permanent collection, temporary exhibitions will show Edvard Munch’s lasting influence in his own contemporary society, as well as on today’s generation of artists.
Visitors will experience the highlights of Edvard Munch’s oeuvre, in parallel with a wide-ranging programme of cultural events and experiences for visitors of all ages. From its location in Bjørvika, with unparalleled views of the Oslo Fjord, the museum will offer an extensive program of art and cultural experiences across thirteen floors.
