The company Strandagaldur (“Witchcraft of Strandir”) was awarded with the Eyrarrós award at a special ceremony at the presidential residency at Bessastadir outside Reykjavík yesterday.
Iceland’s first lady Dorrit Moussaieff, the patron of the award, handed over the Eyrarrós statue created by artist Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir, and gave Strandagaldur a grant of ISK 1.5 million (EUR 17,000, USD 23,000). RÚV reports.
Strandagaldur runs several museums in the Strandir area in the Westfjords, including the Museum of Sorcery & Witchcraft in Hólmavík, and an exhibition in Bjarnafjördur fjord called the Sorcerer’s Cottage.
Strandagaldur’s exhibitions offer information about the 17th century in Iceland, folk stories and the cultural history of Strandir, which is closely related to witchcraft.
The selection committee concluded that Strandagaldur had a positive influence on the development of the Strandir area and created job opportunities for the inhabitants.
The Eyrarrós award is an acknowledgement of outstanding cultural development outside the capital area.
Click here to read more about the witchcraft museums in Strandir.
