In the spring of 2021, Dáiddadállu in Kautokeino ended up in a housing crisis. After the rent almost doubled overnight, it became out of the question to stay in the tired, small premises that the artists have rented since the establishment in 2014. The next problem was that there were no other suitable rental premises in Kautokeino, and the few premises that could had potential, required refurbishment and repairs for several hundreds of thousands of kroner. Dáiddadállu therefore sat around the table to find an alternative solution. Innovative thinking and the courage to bet resulted in the artists now opening their doors again, and this time in their own, brand new premises, right in the center of Kautokeino.

- There was no other or better alternative than building it yourself. We did not find premises that were sufficient for our needs and the premises that perhaps had potential were not in good enough condition according to the Working Environment Act. We would have had to make considerable building improvements, splurge on it ourselves or pay it off with expensive rental prices without any guarantee of reasonable long-term rent. The overall poor conditions and prospects meant that we had to think outside the box and that we had to dare to bet, says Dáiddadállu chairman and founder Máret Anne Sara.

Private investors and a lot of support

The idea of building yourself is tempting, but without fixed funding for operations, you can't think too big, and no matter the size of a new building, capital, initiative, creativity and innovation are required. - We are artists, so creativity and visions are in our blood, Sara laughs about the plans that were partially ready until they were finally released at the Venice Biennale in 2022. Dáiddadállu was of course present at the opening of the Venice Biennale in April 2022 where founder and chairman Maret Ane Sara exhibited at the historic Sami Pavilion, and also later in the autumn when Dáiddadállu produced the opening program for Árran 360. And it was in Venice that they met a private investor who would be happy to support Dáiddadállu and the artists' building plans.

- We met the wonderfully committed Reynir Indahl, who is a well-known investor but who is also passionate about sápmi and art. We invited a meeting and from then on the ball began to roll quickly. There are so many people who want us to manage and succeed, and that is very motivating, says Sara.

The Culture Council, Samfunnsløftet - Sparebank 1, the Sami Parliament and Kautokeino municipality are also helping to support the building. In addition, the founder Máret Anne Sara herself has borrowed money for land acquisition so that Dáiddadállu finally gets a new home and a stable address until further notice.

Sápmi is important for the investor

Summa Equity investor Reynir Indahl is himself Sami and cares deeply about the Sami. Indahl did not need a long period of reflection. When the meeting was over, Dáiddadállu had investors and capital.

- For me, my Sami background is important, and Sami art is important as a mediator of Sami culture and philosophy. Sami art is also important to remind us that the world needs indigenous knowledge - and thinking in relation to nature and resource management, says Indahl.

Temporary solution

The new house is still only a temporary solution. Dáiddadállu is rapidly developing and both Dáiddadállu and artists in the network work at a high professional and international level, and need larger premises to meet their professional level of production. Now they are waiting for the new Sami high school and the reindeer herding school to be completed, so that Dáiddadállu together with the Sami Parliament and Statsbygg can begin an assessment and mapping of the possibilities for Dáiddadállu to take over the old school, which has both offices, a large gymnasium and suitable workshops to Dáiddadállus and artists' production, operation and exhibitions.

- This new house is temporary, because we need much larger premises to be able to produce and present the art at the professional and international level where we actually operate. Our ambition is to be able to embrace the active, professional artists all over Sápmi and we want to help develop and make Sami art visible on our own terms. Our ambition is also to strengthen artists, our internal and external network and work to ensure that Sami art reaches the world. At the same time, we want to strengthen and professionalize artist businesses and thereby strengthen the artist economy and profitability in the industry, says Sara.