Explore Denmark’s unique art scene, distinctive architecture, and incredible cuisine with Art Encounter’s Joanna Pinsky and Sarah Packer this September! Denmark, a country believing strongly in the arts, has produced a number of major international artists, including Per Kirkeby, Danh Vo, Olafur Eliasson, Asger Jorn, and the conceptual duo Elmgreen and Dragset. Throughout the country, beautiful architecture abounds, from traditional houses painted in vivid colors to an array of imaginatively-designed contemporary art museums.

We'll begin our exploration of this small, beautiful nation in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city and home to a major university. Surrounding the top of its art museum is a stunning light installation by Olafur Eliasson. With Aarhus as our hub, we’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery while traveling by bus to Silkeborg, Herning, and Aalborg: fascinating towns with museums devoted to important modern and contemporary artwork. We’ll also have the chance to meet local artists in their private studios and visit a 1500-year-old Viking site.

Next, we’re on to Copenhagen, a charming and compact city that’s home to three different art gallery districts and an experimental art center in a 13th century former church. We’ll meet artists and designers at work in studio buildings, then venture to an internationally-renowned contemporary art collection at the Louisiana Museum. Throughout it all, we’ll enjoy Denmark’s incredible food scene. Copenhagen is the center of the New Nordic Cuisine Movement, which emphasizes fresh vegetables and local ingredients. It’s also home to 14 Michelin Star restaurants–and Aarhus is home to four!

COST DETAILS

Price: $6250 per person double occupancy; single room supplement: $950

A $900 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot.

Cost includes entry fees, lodging, guided tours, program transportation, all breakfasts, three lunches, five dinners, wine receptions, and a canal tour.

Cost does not include airfare, transfers to/from airport, trip insurance, porter tips, alcohol, or incidental room charges.

You must be a current member of Art Encounter to participate.

Please do NOT purchase airfare until notified that the trip is confirmed by Art Encounter.

Email sarah@artencounter.org to register or learn more.

ITINERARY

Itinerary is subject to change.

Day 1: Wednesday, Sept. 3
Our trip begins in Aarhus, Copenhagen’s second largest city and home to a major university, which will serve as our hub to visit beautiful museums with interesting collections in nearby towns. We’ll meet in the lobby of our ideally-located hotel, the Radisson RED Aarhus, at 3:00 pm for introductions and a trip overview. Then we’ll walk down the block to the ARoS Art Museum to see some installations including Your Rainbow Panorama by Danish and Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, an extraordinary 150-meter work in glass, before our Welcome Dinner.

Day 2: Thursday, Sept. 4
On our second day, we’ll board our bus for the Jorn Museum in Silkeborg, where we’ll see paintings, lithographs, and etchings by Scandinavian and Dutch artist Asger Jorn, a co-founder of the CoBrA group who experimented with spontaneous and semi-figurative representation in the 20th century. After lunch, we will tour the Silkeborg Art Museum’s sculpture garden, which includes 45 sculptures. Then we’ll head back to Aarhus to relax or explore independently before dinner.

Day 3: Friday, Sept. 5
On Friday, we’ll visit the town of Herning to see a stunning museum designed by American architect Steven Holl. The HEART Herning Museum of Contemporary Art was founded by Aage Damgaard (1917-1991), a shirt manufacturer who hired artists to create works in the factory. The collection includes many avant-garde works by Danish artists. After lunch, we’ll visit a local art studio.

Day 4: Saturday, Sept. 6
We’ll spend our fourth day exploring Aalborg, a lovely town with lively architecture. We’ll start at the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art designed by Finnish architects Elissa and Alvar Aalto and Danish architect Jean-Jacques Baruël to see work by 20thcentury international and Danish artists. After lunch, we’ll drive by unique and inventive buildings on our way to the Viking Museum for a tour with a local guide.

Day 5: Sunday, Sept. 7
Bags packed and ready to go, we’ll board the bus and head to Copenhagen, crossing the Bay of Aarhus on a ferry. After checking into the lovely Hotel Kong Arthur, we’ll take another water journey to see the sites on a canal tour, then spend time relaxing before walking to dinner.

Day 6: Monday, Sept. 8
We’ll head north to see a major collection of modern and contemporary art at the Louisiana Museum, situated on the Øresund Sound in Humlebæk. In addition to their collection, we’ll focus on their special exhibition of works by Marisol Escobar, the Venezuelan-American artist who stood as one of the most radical and visionary artists of the 20th century. We’ll return to our hotel to relax before a private gallery reception.

Day 7: Tuesday, Sept. 9
On Tuesday, we’ll explore artists’ studios and Copenhagen design studios. After lunch, we’ll enjoy nature on a visit to the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens before relaxing and enjoying the evening independently.

Day 8: Wednesday, Sept. 10
Our day will begin at a unique Copenhagen art center focusing on installation in a former church. Then, we’ll visit some thought-provoking exhibitions in one of the city’s three gallery districts. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing or exploring on your own before we meet for our Farewell Dinner.

Day 9: Thursday, Sept. 11
Our adventure concludes—farewell to Denmark!

Activity Level: Participants should be comfortable independently walking and standing for an hour at a time, climbing and descending stairs, and walking on uneven surfaces. 

Email sarah@artencounter.org to learn more.