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’re so excited that two Scandinavian teams, Sweden and Norway, made it to the World Cup! Sweden has sadly been eliminated, while Norway continues to the quarterfinals. We’ve compiled a small list of places you can watch the game for free with other fans.
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.
History • Meaning • Divination • Everyday Practice
Curious about the ancient symbols of the Norse world? Join us for a full-day introduction to the runes with Behzad “Bear” Bakhshandeh, an initiated Shaman in The Northern Tradition Shamanism Guild and practicing Norse Pagan.
Together you’ll explore:
✨ The history and origins of the Elder Futhark and Anglo Saxon Futhork
✨ The meaning of each rune
✨ Rune divination and interpretation
✨ Connecting with rune spirits
✨ Practical ways to incorporate runes into your daily life
Our Scandinavian café, Kaffestugan, will be open throughout the lunch break with coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and Scandinavian specialties available for purchase. You’re also welcome to bring a bagged lunch—refrigeration is available.
Behzad “Bear” Bakhshandeh is an initiated Shaman in The Northern Shamanism Guild and a Norse Pagan. Through his own practice and his work with Summit Performance Therapy in Auburn, Massachusetts, Bear has spent years leading ceremonies, rituals, and guided journeys while helping others deepen their spiritual practice.
Voulez-vous like to play some bingo? Take a chance on us Thursday, October 1st for a music bingo night featuring the songs of Swedish pop legends ABBA!
Here’s the name of the game: you’ll get a bingo card and fill it with hits such as “Waterloo,” “Dancing Queen,” and “Take A Chance On Me.” Then, we’ll shuffle a playlist, and when you hear one of your songs, mark it on your card. The first person to get five songs across will win a special prize–the winner takes it all!
There will (obviously) be a disco ball, and dancing is encouraged! We welcome you to dress up in all manners of sequins, bellbottoms, and lurex. Drinks and Swedish candy will be available for purchase, and an array of exciting prizes available to win! Don’t let this opportunity go slipping through your fingers…
Thursday, October 1st | 7 – 8:30pm | $20, $10 for members | tickets
In bi- and multilingual homes, parents sometimes struggle with the decision which language(s) they should use with their children. Outside of the family, at least since the 1960s when the first bilingual programs were introduced in schools in Canada, there has been a heated debate in many countries around the world as to the pros and cons offering bilingual education programs.
In this presentation by Dr. Beata Schmid, she will review the recommendations given to parents, caretakers and educators, the history and the various iterations of immersion and other types of programs, as well as the impact that public opinion and referenda have had on multilingual education and upbringing. Participants are welcome to share their own experiences as well.
We will also provide some insights into language acquisition theories and what more recent findings tell us about the positive impact of multilingualism, not just on children.
Dr. Beata Schmid has a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Brown University. As a practicing applied linguist, she studies how people learn and use language(s) in the real world.Now retired, she previously worked as a senior academic officer at EF Education, based in Cambridge. Now she does occasional school compliance visits and enjoys gardening, traveling, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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.
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.
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.
Behzad “Bear” Bakhshandeh is an initiated Shaman in The Northern Shamanism Guild and a Norse Pagan. Through his own practice and his work with Summit Performance Therapy in Auburn, Massachusetts, Bear has spent years leading ceremonies, rituals, and guided journeys while helping others deepen their spiritual practice.
