Feb 14, 2022
The Cultural Personality of Week is Iina Palokangas, a singer-songwriter, music teacher, and cultural producer from Oulu. Singer-songwriter music has been close to Iina’s heart through her own music but also through the Taustatarinaklubi (‘Backstory Club’), a series of singer-songwriter events she organises. Iina returned to Oulu almost six years ago after studying music in Helsinki. “Originally, I came back because I was accepted for the music education programme at the university, but I have since found several more reasons to stay,” says Iina.
Oulu, together with 32 municipalities in Northern Finland, is the European Capital of Culture in 2026! How do you feel about that?
Oulu has always delivered high-quality culture and cultural education. The Capital of Culture title is a welcome recognition of that.
What does our leading theme, Cultural Climate Change, mean to you?
It means the acknowledgement of the power of the community. I hope that the Capital of Culture year will build new bridges between artists, organisers, audiences, and communities.
How do you find Oulu at this present time?
Oulu is all about peace and authenticity – the best possible environment for creative work. To me personally, to be physically slightly remote from the heavy-weight cultural scene means more time and space to create. However, this also means that in order to create collegial communities for musicians, we have to make a conscious and consistent effort to facilitate them. I hope that the Cultural Climate Change will help artists find each other.
How do you spend your spare time?
In the last few years, I’ve been focusing on my first album. During the pandemic in particular, I have found myself starved of all things cultural. At the moment I’m particularly interested in theatre and visual arts and the dialogue between these art forms and my music.
What will Oulu look and feel like in 2026?How do you think the Capital of Culture title will impact Northern Finland?
I hope that Oulu looks like, feels like – and is – a culture capital of equality, diversity, and inclusivity.
I’m really excited to see how the year is championed by the schools of the region. I believe that the year will also form a foundation for future Northern Finnish cultural practitioners to celebrate their identity and use their talent and opportunities to build careers in Northern Finland.
Photo: Moona Mikkola
Feb 14, 2022
Our Cultural Personality of the Week is Kristian Heberg, a 33-year-old professional choir director from Oulu. Heberg conducts the Cassiopeia choir, Oulu Chamber Choir, and Oulun Laulu. In addition, he works as a freelance pianist and teacher across Finland. Kristian is also the artistic director of the Vaasa Choir Festival and is actively involved in several choral associations including Sulasol, the Finnish Mixed Choir Association, the Finnish Male Choir Association, and the Finnish Choral Conductors’ Association as a board and committee member.
In the exceptional conditions of the past two years, he has also specialised in online training and music instruction as well as the tools and programmes suitable for remote music and choir instruction. Kristian has studied the field widely and is currently a student of music education at the University of Oulu where he has also served as an untenured teacher.
Oulu, together with 32 Northern Finnish municipalities, is the 2026 European Capital of Culture!How do you feel about that?
Great! I’m really looking forward to everything that this title will bring. I don’t look at the opportunity only from the audience’s perspective but also from that of music hobbyists and what this means for the resources available to them, and of course what this means for professional artists. All levels of activity and all sectors of art will probably benefit considerably from the Capital of Culture year.
What does our leading theme, Cultural Climate Change, mean to you?
Since we’re living in these exceptional times, it naturally means raising the status of culture across the board but it also signals new ways of working. Many cultural operators are able to make their meagre resources go a long way but even these are usually really hard to come by. I hope that the Capital of Culture year opens the eyes of decision-makers and businesses to see how much can be achieved with very reasonable investments. This would be particularly important for securing sufficient income for us who professionally facilitate the cultural interests of the general public. One dimension of the cultural climate is also the collaboration between different cultural operators, which I hope will grow even stronger as a result of this year.
How do you find Oulu at this present time?
Oulu is just the perfect size in terms of demand, offering, and accessibility. There are the opportunities, the facilities, and the potential to create art and culture. Of course, there are still challenges with certain unhelpful attitudes and practices but I’m sure the Capital of Culture year will help address those. The cultural offering in Oulu is diverse and it seems to resonate with the audiences quite well.
How do you spend your spare time?
I tend to work even during my spare time, but I also have small children, with whom I spend time at home. The one thing that the pandemic has allowed me to do is to spend more time with my children than I’m usually able to. So there’s always a silver lining! Otherwise, I enjoy building and fixing all sorts of things and making music that hasn’t got anything to do with my work.
What will Oulu look and feel like in 2026?How do you think the Capital of Culture title will impact Northern Finland?
I’m sure the programme will be rich and I assume that the audiences will be hungry for all kinds of culture but also able to enjoy it to their hearts’ content. The indirect impact through added publicity is probably felt nationally.
Photo: Toni Pallari
Feb 14, 2022
Our Cultural Personality of the Week is Nelli Milan, a singer-songwriter and producer. Music and writing songs are something Nelli has been passionate about from a very early age – it is a natural way for her to make sense of her experiences and the world around her. Nelli’s path to becoming a professional musician has been long but determined and not without serendipitous turns: her career as a producer started because she felt she could not find a producer that would suit her style of music.
What are you up to these days?How do you spend your spare time?
January was a bit tough because of the coronavirus pandemic. I spent much of my time alone at home, and there’s uncertainty about the future, gigs and so on, but happily spring is on its way. When I’m not working, I stream TV series, read books, hang out with friends, and go to electronic music gigs. Walking around in the forest is also important to me.
What does our leading theme, Cultural Climate Change, mean to you?
