The foundation’s purpose
To support, by means of donations, brain and culture research and activities, including related developmental work within the fields of culture, art, music, movement and dance and physical activity, design and architecture. The foundation is an independent organisation, nonaligned to political or religious beliefs.
About Lottie Wiking and the foundation
With her unique smile and contagious personality and her passion for culture, the arts, music, design and architecture, Charlotte “Lottie” Wiking has made a name for herself both internationally and in Sweden.
During 2002-2010 Lottie supervised Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair and introduced the Greenhouse Exhibition amongst other things, which since has become a permanent exhibition for young designers. Lottie also thought of the idea of inviting a guest of honour to every exhibition.
She was later appointed Managing Director of the newly opened Fotografiska museet, which was an enormous success right from the start, and became one of Stockholm’s most frequently visited museums. In 2012 Lottie was selected to launch a new company called Swedish Music Hall of Fame. Within a short period of time, and with limited resources, Lottie soon established Swedish Music Hall of Fame as a respected brand name. The Swedish Music Hall of Fame brand included a prestigious award for the purpose of highlighting and honouring the memory of Swedish popular music. Media interest has increased every year, and the voting for the annual award ceremony generates considerable interest from music lovers of all ages, and from musicians from all music genres. During 2018 Lottie started working on a physical location for the Swedish Music Hall of Fame Museum, within the premises of the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts. This work was in full swing during 2018, in collaboration with the Swedish Performing Arts Agency, and was part of her vision to establish popular music as an integral part of Swedish cultural heritage.
While working at Swedish Music Hall of Fame, Lottie was in contact with Gunnar Bjursell and Fredrik Ullén from the Centre for Culture, Cognition and Health. At the centre, research groups from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm’s University and The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) collaborate with each other on research concerning the effects of cultural activities on the brain and on general health.
Lottie understood the importance that human cultural activity research has within the fields of Psychology and Neuroscience. Music, pictures, dance and other cultural forms present us with a unique opportunity to study the fundamental functions of the brain; functions like learning, creativity, motor functions and the regulation of emotion. Another important aspect of this research is to closely examine how participation in cultural activities can affect both physical well being and health. On an international level, culture and brain research has become one of the most dynamic fields within Neuroscience. This research also has an important practical importance, both for the individual and for the cultural industry. With her athletic background, Lottie was also very interested in how movement and physical activity affects our brain, and therefore our health.
Lottie was afflicted by an arteriovenous malformation, and tragically died of a stroke in November 2018
Before her death Lottie talked with her sister Helena about her wish to raise money for this cause, which is the motivation behind the launch of this foundation for the benefit of brain and culture research in Lottie’s name.
Helena Edberg
Proud sister to Lottie and chairman of the foundation.