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62 new projects for Oulu2026 culture programme

Oulu is a European Capital of Culture in 2026. The Oulu2026 culture programme in 39 municipalities is realised by local, national and international actors. The programme in Oulu is coordinated and managed by the Oulu Culture Foundation. The Foundation provides co-funding for projects. The entire culture programme will be published in 2025.

Banneri kuvituskuva Oulu2026

Oulu and the entire northern region of Finland will be filled with culture, art and events in the coming years. We arranged Open call 2022 that was specifically aimed for large-scale projects that take several years to prepare or carry out. Nearly 300 project proposals were received: about 90% of the proposals came from Finland, of which 65% came from the Oulu2026 region. 62 of the proposals have now been selected to complement the Oulu2026 culture programme.

In addition to the projects now selected, the Oulu2026 culture programme includes approximately 50 projects that have been involved since the application phase of the European Capital of Culture year, and the programme will expand further with the We are Culture Open Call in 2024–2025. The culture programme is divided into three themes: Brave Hinterland, Wild City and Cool Contrasts.

The majority of projects under the cultural programme are carried out under an external executive production leadership and they are selected and co-funded through the Open Calls. The next open call will be We are Culture in 2024–2025, which is call for applications for individual and communal projects.

The construction of the cultural programme will continue, and the entire programme will be published in 2025.

We will add information about the projects later this year.

 

Selected partners – Open Call 2022

Brave Hinterland – nature, art and life on the edge of Europe

The Association for Rural Culture and Education

Kivilompolo Kukkakollektiivi (workgroup)

Reality Research Center

Oulu Safaris Oy

Lumo Company

ArtAr-luonnontaiteenkeskus (workgroup)

Antye Greie

The Northern Opera Company

KulttuuriKauppila Art Centre (Municipality of Ii)

The Mustarinda Association

Kulttuuriosuuskunta G-voima / Vaara-kollektiivi

Municipality of Kempele

Folk Extreme Oy

Oulu Writers Association

Erika Benke

Municipality of Liminka

The Danish National Museum / Ships department

Oulun Työväen Pursiseura ry

Kajaanin kaupunginteatteri (Kajaani City Theatre)

 

Unique local flavours and experiences 

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Oulu

Pohjois-Suomen Messut ry

Eija Ranta (workgroup)

Foodium Oy

Varjakan kyläyhdistys ry

 

Wild City – art and culture belong to everyone and everywhere

Kulttuuriyhdistys Bio Huvimylly (workgroup)

Limingan kansanopiston kannattajayhdistys ry

Akola Friends (workgroup)

The Aine Art Museum / City of Tornio

Perfect Circle Oy

Teatteri Telakka ry

Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde (PPCM)

Instituto Iberoamericano de Finlandia

MABD Oy

Oulun Rantasaunaseura ry

K2 Taiteilijatalo ry

Routa Company

Talous ja Nuoret TAT ry

Taito Pohjois-Pohjanmaa ry (Regional Crafts Association)

Oulu Theatre

Kulttuuriradio Oulu ry

Romanikulttuurin museon tukiyhdistys ry

Pikisaaren Villatehtaat ry

Kulttuurikiihdyttämö ry

PROTO – Designers’ association of Northern Finland

Vanha Villatehdas ry

 

Festivals in Europe’s spotlight

Varjo / Pro Piknik Festivals Oy

OstariFestari / Höyhtyän Kulttuuriyhdistys ry

The Irish Festival of Oulu / Irish Music Society of Oulu ry

Concreate Urban Art Festival / Helsinki Urban Art ry

Oulu Music Video Festival

JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre

Solstice Festival / four-one-seven oy

Valentin Vaala Film Festival / Brandstein/Ilmestys Oy / Municipality of Vaala

Puolanka Pessimism Festival / Puolanka Pessimism Association

Kuusamo Nature Photo / City of Kuusamo

 

Cool Contrasts – power to create something new

Pyhäsalmen Tanssi ry

Rauhankone ry

Oulu University of Applied sciences

The Ostrobothnian Contemporary Music Festival / Nykymusiikkiseura Lokakuu ry

The Finnish Light Art Society FLASH ry

Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu

Screaming Men’s Choir, Mieskuoro Huutajat ry / POSK tuotannot Oy

 

The Finnish city of Oulu, European Capital of Culture 2026, announces an Open Call for cultural programme partners

Finland will take the cultural centre stage in Europe in 2026 as the City of Oulu, together with 32 municipalities in Northern Finland, holds the title of the European Capital of Culture 2026. The year will be full of inspiring, diverse and unique cultural offerings delivered by thousands of contributors from all over the world.

The Open Call for international partners of the Oulu 2026 cultural programme will be launched in October 2022. The preliminary announcement of the Open Call is available on the Oulu2026 website www.oulu2026.eu/en/opencall  The information event in English for the first Open Call is held via Zoom on 13th of June 2022 at 1 p.m. (Helsinki, UTC+3).

 

The 2026 cultural programme is international

The goal of Oulu2026 is to achieve a permanent cultural climate change and to use culture to fuel positive development in Northern Finland. The Oulu2026 programme is built around three themes: Wild City, Cool Contrasts and Brave Hinterland. The Open Call launched on 3 October 2022 is aimed at projects related to these themes.

Samu Forsblom, Oulu2026 Programme Director, recommends that all applicants familiarise themselves with the Bid Book and the themes.

“We are looking for unique projects with far-reaching impacts. Combining art and technology and artistic experiences created through this process are of particular interest to us. We hope that the projects are delivered in collaboration with contributors based in the Oulu2026 region,” says Samu Forsblom.

The operative focus of the projects is on the capital of culture year 2026 but they may be launched earlier.

The Open Call for applications in October is open to Finnish and international actors. The project plans are expected to be suitable for independent delivery.

The application forms are available from 3 October 2022 onwards, but the application criteria have already been published on the website www.oulu2026.eu/en/opencall. More detailed information and instructions for the applicants will be published on the same website in the autumn.

The Open Call closes on 9 December 2022. The information event for the first Open Call (in English) is held via Zoom on 13th of June 2022 at 1 p.m. (Helsinki, UTC+3). REGISTER HERE

 

Information about other meetings and webinars are available on the website www.oulu2026.eu/en/opencall.

 

Be part of the Cultural Climate Change!

 

For more information, please contact

Samu Forsblom
Programme Director
Samu.forsblom@oulu2026.eu
+358 44 703 7558

Photos and social media banners available for download here