It means more attention and value for culture, new ways of working across boundaries. I’m originally from Oulu, and I follow the events in my old hometown closely. I feel my roots are firmly planted in Oulu. When I was still living in Oulu, I was involved in a lot of different things, and I’m proud and fascinated to see all these new things happening.
How do you find Oulu at this present time?
Oulu has so much going for it. There’s so much unused potential. It’s a vibrant university town with a rich tradition of underground art and culture. Oulu also has a wonderfully open and relaxed atmosphere, and at least the underground art circles welcome new artists from near and far with open arms.
What will Oulu look and feel like in 2026?How do you think the Capital of Culture title will impact Northern Finland?
I hope it injects even more energy into Oulu’s cultural life! Perhaps the underground culture that I mentioned could be even better acknowledged and more artists could join forces across genres. I hope that the Capital of Culture title will bring new audiences to Oulu from even further afield to see our cultural achievements.
photo: Aleksi Kauhanen
Dec 15, 2021
Our cultural personality of the week is the Peltokurki duo which is formed by Anna Peltomaa and Emma Kurkinen. Both of them are music creators and entrepreneurs in the creative industries. Anna and Emma have been making music together since 2016 and they released their debut album last spring. Currently, they are working on their second full-length album.
Oulu, together with 32 Northern Finnish municipalities, is the year 2026 European Capital of Culture! How do you feel about that?
In our opinion, it feels wonderful and it is a privilege to be a music creator here in Northern Finland. Northernness is an important value to us and the northern voices deserve to be heard.
What does our leading theme, Cultural Climate Change, mean to you?
It is important for us to show that you can create a proper career as a music creator from Oulu. We want to be an example of this.
How do you find Oulu at this present time?
Oulu is good and safe place to make art in your own style. The atmosphere is supportive and it is possible to create a wide network of others in the creative industries.
How do you spend your spare time?
Going around in the nature, meditating and spending time with family and friends.
What will Oulu look and feel like in the year 2026? How do you think the Capital of Culture title will impact Northern Finland?
Oulu and its northernness are interesting, and there are people interested in culture coming to Oulu from all around Europe. We believe that there will be even more cultural things. There is already an active and diverse cultural life but it will only grow from here. There are plenty opportunities in Oulu.
Photo: Mikko-Pekka Karlin
Dec 2, 2021
Our Cultural Personality of the Week is the Vaara Collective. Vaara is an independent team of practitioners and artist collective in the performing arts from Kajaani, active since 2014. Vaara’s activities include premieres, applied art, and events. The collective takes their shows and their applied art projects on tours all across Northern Finland.
Oulu, together with 32 Northern Finnish municipalities, is the year 2026 European Capital of Culture! How do you feel about that?
It is a great thing for Northern Finland and a great opportunity. We feel confident and good.
What does our leading theme, Cultural Climate Change, mean to you?
Vaara has grappled with ecological themes since its very founding. For years now, we’ve been making dramatic environmental education for young people, as well as shows that burst out from the local and send their tendrils all the way to the global challenges posed by climate change. The Ärjä Art Festival is our proposal for a different kind of festival that goes on journeys. For us, Cultural Climate Change will probably mean a continuity with this process. It is a chance to consider how arts and culture can create communal spaces for meeting each other sheltered from the winds and breezes of our age.
How do you find Oulu at this present time?
Whenever we visit from our inland home, we can tell there’s a wind and a crackle from the sea! So it’s looking good, as long as we can keep our hats on.
How do you spend your spare time?
Roaming through the woods howling like wolves. No, just kidding. Kajaani is a brilliant, lively little town, and that’s where most of us live. We enjoy that small town life like it’s Moominvalley with some great soirées and cultural get-togethers. At times we do go out to the country or into the woods, in the style of Chekhov, to gather mushrooms.
What will Oulu look and feel like in the year 2026? How do you think the Capital of Culture title will impact Northern Finland?
When our year as the capital is done, the sun will shine and autumn will never again chill Oulu. We hope the project will have a widespread energizing effect on Northern Finland, so that when it makes landfall it will keep blowing all the way to Suomussalmi. We’re looking forward to this great project in good spirits!
Nov 24, 2021
Our Cultural Personality of the Week is Luovat askeleet, a multiprofessional, cross-disciplinary artistic group comprised of Johanna Aromaa, Pauliina Lappi, Päivi Mettovaara, and Merja Männikkö. The working group weaves dance, music, community art, pedagogy, writing, and research into one experiential canvas. Luovat askeleet springs from the Esteetön ry society for cultural well-being, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Esteetön ry has a long record of working for equal access in the Oulu region.
Oulu, together with 32 Northern Finnish municipalities, is the year 2026 European Capital of Culture! How do you feel about that?
We are happy to work together with others to create Cultural Climate Change. Collaboration requires mutual trust and understanding diversity as a resource; that way we can become more than the sum of our parts together.
What does our leading theme, Cultural Climate Change, mean to you?
Love, freshness, joy of life, and new strength for all ages! Hurrah for our courageous Oulu and its region!
How do you find Oulu at this present time?
The spirit of Oulu is one of daring, uncomplicated attitudes, and everyday compassion. Let’s have the courage to be ourselves!
How do you spend your spare time?
Creativity and play are a way of life for us.
We challenge all adults to come together in play and make space for creativity both in work and in leisure. The creativity is already within us!
What will Oulu look and feel like in the year 2026? How do you think the Capital of Culture title will impact Northern Finland?
By 2026, creativity will be everywhere. Art will win more room to flourish and new ways to grow. Creativity will shimmer across us people and our surroundings like a cultural Northern Lights, bringing people together!
Picture: Luovat Askeleet
