The Swedish Charitable Society, founded in 1912, opened the Swedish Home in 1917 on our current campus in West Newton. In 1914, the centennial of Norway’s constitution, local Norwegians formed the Norwegian Old People’s Home and Charitable Association and opened their own facility in Roslindale ten years later. Years later the organizations would join in 1999 to create the Scandinavian Charitable Society, the umbrella organization for both the Scandinavian Living Center and the Scandinavian Cultural Center.
Come join us at our centennial gala as we celebrate the rich history of the Scandinavian Living Center and the rich history of Scandinavian Americans in Massachusetts. Purchase your tickets here by September 1.
Finnish cellist Jussi Makkonen and pianist Nazig Azezian are specialized in Jean Sibelius’ music and over the past few years they have reached hundreds of thousands of people with their concerts, records and music videos. Makkonen and Azezian have received numerous music awards and in August 2017 their Sibelius record was the first Finnish chamber music record to sell platinum.
Set in the frozen landscape of northern Finland, this raucous booze, guns, dead reindeer, topless women-filled road film story begins when Inari, the pretty but frustrated young wife of slacker Janne, demands that he get a cable box for their home. This propels Janne with his two equally lazy friends, out of the house. But buying the box proves to be no easy task. All the while the police are breathing down their necks.
96 minutes. In Finnish with English subtitles.
Free; donations accepted.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
After their public showing movies in our film series become part of the Scandinavian Library’s collection of DVDs available for borrowing by Library members.
The Newton Art Association, founded in 1949, is an organization of over 200 active artists and art enthusiasts, representing all branches of the visual arts, from drawing to sculpture in the Newton area. We welcome NAA to the Nordic Hall this month for a new member exhibit.
Opening reception | Saturday, June 3rd | 3-4:30 pm
In the next installment of our Nordic Kids series puppeteer, Margaret Moody, joins us with a tale of Trolls in a Tree. The trolls want to take good care of the fairies’ garden, but they also want to make space for their toaster, television and chairs. Can the trolls learn to go green? The Trolls and the Tree is about taking care of our environment and how people (and trolls!) can learn to care about trees. The show will be followed by a puppet-making activity. Children make paper puppets of creatures and things that would benefit or interfere with the harmony of a fairy garden. Saturday, June 10th | noon admission $8 | $4 for SCC Family Members
At this unique celebration, adults and children come together to picnic in the grass, decorate the midsummer pole, make flower wreaths, play traditional games and dance to authentic Swedish fiddle music.
In keeping with Swedish tradition, we ask that guests bring their own food and drinks. We will have some classic Swedish pastries and drinks available for all, however, we encourage you to bring your own picnic baskets.
Deer. In the wilds of of Finland, in the myths of Valhalla, the reindeer in Lapland. The history of the animal is deep in Nordic history. Visit a collection of vibrant deer by Newton Art Association member Ann Marie O’Dowd in her exhibit My Deer.
On display through April.
ABOUT ANN MARIE: Ann Marie O’Dowd is an experienced artist living in the Greater Boston community who specializes in bright acrylic depictions of people, animals, and still lives on canvas. After graduating from Mass Art with a degree in photography, Ann Marie took a hiatus from her artistic career in order to raise her three daughters. After returning to art, Ann Marie shifted her focus from black and white manual photography to acrylic painting. Working from a large supply of black and white photographs from her past, Ann Marie began creating her own colors and patterns to fill these vintage photographs with new life. Over 15 years have passed since Ann Marie began painting, and she is now a well-established artist with exhibits and clients both local and abroad. From billy goats to chihuahua’s, children to adults, Ann Marie brings life to her paintings through unique patterns and a bold and lively palette, creating a telling portrait in every work of art. Ann Marie describes how the physical qualities of both paint, and painting, make the experience and outcome of her work so gratifying. When asked how she came to create her recognizable style Ann Marie states her motto: “it’s only paint!”. A saying which serves as a daily reminder that it is OK to be daring, try new things, and make mistakes with paint. more
Join Fjällräven, Malden Reads, and the The Scandinavian Cultural Centerfor an evening on Scandinavian Culture! We will be discussing the book, “A Man Called Ove” by Swedish Author Fredrik Backman. Learn more about the Scandinavian culture referenced in this New York Times Best Seller! Drinks, in-store promotions, and more!
Thursday, May 25th | 7-9pm | Fjällräven, 63 Church St, Cambridge, MA
FREE with RSVP
This visually breathtaking film tells the story of a young army officer who gives up everything – his family, career, social standing – to embark on a passionate affair with a beautiful circus performer. Despite their hopeless love, they live a life of lighthearted carelessness and do not realize they are heading down an irreversible path to tragedy. Gorgeous cinematography and music by Mozart and Vivaldi add to the charm of Bo Widerberg’s exquisite 1967 film.
91 minutes. In Swedish and Danish with English subtitles.
Free; donations accepted.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
After their public showing movies in our film series become part of the Scandinavian Library’s collection of DVDs available for borrowing by Library members.
In the next installment of our Nordic Kids series puppeteer, 
ABOUT ANN MARIE: Ann Marie O’Dowd is an experienced artist living in the Greater Boston community who specializes in bright acrylic depictions of people, animals, and still lives on canvas. After graduating from Mass Art with a degree in photography, Ann Marie took a hiatus from her artistic career in order to raise her three daughters. After returning to art, Ann Marie shifted her focus from black and white manual photography to acrylic painting. Working from a large supply of black and white photographs from her past, Ann Marie began creating her own colors and patterns to fill these vintage photographs with new life. Over 15 years have passed since Ann Marie began painting, and she is now a well-established artist with exhibits and clients both local and abroad. From billy goats to chihuahua’s, children to adults, Ann Marie brings life to her paintings through unique patterns and a bold and lively palette, creating a telling portrait in every work of art. Ann Marie describes how the physical qualities of both paint, and painting, make the experience and outcome of her work so gratifying. When asked how she came to create her recognizable style Ann Marie states her motto: “it’s only paint!”. A saying which serves as a daily reminder that it is OK to be daring, try new things, and make mistakes with paint. 