Dec 15, 2023
FROZEN PEOPLE is a festival of electronic music, northern art and wintry style. The event takes place on the frozen sea at Nallikari (Oulu) on the 2nd of March 2024 from 14:00 to 22:00. This free-to-enter festival is produced by Oulu Urban Culture and is part of the cultural program of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture. The organizers are now looking for enthusiastic artists to implement the art program.
The festival features electronic music artists and DJs. The organizers are looking for implementations that are not disturbed by the music being played at the festival. The artworks can be, for example, visual implementations, installations or participatory community art. This year the area will also have a second stage for performances requiring a sound system. The implementer can also be a self-taught artist or a DIY-oriented group.
It would be preferable if the artists could produce eco-friendly installations that will leave the area clean after the festival. The artwork must withstand windy, cold weather conditions and not cause danger to the audience. The work must be attached to the ice if the structure is light and it has a risk of falling over in a strong wind. The organizers will provide ice screws and cargo straps, which can be used to attach the work safely.
The open call ends on Sunday, the 14th of January 2024 at 4 pm.
You can find more information and the application form can be found at Oulu Urban Culture’s website.
Dec 4, 2023
The sustainable event production guide, which encourages the ecological sustainability of event production, has been published on the official website of Oulu: The Sustainable Event Production Guide – Oulu
The guide supports the responsible organization of events in the Oulu region, ensuring that the events are as carbon-neutral as possible during the European Capital of Culture year in 2026.
The guide for sustainable event production is divided into two parts: firstly, guidance and tips for environmentally friendly event organization are presented, covering various aspects of event production. Choices that are less taxing for the environment can be made at every stage, from selecting the event venue to travel, catering service choices, waste management, and procurement. Additionally, the guide includes links to sustainable development goals, regulatory systems, online tools, and the websites or reports of organizations and communities sharing good sustainability practices.
The second part of the guide presents innovation tests conducted at events, exploring how carbon dioxide emissions from events can be reduced through creative inventions. Over two years, the electronic music Solstice festival in Kuusamo developed a recycling system. The Helsinki-based Caracara Collective ultimately succeeded in recycling 80% of all waste generated at the festival, creating art and festival structures from recycled plastic, among other accomplishments
At the Frozen People event, a hybrid power plant was tested in March 2022. Photo: Janne Käpylehto
Argentinian-Italian architect Valentino Tignanelli designed pavilions from construction waste for the Varjo Festival. They protected the audience from the sun’s heat on Kuusisaari last summer and, after the festival, gained a new life: they now serve as small public saunas in the backyard of Hailuoto Brewery’s Mallassauna in Pikisaaari.
Valentino Tignanelli and Taina Ronkainen at the Varjo Festival in 2023. Photo: Kapina Oy.
The guidebook has been compiled as part of Europe’s most sustainable cultural capital project, which sought tools for reducing event emissions. Europe’s most sustainable cultural capital project was carried out in the Events Unit of the City of Oulu and received funding from the European Regional Development Fund ERDF by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia in the years 2019–2023.
For more information:
Project Manager Taina Ronkainen, taina.ronkainen@ouka.fi, +358 40 6211249
Project Coordinator Antti Takalo, antti.takalo@ouka.fi, +358 40 4196605
Nov 8, 2023
Upeart, a Finnish public art professional, is involved in our cultural program with the “Joy from Urban contemporary art” -project, which produces mural artworks around the Oulu area. The locations for the murals are chosen by the residents of Oulu in annual votes, open to all city residents. Voting is now open for the location of next Oulu2026-mural!
The residents of Oulu get to propose and come up with an idea for the location of the Oulu2026 mural, as well as tell memories and stories related to the residential area in question, which the artist can later use as a basis for the design of the work. This year the vote was won by Tuira and last year by Rajakylä.
Voting is open until 30th of November. Read more and vote here: Oulu2026 Mural 2024
In the European capital of culture year 2026, the mural will be realized in the area of the center of Oulu. Various activities, such as art tours and competitions, will be announced for the year 2026 around the created artworks. After completion, the artworks will be transferred to the collections of the Oulu Art Museum.
Eloise Gillow painting the first Oulu2026 mural in 2022. Photo: Mika Friman
Oct 31, 2023
Tartu, one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2024, is looking for three young people aged 18–30 from the Oulu2026 region to volunteer between January 25 and February 13, 2024.
The selected young people get to create a unique youth celebration on International Youth Day (February 10, 2024) together with other young people from Estonia and other parts of Europe. In addition, participants will get to experience the opening of Tartu’s Culture Capital Year (January 26, 2024).
International volunteering is organised through the European Solidarity Corps. Participants are offered a travel allowance, accommodation, food, insurance, and a small pocket money.
More information on the volunteer programme at Tartu2024 website.
Did you get interested in international volunteering? Apply as a volunteer by 20 November 2023. Decisions about the selected young people will be made by 30 November. Fill out the short application form via the attached link.
Additional information: Oulu2026 Community Coordinator Mirja Syrjälä, mirja.syrjala (a) oulu2026.eu, +358 40 502 9633
Oct 25, 2023
Glowember is coordinated by the Oulu Culture Foundation, also known as Oulu2026. Oulu is the European Capital of Culture in 2026. The extensive operating area spans 39 municipalities in northern Finland, which are all participating in the culture program. Across 12 municipalities in the area, November will be brightened by a wide range of events and artworks. The events are organized by various entities, including municipalities and associations. Some of the events are already well known, while others are being organized for the first time.
