Join the new Finnish Book Club for our inaugural book club gathering on May 9th as we dive into the classic The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. Set against a serene island backdrop, this beautiful story invites reflection, connection, and conversation.
All are welcome — we’d love to have you! RSVPs are helpful, but walk-ins are also welcome. If you can, try to RSVP by May 5th using this link.
“An elderly artist and her six-year-old granddaughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. Gradually, the two learn to adjust to each other’s fears, whims and yearnings for independence, and a fierce yet understated love emerges—one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the island itself, with its mossy rocks, windswept firs and unpredictable seas.
Full of brusque humour and wisdom, The Summer Book is a profoundly life-affirming story. Tove Jansson captured much of her own experience and spirit in the book, which was her favourite of the novels she wrote for adults. This new edition sees the return of a European literary gem—fresh, authentic and deeply humane.” – Goodreads summary
SWEA Boston 40 years – A Tapestry of Friendship and Cultural Exchange
Since 1985, SWEA Boston, a vibrant non-profit organization, has been the heartbeat of Swedish-American friendship and cultural preservation in the New England region.
This special photographic tribute celebrates four decades of unity, shared experiences, and the unyielding spirit of the Swedish women who have woven this tapestry of camaraderie and community.
This timeline of SWEA Boston’s history shows the faces of those who have shaped and been shaped by the organization and captures the essence of what SWEA Boston represents: the enduring warmth of Swedish “fika,” the vibrant hues of midsummer celebrations, the unmistakable joy of Christmas celebration along with the many other significant traditions and the pride in sharing them all.
We invite you to join us in this celebration of friendship, tradition, and the unyielding spirit that has carried SWEA Boston through four decades of growth and achievement.
Join us for the opening reception. Light refreshments served.
SWEA Boston is part of a larger network, SWEA International, with 70 chapters in more than 30 countries and a total membership of around 6 000 Swedish-speaking women. SWEA stands for Swedish Women’s Educational Association. It is a global non-profit organization that aims to promote Swedish culture, traditions, and language among Swedish-speaking women living outside of Sweden.
Celebrate Kalevala Day with an immersive afternoon exploring Finnish culture, mythology, and creativity with Finlandia Foundation Boston.
This engaging, hands-on workshop introduces participants to the rich origin stories of the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic, through storytelling, cultural context, and creative making. Led by Finnish-American artist Kristine Holohan, the program blends folklore, design, and traditional printmaking techniques in an accessible and playful way.
Participants will learn about the cultural significance of the Kalevala while creating their own printed designs using provided tools and materials. No prior art or printmaking experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to explore.
We are thrilled to host a screening of Kings of Kubb, featuring a personalized recorded introduction from directors Steve Dayton and B.J. Hollars. If you’re already a kubb pro, we know you’ll want to see this exciting documentary and join us for some games of kubb (also called “viking chess”) on the lawn afterwards. If you’re confused and wondering what kubb is, come find out! The Swedish lawn game has taken hold over the small city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin–with a population of just 70,000, it hosts the largest weekly kubb league in the world, with 144 teams competing. Filmmakers Dayton and Hollars illuminate the formation of the U.S. National Kubb Championship and what the sport means to its players, four in particular who are vying for the championship.
“It’s not quite bowling. It’s not quite bags. And it’s far more than “throwing sticks at blocks.” When the Nordic lawn game arrived in the United States, American players quickly discovered that—even with skill, strategy, and mental toughness—kubb can break your heart… or heal it.
KINGS OF KUBB follows four elite competitors, each willing to risk everything for a shot at the U.S. National Kubb Championship, held in the Kubb Capital of North America (Eau Claire, WI). As the stakes rise on the pitch, real-world pressures beyond it reveal a powerful story of legacy, rivalry, and the fragile line between friendship and ambition. What does it cost to be the best? And how high a price will one pay to be crowned the King of Kubb?”
Saturday, June 6th | 12pm | $10, $5 for members | tickets
EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission. To reserve free tickets, email caroline@scandicenter.org
Excited to spend a morning with your current craft project,
Or need inspiration for a new one?
If the answer to any of the above is YES, head to the Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library for our Nordic Knit & Craft Gathering! This event is hosted in our Nordic Hall on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10am to noon. Bring some supplies, whether it’s something you’ve been working on or something brand new, and be ready to show off your project to other curious crafters! Feel free to take a break and head to the Kaffestugan for a coffee, pastry or sandwich to enjoy while you work and chat. This event is open to all, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist–you might learn something new!
