REYKJAVIK.- Opening on May 15 and continuing through June 5, the 2008 Reykjavík Arts Festival was marked by an innovative series of performances, exhibition openings, public installations, receptions, and other events in Reykjavík, and around the country. In addition to the excitement of the opening weekend, the Festival is also pleased to announce that Hrefna Haraldsdóttir, former Executive Director of the Festival, will assume the role of Artistic Director, following the departure of Thorunn Sigurdardóttir who has held the position for the past eight years.

Among the guests to attend various Festival events were the President of Iceland, Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson; Minister of Culture and Education, Ms. Thorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir; Mayor of Reykjavík, Dr. Ólafur F. Magnússon; Björk; Sigur Rós; Amiina; Björn Roth; Sean Kelly; and Iceland’s representatives at the Venice Biennale in 2003 and 2009 respectively, Ruri and Ragnar Kjartansson.

One of the Festival’s highlights was Experiment Marathon Reykjavík at the Reykjavík Art Museum, Hafnarhúsið, which was curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director of Exhibitions and Programs and Director of International Projects, Serpentine Gallery, London, in collaboration with artist Ólafur Elíasson. The Marathon featured an exhibition that will be on view through August 24 along with a program of performances and experiments during the opening weekend.

Among the presenters were artists Marina Abramović, Jonas Mekas, Fia Backström, Carolee Schneeman, Pedro Reyes, Carlos Cruz-Diez, and Jimmie Durham; scientists Israel Rosenfield and Luc Steels; architects Neri Oxman and David Adjaye; musician, Brian Eno; cultural impresario John Brockman; psychosexual therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer; and arts patron Francesca von Habsburg.

The next Festival, under the direction of Hrefna Haraldsdóttir, will be held the last two weeks of May 2009. Hrefna Haraldsdóttir has been Executive Director of the Reykjavík Arts Festival for the past seven years. Before that, she was Director of the Cultural Night in Reykjavík and ran two independent theatres. Hrefna studied and taught literature and she has made several television programs on writers and literature.

A complete program of events — including concerts, theater, dance, and opera performances for 2008 — is available on the Festival’s website, www.artfest.is. Most exhibitions will be on view through July/August.