The Lumo Light Festival has demonstrated how the union of darkness and light inspires people and creates new experiences. This play of contrasts is now being extended over a longer period and supplemented with additional content and new themes. The whole spectacle takes place over a broader area, as part of the journey toward the Cultural Capital Year in 2026.
The first Glowember includes Ii, Kajaani, Kemi, Kempele, Liminka, Lumijoki, Muhos, Nivala, Oulu, Tornio, Tyrnävä, and Ylivieska. Events are free of charge, but some require registration in advance. In some municipalities, artist Pia Leppänen and lighting designer Indrek Virronen have conducted workshops to create a community art installation called ‘Water, My Beloved.’
Illuminating Everyday Life Together
“We want to expand the concept of culture and introduce people to the Oulu2026 area. The darkest time of the year may tempt people to stay at home, but we encourage participation and sharing one’s experiences of the joy that light brings. There are numerous opportunities across a wide region,” says Mirja Syrjälä, Oulu2026’s Community Engagement Coordinator.
Syrjälä adds that individuals can participate in Glowember in ways that suit them, such as illuminating their everyday surroundings, like their backyards or workplace windows, in a new way. Light can also be shared on social media, and those who publish light-themed images on their social channels using the hashtags #Glowember and #Oulu2026 will have a chance to win Oulu2026 merchandise, such as t-shirts.
Articles about light from various perspectives will be published on Oulu2026’s website. Contributors include producer Veikko Leinonen from Kajaani’s Kekri Festival, researcher Henrika Pihlajaniemi from the University of Oulu, creativity coach Virve Saaranen from Hyvän Mielen Talo, executive director Virve Leikola and curator Anna Björklund from the Finnish Light Art Society FLASH, as well as CEO Roope Siiroinen from VALOA design.
First to ignite the flame – Marrastulet
One part of the Glowember is Marrastulet (November Fires), an immersive and participatory series of light events in the municipalities of Rantalakeus. Tyrnävä takes a head start on Glowember; Marrastulet events will be available there starting from Monday, October 30th. Events will be held every week throughout November. Kemi, for example, is participating in Glowember with permanent artworks that can be visited at any time.
Check out all Glowember events at: oulu2026.eu/en/glowember
Oct 17, 2023
The Tales of Tar route that can be experienced digitally on mobile devices around Oulu will open in November. The cultural history route consists of 10 fascinating short stories written by author Katariina Vuori. The stories are based on authentic locations, events and persons from the golden era of the tar trade in Oulu.
A plaque with a QR code will be placed at 10 locations associated with tar. By scanning the QR code with a mobile phone or another mobile device, you get to read the story or listen to it. The stories are available in Finnish, Easy Finnish, English and Swedish. The route map and locations of the story points will be published on 17 November on the Oulu2026 website.
The stories are told in Finnish by Tuula Väänänen, a famous actress from Oulu, and in English by actor Sami Lalou from Oulu Theatre. In Swedish, the stories are read by Tea Stolt de Glanville, specialist in communications and the cultural sector. From Finnish, the stories adapted to Easy Finnish have been granted the SELKO symbol of the Finnish Centre for Easy Language.
From Leveri to Linnansaari and from glamour to disappointments
Katariina Vuori, the author of the stories, says she loves the waterways and the maritime feel of Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia – the coast is unique, unassuming and slightly ragged, often hidden behind shrubbery along the waterline.
“It was fascinating to get to explore, through these tar-scented stories, the way in which waterways have influenced local history, the city’s growth and people’s lives, everyone from commoners to the high and mighty. The tar hegemony involved much more than mere glamour and oriental spices – there was pain, disappointment and even personal tragedies in the mix,” says the author about the project.
The Tales of Tar route starts from the boundary of Leveri and ends in Toppila harbour. However, each story is independent and can be experienced in any order. The route culminates at Toppilansaari, where the story points of Frigate Toivo and Tervahovi are located. At these points, you can see both by means of augmented reality on your mobile device.
The Tales of Tar include
- Leveri
- Snellman house
- Seurahuone
- Bergbom Warehouse
- Hahtiperä
- Linnansaari
- Pikisaari
- Merikoski
- Frigate Toivo
- Tervahovi
The Tales of Tar route is one of the side events of Lumo Light Festival, but will remain in the cityscape to be experienced even after the festival. The route is part of Oulu’s journey of becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2026.
More stories from the north coming next year
The Tales of Tar route is the first pilot in the Northern Stories project, implemented by Oulu Culture Foundation. The aim is to develop new ways of bringing stories to their authentic locations by creating several themed routes with user-friendly mobile technology in the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture area.
Highlighting the region’s cultural heritage and offering experiences free of charge strengthens residents’ local identity in everyday environments and creates tourist attractions. Stories are mapped and collected with experts and local residents. The Tales of Tar route will be developed further on the basis of users’ observations and feedback. More routes with stories are planned for next year.
Further information and feedback
Northern Stories project, Project Manager Anne-Maria Mäkelä, anne.makela@oulu2026.eu, tel. +358 (0)40 673 5155
Implementer of the project: Oulu Culture Foundation sr., main financier: Council of Oulu Region
Project implementation period: 1 March 2023–30 April 2024
