For more complete information, please choose an Embassy, Mission or Consulate above. All branches of arts have flourished during the past century in Iceland. In the last few decades, the Icelandic film industry has had great success.
Literature has a tradition going back to the middle ages.
Laxness won the Nobel prize for literature in 1955. Painting started in earnest about 100 years ago and many Icelandic works are exhibited in galleries around the world. The National Theatre, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Icelandic Dance Company and the Opera House all contribute to a rich cultural life. In popular music, Bj rk has had international success. The National Museum of Iceland is the chief body for preservation of antiquities in the country, and by far the oldest.