We used to call ourselves OPERANORD, but as our activities spread, we decided to shorten our name to broaden our practice. This is why we now call ourselves OPE-N. OPE-N is an OPE-N platform for OPE-N processes with OPE-N formats. It was founded by Louise Beck as a cross-disciplinary and collaborative performing arts platform that focuses on how to OPE–N frames of minds. OPE-N initiates all sorts of artistic exchanges, such as symposiums, workshops and artistic research programs, which explore how art can OPE-N for new ways of looking at the world – and vice versa: how the surrounding society can stimulate artistic expressions and bring art to life. The aim is to develop artistic projects that celebrate diversity and salute both our common ground and unique differences. With all our initiatives, we wish to create a foundation for new artistic collaborations, that can lead to either smaller or larger scale opera productions, which will be produced by OPE-N.

Our first production in 1996 was the opera Guðrún´s 4th Song by the Icelandic composer Haukur Tómasson. For this piece he was later awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize, the greatest honour awarded to a Nordic composer.