Biography
Petter Wallenberg is a multi-awarded Swedish artist, director, author, music producer, songwriter and human rights activist. In the last few years he has created a string of musical, visual and performing arts productions that engage with social issues and education through art – all the while making serious waves around the world.
Petter Wallenberg is a multi-awarded Swedish artist, director, author, music producer, songwriter and human rights activist. In the last few years he has created a string of musical, visual and performing arts productions that engage with social issues and education through art – all the while making serious waves around the world.
Petter is the founding director of Bland drakar och dragqueens (Amongst dragons and drag queens), a theatre production where famous drag queens perform stories to children. Since its premiere at the Stockholm Public Library in 2017, the production has gone from strength to strength, continuously toured all over Sweden, won several awards and even made a guest appearance at Brooklyn Library in New York. It has also adapted stories from classical literature into plays that use simple, accessible language to reach new audiences, including people with learning disabilities.
In 2022, Petter wrote and directed an original musical play for children that took the Bland drakar och drag queens concept to the famous Konserthuset Stockholm (Royal Concert Hall of Sweden). With music played by The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra Academy, the play was such a success it came back for extra concerts at the Royal Concert Hall and is currently touring Sweden.
For his work with Bland drakar och dragqueens, Petter was awarded “educator of the year” prize by the City of Stockholm in 2022.
In 2022, Petter wrote and directed an original musical play for children that took the Bland drakar och drag queens concept to the famous Konserthuset Stockholm (Royal Concert Hall of Sweden). With music played by The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra Academy, the play was such a success it came back for extra concerts at the Royal Concert Hall and is currently touring Sweden.
For his work with Bland drakar och dragqueens, Petter was awarded “educator of the year” prize by the City of Stockholm in 2022.
Petter is also the founding director of Rainbow Riots, an international non-profit organisation that uses arts and culture to advocate for human rights for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people everywhere. As the creative director of Rainbow Riots, Petter collaborates with fellow LGBT artists around the world, and has created a string of high profile international projects, several of which have become milestones in the fight for equality. The achievements include:
Using the stage name House of Wallenberg, he has composed and produced two critically acclaimed solo music albums – ‘Legends’ and ‘My House is Your House’ – both released through his own label, Mums Mums Records. His single ”I Believe” featured legendary house pioneer Adeva and reached #22 at Music Week Club Chart. He has collaborated on his albums with Swedish rap legends Neneh Cherry and Leila K, Ari Up of pioneering female punk band The Slits, Octavia St Laurent from legendary New York queer Ballroom scene documentary Paris is burning and many others.
In 2013 Petter created the musical campaign ‘Love Yourself Test Yourself’ to encourage testing for HIV. The campaign went on to win a Clio Award, one of the world’s most recognizable international advertising awards, and resulted in a renewed increase in HIV-testing.
Petter is also an acclaimed author with two published books under his belt: Historien om Leila K (2013) and Bögjävlar (2007). As a writer, editor in chief and art director, he also created and ran his own award winning art magazine ‘Mums’ from 2009 to 2014.
Petter has directed a string of documentary films and music videos as part of his own projects, many of which have been showcased at festivals around the world.
- Uganda’s first LGBT community centre, a safe space for LGBT people in a country where same sex relations are illegal.
- ’Equal Rights’, an official musical campaign for the United Nations Global Goals For Sustainable Development
- ‘Rainbow Riots’ (2017), an album of music featuring queer voices from some of the most dangerous countries in the world for LGBTQ people
- Rainbow Riots India (2019), India’s first Pride anthem, as part of the Indian LGBTQ+ movement that achieved the historic victory of legalizing same sex relations in India
- Rainbow Riots Radio, a web radio series of queer stories from around the world
Using the stage name House of Wallenberg, he has composed and produced two critically acclaimed solo music albums – ‘Legends’ and ‘My House is Your House’ – both released through his own label, Mums Mums Records. His single ”I Believe” featured legendary house pioneer Adeva and reached #22 at Music Week Club Chart. He has collaborated on his albums with Swedish rap legends Neneh Cherry and Leila K, Ari Up of pioneering female punk band The Slits, Octavia St Laurent from legendary New York queer Ballroom scene documentary Paris is burning and many others.
In 2013 Petter created the musical campaign ‘Love Yourself Test Yourself’ to encourage testing for HIV. The campaign went on to win a Clio Award, one of the world’s most recognizable international advertising awards, and resulted in a renewed increase in HIV-testing.
Petter is also an acclaimed author with two published books under his belt: Historien om Leila K (2013) and Bögjävlar (2007). As a writer, editor in chief and art director, he also created and ran his own award winning art magazine ‘Mums’ from 2009 to 2014.
Petter has directed a string of documentary films and music videos as part of his own projects, many of which have been showcased at festivals around the world.
Awards
2022: Årets Folkbildare, Stockholms Stad
2020: Arco Nordica Award from The International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network
2020: Pelle Svanslös Våga Vara Snäll-stipendiet
2017: Stockholms Stad Kulturstipendium
2014: Clio Awards
2012: Sappho in Paradise Award by Tupilak, Paradise Press Publishing’s and ILGCN’s (The International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network).
2008: Nöjesguidens Stockholmspris
2020: Arco Nordica Award from The International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network
2020: Pelle Svanslös Våga Vara Snäll-stipendiet
2017: Stockholms Stad Kulturstipendium
2014: Clio Awards
2012: Sappho in Paradise Award by Tupilak, Paradise Press Publishing’s and ILGCN’s (The International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network).
2008: Nöjesguidens Stockholmspris