She transforms the streets of Stockholm into an art scene

Behind the scenes of Nobel Week Lights with Lara Szabo Greisman. See the film:

I think that public space is going to be one of the most vital arenas for contemporary art now and in the future, as it democratises the entire art scene.

These ideas are also at the heart of Nobel Week Lights, the light festival that Lara co-founded with Alexandra Manson and Annika Levin in 2020. Every December, it brightens up Stockholm during the darkest time of the year.

Wanted to learn more about the craft

Lara’s journey to Sweden started years before the festival came to life. Originally from Canada, she was already working as a curator but wanted to deepen her knowledge of the craft. That curiosity led her to apply for the International Master’s Programme in Curating Art at Stockholm University.

“I was looking for education in Northern Europe and came across this programme. It was really an amazing education. A beautiful balance between the academic side and the hands-on. In curating, that is so important,” she explains.

Her studies combined philosophy, the history of ideas, and production courses. A big part of the programme also took place outside the classroom, with visits to art institutions and museums across Stockholm.

“In such a visual and production-oriented field, those on-site experiences are invaluable. I really appreciated that.”

“The programme opened up an entire world for me”

The programme didn’t just shape Lara academically. It also helped her build a strong network. She is still close with many of her classmates, most of whom now work in Sweden’s culture sector.

“The programme opened up an entire world for me. Coming from another country, it was a crash course in the Swedish art world. It really prepared me for the future and broadened my whole perspective.”

Art in public space can transform the everyday.

That foundation later made it possible for her to take on large-scale projects like Nobel Week Lights, an event that turns Stockholm into a giant exhibition space instead of limiting art to the four walls of a gallery.

“Art in public space can transform the everyday. One moment you’re on your daily route, the next you discover something that changes how you see the city. It brings culture to new audiences in a way that really matters.”

Creating a festival for everyone

The idea for Nobel Week Lights was born in early 2020, just before the pandemic struck. For Lara and her co-founders, the project suddenly felt more urgent than ever.

“We felt it was essential. People needed safe ways to experience culture, and many have shared how much the festival meant during the pandemic. For some, it was even a way to celebrate birthdays and meet friends outside, surrounded by art.”

Since then, the festival has grown into a very popular and annual event that attracts thousands of visitors each year.

“This is what art in public space can do: it reaches and attracts a very broad audience. Because public space is something that belongs to us all”, Lara says.

Inspired by Nobel

Every artwork in Nobel Week Lights is inspired by a Nobel Prize laureate and their discoveries. The festival is a way of bringing art and science together, showing how creativity and research can enrich each other.

“Art and science have always been closely connected. This festival is a chance to make science visible and accessible through art and to spark conversations around these discoveries,” Lara explains.

Nobel Week Lights is presented by Nobel Prize Museum and is created by Troika: Annika Levin, Alexandra Manson and Lara Szabo Greisman. This year’s edition will focus on the theme of peace.

Don’t hold yourself back

So, what are Lara’s tips for today’s students?

“Give yourself permission to be curious. If you are interested in something or someone, just reach out, don’t hold yourself back. There’s a Swedish expression I love: frågan är fri (‘the question is free’).”

For Lara, that curiosity led from classrooms at Stockholm University to lighting up the streets of Stockholm – and opening up art for everyone.