Noorderlicht

Founded in 1990, Noorderlicht is a platform dedicated to making visual culture accessible to everyone. Working with photography and lens-based media, we create space for dialogue, reflection, and encounters that inspire new ways of thinking. Alongside the biennial Noorderlicht Biennale, we organize exhibitions, run an extensive education program, and operate our own publishing house and print lab.

Vision: A Lens for Social Change
Noorderlicht is an inclusive meeting place where urgent issues such as the climate crisis, colonial legacies, and technological transformation are explored through visual culture. We encourage critical thinking and imagination, inviting artists to push the boundaries of photography and lens-based media. By placing images at the center, we foster meaningful exchanges between artists and audiences, allowing room for depth, reflection, and shared understanding.
As a commissioning organization, Noorderlicht supports both emerging and established artists. We stimulate innovation through commissions that explore new technologies and media, including video, AI, and VR. We believe art should not only be visually compelling, but also socially relevant. Our program highlights work that reflects the diversity and complexity of human and more-than-human life.

Mission: Artistic Innovation and Social Engagement
Noorderlicht provides a platform for socially engaged artists working with lens-based media. Our mission is to make art accessible to people from diverse backgrounds and to contribute to public conversations on pressing social and ecological questions. Through art, we aim to deepen insight and engagement with the world around us.
We acknowledge the environmental impact of digital technologies and strive to minimize it. Our projects seek collaboration between humans, nature, and society, taking into account the interests of all forms of life. Sustainability is a guiding principle across our activities.

Working with a wide range of partners, we reach broad and varied audiences while adhering to the Fair Practice Code, the Governance Code Culture, and the Code Diversity & Inclusion. Our education program spans all levels of learning and encourages critical thinking and collaboration. Noorderlicht is committed to a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future, welcoming new audiences while remaining connected to those who have grown with us!