LIVE in the Library Garden – Bella Leonette, Christine Kærulv, Stine Stengade and Bente Halkier
Wonderful musicians, poets, actors and speakers create a poetic respite under the open late summer sky in Copenhagen's probably most beautiful and most secret garden.
Royal Danish Library's successful summer stage, LIVE in the Library Garden, returns with plenty of music, poetry and performance.
Over four late summer Thursdays in August and September, you can experience poetry, music and talks under the open sky in the historic setting between Christiansborg Palace and the old library building. A range of artists, actors, poets and researchers will take part.
The theme of the year – Trust
The theme of this year’s four late summer afternoons is trust. Trust is a prerequisite for human communities, both in our close relationships and at a societal level.
But what about trust today? Trust in the future, in the news, in authorities and politicians, in science, in love, and in ourselves. We often describe our welfare society as a high-trust society – but does that still hold true, or is it something of the past?
It is often said that once trust is lost, it cannot be regained. In an increasingly divided world, trust is one of the most precious things we have. So how do you build and nurture trust?
Benches will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, but you are very welcome to bring a blanket or a folding chair. Refreshments can be purchased from the café’s pop-up bar throughout the event. Our DJ will be playing laid-back tunes before and after the programme, so stay and enjoy the late summer atmosphere.Once again this year, LIVE in the Library Garden is presented in collaboration with Copenhagen University Library, bringing together research from the University of Copenhagen with art, poetry and music in order to highlight the societal value of research.
You can read poems from previous editions of LIVE in the Library Garden here
What to Expect
Experience musician Bella Leonette, poetry by Frank Jæger performed by actress Stine Stengade, the world premiere of a new lyrical work written especially for LIVE in the Library Garden by poet Christine Kærulv, and a keynote address by researcher Bente Halkier.
Read more about the participants here.
Participants
Christine Kærulv
Christine Kærulv comes from Bjerringbro and grew up on a large conventional pig farm. She graduated from the Norwegian creative writing programme Forfatterstudiet i Bø and made her literary debut in 2025 with the poetry collection "Motherlode", for which she received the Bogforum Debut Prize.
Bella Leonette
With her genre-defying blend of soul, jazz and R&B, Bella Leonette has quickly established herself as one of Sweden’s most exciting emerging artists. Most recently, she received Nöjesguiden’s Malmö Prize, and her single "OÄNDLIGA I VÄRLDEN" has been described as “the most beautiful song in Swedish this autumn”.
Stine Stengade
Stine Stengade graduated from the Danish National School of Performing Arts in 1998 and has appeared in a wide range of theatre productions, films and television series. In 2002, she received the Svend Award, a Robert Award and a Bodil Award for Best Actress for her leading role in the film "En kærlighedshistorie" (A Love Story).
Bente Halkier
Bente Halkier is Professor of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen. Her research focuses on consumption, food practices, everyday life and sustainable behaviour, particularly how social norms and daily routines shape people's actions. She works primarily with qualitative methods and has also researched climate-related behaviour and consumer practices in relation to the green transition. Halkier additionally serves as Vice Chair of the Danish Council on Climate Change.
Part of LIVE in the Library Garden
Photo: Malthe Ivarsson
The event is part of LIVE in the Library Garden.
Experience music, statements and new poetry in the historic breathing space behind the library.
LIVE in the Library Garden – Duncan Wiese, Kira Skov, Andreas Jebro and David Dreyer Lassen
Wonderful musicians, poets, actors and speakers create a poetic respite under the open late summer sky in Copenhagen's probably most beautiful and most secret garden.
LIVE in the Library Garden – Bukuru, Caroline Albertine Minor, Thomas Levin and Stine Lomborg
Wonderful musicians, poets, actors and speakers create a poetic respite under the open late summer sky in Copenhagen's probably most beautiful and most secret garden.
LIVE in the Library Garden – Yör, Nana Fatou, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen and Anja C. Andersen
Wonderful musicians, poets, actors and speakers create a poetic respite under the open late summer sky in Copenhagen's probably most beautiful and most secret garden.
