Jun 6, 2023
Northern Stories-project develops new ways of bringing stories to their authentic locations using technology. The aim of the project is to create several themed routes with user-friendly mobile technology. We are mapping and collecting the stories around local culture and history from the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture area together with local cultural history experts and citizens. We recognise that urban Oulu and the surrounding northern villages are filled with untold stories. We want to bring the stories to the people in an approachable and experiential way in the urban space and wider in the area.
Northern Finland has a rich history filled with stories about destinies, meanings, and revolutionary events. Our area is known for, among other things, air guitar competition, Tierna Boys tradition, presidents, and Oulu Kärpät.
We want to hear more stories! Which stories are important to you? Answer a brief survey from this link.
The survey is open until June 21st. You can additionally send story tips to us by mail to address Oulu Culture Foundation, Torikatu 18, 90100 Oulu. If you want to share your story tips in other form, then you can send them to anne.makela@oulu2026.eu. Among the respondents, we will draw a Museum Card (€76), which allows free access to hundreds of museums in Finland.
Together with experts in cultural history and the residents of the area, we will review the stories and phenomena that should be told. The citizens’ own personal stories also fascinate us. We will collect more personal stories in the autumn. The scripts for the selected stories are written by professional writers. For the promotion of the stories, a suitable implementation method will be chosen. The purpose is to create a simple easy-to-use operating model that can expand after the project in terms of content and geography. Later this year, the citizens of the municipality will be able to test routes.
Stories strengthens local identity and creates tourist attraction
We bring out the diversity of the region’s culture through stories. Offering intangible experiences in a way that is accessible to everyone strengthens the local identity of the area’s residents in everyday environments and creates tourist attraction. With the help of the project, in addition to attraction, the residents’ awareness of their own roots is also strengthened.
More information: Project Manager, Anne-Maria Mäkelä, anne.makela@oulu2026.eu, 040 673 5155
Implementer of the project: Oulu Culture Foundation sr.
Main financier: Council of Oulu Region
Project implementation period: March 1st 2023-February 28th 2024
May 10, 2023
The Factum Foundation and AaltoSiilo are organizing the Screaming Duende event in Meri-Toppila, Oulu on June 3rd. The event is a world premiere of pairing the radical flamenco master Israel Galván and Huutajat (Screaming Men) Choir. The event is a central part of the AaltoSiilo project, which uses art and industrial cultural heritage to develop this unique silo.
There will also be performances by vinyl DJs Malsson, Tenko, and Matti Aikio and an audiovisual concert by Veera Neva & Arttu Nieminen. The event is free and will be live streamed and projected outside the Silo itself. The event can also be followed on Twitch (from 4 pm) and Oulu2026’s Facebook page (from 7 pm).
At AaltoSiilo Israel Galván will meet the world-famous Huutajat Choir in the spirit of Federico García Lorca’s concept of duende. García Lorca describes duende as a tragedy-inspired ecstasy, a poetic, and uncontrollable emotional state. “El duende, then, is a power, not a work. It is a struggle, not a thought.”
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture for 2026. Screaming Duende is part of the Oulu2026 culture program and the cultural climate change. The event follows last year’s event, where Transistori band played the silo building as a large-scale urban instrument.
AaltoSiilo
Alvar Aallon katu 5, Oulu
June 3, 2023, from 4 pm to 9 pm
Program
4:00 pm DJ Malsson
5:00 pm DJ Tenko
6:00 pm DJ Matti Aikio
7:00 pm Veera Neva & Arttu Nieminen
8:00 pm Israel Galván & Screaming Men’s Choir
A unique place gets a new form
The Factum Foundation and the award-winning architecture firm Skene Catling de la Peña bought the long-unused silo in 2020. Through events, the owners are exploring and developing AaltoSiilo into a versatile performance and exhibition space and research center.
Read more on the AaltoSiilo website.
Contact
Producer Valti Tignatelli, valti.tigna@factum-arte.com, +358 45 806 3171
Giulia Fornaciari, Factum Foundation / AaltoSiilo, giulia.fornaciari@factum-arte.com
Nicolas Beliard, Factum Foundation / AaltoSiilo, nicolas.beliard@factum-arte.com
Dan Barrett, Skene Catling de la Peña architects, dan@scdlp.net
More info
israelgalvancompany.com
huutajat.org
veeraneva.com
hcnieminen.wixsite.com
factumfoundation.org
aaltosiilo.com
May 9, 2023
The Qstock Festival in Oulu stretches partly over three days this year, for music on the Oulu2026 Stage starts already on Thursday, 27 July. The stage moves to a new location in Linnansaari island, and entry to the island will be free throughout the festival.
