Landsmót to set a new standard in sustainable event planning

Photo caption (from left):
Thelma Marín Jónsdóttir, Kjartan Bollason, Rasmus Jensen, Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir, Sigríður Rósa Bjarnadóttir, Sören Stochholm, Þórgnýr Dýrfjörð, Karl Steinar Valsson and Áskell Heiðar Ásgeirsson.

Students in Event Management at Hólar University recently hosted an engaging symposium at Hólar in Hjaltadal, focusing on the impact of events on communities and key aspects of event planning.

Topics discussed included environmental and safety considerations at events, as well as the growing importance of events and social gatherings in a world where loneliness and social isolation are on the rise. Particular attention was given to Landsmót and cultural festivals in rural areas.

Among the speakers at the symposium were Karl Steinar Guðnason from the Office of the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, Þórdís Anna Gylfadóttir representing Landsmót, Þórhildur Tinna Sigurðardóttir from Fjarðabyggð, and Þórgnýr Dýrfjörð from the Municipality of Akureyri.

A key focus of the symposium was sustainability in event planning—an area that has received limited attention in Iceland to date. Sigríður Rósa Bjarnadóttir, a Master’s student at Hólar University, together with Danish experts Rasmus Jensen and Sören Stochholm, introduced attendees to green solutions and a holistic approach to sustainability at events. The three will collaborate with the organizers of Landsmót, which will be held at Hólar next summer, with the aim of making it the first event in Iceland to be planned with sustainability as a guiding principle.

Work on the event’s sustainability strategy is already underway, with a strong emphasis on waste sorting, responsible use of water and electricity, and environmentally friendly solutions.

The symposium, held last week, was organized from start to finish by students in the one-year diploma program in Event Management. The course is taught by Áskell Heiðar Ásgeirsson, who also serves as the Managing Director of Landsmót at Hólar.