Saturday, June 13th | 10am-12pm | free with registration | donations to support free programming are welcome
Repeats on the 2nd Saturday every month through June
*This will be our last craft gathering of the season!
As June settles in and the city air turns thick with heat and possibility, join us for a screening of Summer with Monika, Ingmar Bergman’s sensual, restless portrait of young love and fleeting freedom.
Released in 1953 and considered groundbreaking in its frank depiction of sexuality and desire, Summer with Monika follows two young lovers who escape Stockholm for an idyllic summer by the sea, chasing a life untethered from responsibility, routine, and expectation. What begins as sun-soaked romance slowly shifts into something more raw and aching as summer fades and reality presses in.
Dreamy, rebellious, and deeply atmospheric, the film captures the intoxicating feeling of youth suspended in time — cigarette smoke curling through warm air, long Nordic evenings, the shimmer of water, and the quiet sadness that often lingers beneath beautiful moments.
A landmark of Swedish cinema and an early glimpse of Bergman’s emotional brilliance, Summer with Monika remains as provocative, intimate, and haunting today as when it first premiered.
97 minutes | Swedish with English subtitles
Saturday, June 13th | 1pm | $10*, $5 for members | tickets
*Free admission for anyone who qualifies for WIC, EBT, or ConnectorCare. Email caroline@scandicenter.org to reserve a ticket free of charge or request tickets in person at the event.
🌻Join us at the SCC&L for our outdoor Midsummer festival!🌻
Celebrate the summer solstice adorned in a flower crown and dancing around the maypole, or sit back and enjoy your picnic lunch while listening to the live music. There’s something for everyone, and all ages are welcome.
Come and see the work of emerging local artists in our Nordic Hall through May and June. Each year, the Newton Art Association welcomes submissions from members who have joined the association within the past year for their New Members Show. There is a wide variety of work from a diverse array of artists using different mediums, exploring different subject matter, and using different techniques. Visit and see what your talented neighbors have been working on!
Show on display through May and June | visit on Saturdays during Kaffestugan/library hours, or e-mail Kerry kerry@scandicenter.org for more viewing times
The Newton Art Association seeks to encourage the appreciation and expression of fine arts to our membership and the Newton community. We are an organization of over 200 active artists and art enthusiasts, representing all branches of the visual arts, from drawing to sculpture. The majority of members live in Newton, nearby cities, and elsewhere in New England. The Newton Art Association was founded in 1949 by the late James King Bonnar and a small group of artists who felt that artists needed the support of each other to share ideas, techniques and opportunities to paint together.
The Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library is excited to be hosting a theater workshop this summer! The program will run from July 13th – 31st for kids ages 8-12 who are interested in acting and theater production. We will be putting on a production of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s classic play Peer Gynt, adapted for community theater by Barry Kornhauser. The workshop will meet every weekday from 9am to 4pm and we will cast the play, build the sets, develop acting skills, design the costumes, and rehearse our lines to ready for the performance on July 31st for family and friends.
Does this sound like something your child would be interested in? Learn more by clicking the links in the blue boxes above, then sign up by filling out this form. Once you have submitted the form, we will contact you to continue enrollment.
Email caroline@scandicenter.org if you have more questions or would like to set up a call to discuss if this is a good fit for your child.
Presented as June’s Library film choice: Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
Odd Fish (Icelandic: Ljósvíkingar) is a 2024 Icelandic drama film directed and written by Snævar Sölvi Sölvason. When two childhood friends get an unexpected opportunity to keep their fish restaurant open all year round, one of them comes out of the closet as a trans woman, putting a strain on their friendship and they see their lives in a new light.
Saturday June 14th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members | Tickets
In Icelandic with English subtitles | Drama | 104 min.
“An elderly artist and her six-year-old granddaughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. Gradually, the two learn to adjust to each other’s fears, whims and yearnings for independence, and a fierce yet understated love emerges—one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the island itself, with its mossy rocks, windswept firs and unpredictable seas.
The Newton Art Association seeks to encourage the appreciation and expression of fine arts to our membership and the Newton community. We are an organization of over 200 active artists and art enthusiasts, representing all branches of the visual arts, from drawing to sculpture. The majority of members live in Newton, nearby cities, and elsewhere in New England. The Newton Art Association was founded in 1949 by the late James King Bonnar and a small group of artists who felt that artists needed the support of each other to share ideas, techniques and opportunities to paint together.