As before, the Oulu2026 Stage introduces rising bands and artists from Oulu. The acts on Thursday include pop/rap artist Sana, pop rock group Valkea, and spoken word artist Lajune. Friday acts are electronic artist Recend, metal group Slow Fall, prog pop band Kos Mos, and singer/songwriter Eereka. The final day is Saturday when the Oulu2026 Stage presents rapper Mactopias, the folk moods of Haamusoittajat, the melodic punk of Saa kiljua, the electronic folk of Junna, and the explosive energy of Kiestus.
“We want to highlight the versatility of the Oulu music scene by introducing artists from many different genres. There are acts who are just starting their careers as well as ones with a little more experience. All of them are united by the urge to develop and take strides toward bigger and bigger stages,” says Executive Producer Henri Turunen from the Oulu 2026 foundation.
The Oulu2026 Stage is part of Oulu’s journey to becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2026. Turunen says that music is an integral part of the cultural identity in Oulu, and that is why the Oulu2026 foundation wishes to offer local artists opportunities in Europe as well as locally.
Qstock takes place in the area of Kuusisaari and Raatti islands in Oulu on the last weekend of July. The festival has been sold out for nine consecutive summers and established a status as one of the biggest festivals in Finland, gathering 40 000 people over two days.
May 29, 2023
SATURDAY 10.6.2023
From 10 am to 4pm
Location: Åström Park, Mannentie 1, 90100 Oulu
Arctic Food Lab goes Wild herb celebration
Wild herb celebration is a summery happening in a cozy park presenting natural products, taste, and experience. June is the time for wild herbs to be at its best.
Here you will find natural food products and cosmetics to buy as a souvenir from local producers. You are also welcomed to experience healing natural experiences – such as wild herb walk and enjoy live music and interesting talks about natural products.
Oulu is the European capital of culture in year 2026 and Arctic Food Lab is program that brings forth the ingredients that have grown under the Northern light, and the uniqueness of traditional food born under arctic circumstances. We want to offer locals and international guests Arctic Food Lab experiences that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
We are preparing for the Oulu2026 year to come by offering Arctic Tasting! as part of Wild herb celebration. Come and taste local products and give feedback and you can win a package full of Arctic Food Lab delicacies.
Wild herb celebration is arranged by the Society of nature-based companies in Northern Ostrobothnia in co-operation with local operators.
Arctic Tasting! is part of Boost! – The European capital of culture enhances the internationalization of SMEs-project, which is funded by European Regional Development fund and Council of Oulu Region.
Jan 9, 2023
What kind of postcard would you send from Oulu? What is the heart of your neighbourhood? Take part in a survey!
We are looking for interesting, intriguing, or even forgotten stories and places to bring up through arts and culture. Share your stories by taking part in our survey!
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture in year 2026. The heart of the Culture Capital is the Cultural Programme that spreads widely through Oulu. This questionnaire is a preliminary survey on where and how the Culture Programme should be implemented in the area.
The questionnaire is open from January 9 to January 31. Answering the questionnaire will take approximately 5-10 minutes. We would like to get answers especially considering stories and places of Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo, Yli-Ii and Ylikiiminki.
This questionnaire is published in co-operation by the Urban Environmental Services of the City of Oulu and Oulu Culture Foundation.
Take part in the survey with the following link in English https://query.eharava.fi/3882 or in Finnish https://query.eharava.fi/3880
Further information:
Samu Forsblom
Programme Director
samu.forsblom(a)oulu2026.eu
+358 (0)44 703 7558
Nov 7, 2022
The last Open Call 2022 webinar focuses on Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Open Call process, the application system, funding, and activities related to the Capital of Culture.
During the webinar, applicants are encouraged to ask questions from the Oulu2026 producers. You can also submit your questions in advance when registering to the webinar. The session will be recorded and made available afterwards at oulu2026.eu/opencall
If you need basic information about the Open Call, programme themes or application criteria, check out the Guide for Applicants and recordings of previous webinars.
Open Call closes on 9th December 2022 (at: 23:59 EEST)
