Now Online: My Arctic Home: Growing Up and Speaking Out in Svalbard
The third lecture in the Lantern Lectures series is now available to watch
In this Lantern Lecture, Embla Abild, leader of Longyearbyen Youth Council reflects on what it means to grow up in the world’s northernmost community — and how life in Svalbard has shaped her values and political engagement. Raised in Longyearbyen, Embla describes a place defined by stark contrasts: a harsh Arctic environment marked by darkness, avalanche risk, and polar bears, alongside a deeply rooted culture of trust, volunteerism, and mutual care.
Svalbard, she explains, is a society where people stand up for one another across cultural, social, and national boundaries. Yet it is also a place facing growing political pressures. Embla addresses recent changes, including the removal of voting rights for a significant portion of the population and increased emphasis on a stronger Norwegian presence, developments that have left many residents feeling unheard and excluded from local decision-making.
Drawing on her own experiences, Embla argues for the importance of protecting the values and social fabric that define life in Svalbard: an open, inclusive, and vibrant community worth defending. Her talk challenges simplified narratives of Svalbard as merely a remote Arctic outpost, reminding us that it is, first and foremost, a living society and a place people call home.
Recorded live at Artica Svalbard on 16 December 2025
Talk presented in Norwegian (English subtitles)
Watch the full talk here:
About the Lantern Lectures
Presented by Artica Svalbard in collaboration with Svalbard Museum, the Lantern Lectures series revives the spirit of 19th-century magic lantern lectures — intimate community gatherings that combined storytelling, images, and knowledge-sharing.
Taking place during the dark season, these five talks offer space for reflection on what matters most in the Arctic today — from climate change and cultural heritage to youth voices and polar science.
Upcoming events continue through December and January and are free to attend, see our events page if you would like to attend in person.
All lectures take place from 18:00–19:00 and will be published online after each event.
