The idea for NAVA came in 2016 when [Rasmus Stride](<https://www.instagram.com/rasmus.stride/>) invited [Jonas Johansson](jonasjohansson.se) to perform visuals at the Roskilde Festival Countdown stage. During the day of the performance, all visual artists had time to meet and exchange - An experience so simple yet rewarding, *it had to continue.*
A few months earlier [Owen Hindley](<https://www.owenhindley.co.uk/>) and [Atli Bollason](<https://atlibollason.com/>), invited artists for work on [Harpa](<https://harpa.is/>), the Reykjavik Concert Hall. During this time, Jonas and Owen worked at the same studio, and together with Atli they produced a series of light animation that were presented during Sónar Reykjavik.
In 2017, [Katrín Hauksdottir](<https://www.katrinhauksdottir.com/>) joined the team and continued (as NAVA) to produce experiences for Harpa ([Light Organ](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cSNRHJcLMU>), [Tiny/Massive](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWJMtTXJBVE>)), [Sónar](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTS57t5bLME>) and Roskilde; Primarily through open calls pairing musicians and visual artists. *A formula which seemed equally original as obvious.*
In 2019 Sónar Rekjavik came to an end and Iceland ceased to be the common ground, even so, NAVA left with a bang with [Skaðablót](<https://youtu.be/ggpqBvYmc5Q>) and continue to produce work throughout the nordics; Most recently in 2022 with [Nordic Lights](<https://nordiclights.live>), a pan-nordic collaboration between [Aavistus](<https://www.aavistusfestival.fi/>), [Nonagon](<https://nonagonfestival.se/>) and [Monument](<https://mnmt.no/>).
In 2023 NAVA facilitated and led a network trip to Berlin with leads from Aavistus and Nonagon. Days of sharing challenges, learnings and dreams of the future, with evenings and nights at [Transmediale](<https://transmediale.de/>) & [CTM](<https://www.ctm-festival.de/>) festival sites.
Looking towards the future, NAVA is evolving into a network creating purposeful projects and gatherings for AV festivals and initiatives, including both the arctic and the baltic into their community.
