Photo exhibition by persons with a visual impairment, queer art, world music and multicultural festivals – autumn at Helsinki’s cultural centres shows a diverse city

The repertoire at Helsinki’s cultural centres shows off the diversity of both the performers and audiences. This autumn, you have the opportunity to enjoy shows, exhibitions, workshops and events that the audience and participants can watch as a reflection of themselves.

“Helsinki’s aim is to be a city built on human rights. A place where everyone can be seen and heard and where they can live and participate as equal persons without the fear of discrimination. Naturally, this should also be visible in the cultural offering,” says Cátia Suomalainen Pedrosa, Director of Cultural Centre Caisa.

In September, the Cultural Services for the Visually Impaired association’s photography club will organise a photo exhibition called Second Light (Toinen valo) at Caisa. Each photographer has developed their own method to overcome their visual impairment both in the field and in post-processing. In addition to the photographs, the exhibition will include a video of the methods used by the photographers. There will also be a lecture and artist meetups. The works include photo interpretation with both digital writing and Braille.

Audio description, sensory tools and multicultural programme

This autumn’s repertoire offers cross-cultural meeting places and opportunities to increase mutual understanding. The aim is to take underrepresented groups into account in terms of both the contents and arrangements.

For example, Cultural Centre Caisa will have audio descripted shows and sign language guidance of the exhibitions. Annantalo’s arts education classes and workshops have sensory aids for children who need them. The programme includes performances in different languages as well as nonverbal shows.

Kolibrí Festivaali has programme for families at Stoa and Vuotalo between 14 and 28 September. The cultural diversity festival’s programme is all about identity and thinking about who tells our story. Sunflower Film Festival and panel discussions, offering perspectives on the Middle Eastern daily life and cultural landscape, will be organised at Stoa on 21 September. On Saturday, 23 November, Stoa will premiere Regeneraattori’s Secret Garden dance piece. The methods used to produce it were created on the basis of workshops and discussions with persons with a visual impairment.

50+Tanssikollektiivi, comprising dancers over the age of 50, will take the scene at Kanneltalo on 13 September with its first piece 222 Wrong Movements. The piece is directed by award-winning artist Pavel Semchenko. On World Mental Health Day 10 October, Soiva Kivi (“Vibrant stone”) will premiere at Kanneltalo. The unique piece combining music and stories, by author and theatre director Juha Hurme, composer and singer Aleksi Parviainen and pianist Marie Körkkö, honours the life work of Aleksis Kivi and reflects on the impact of mental health issues with Kivi’s art.

Immerse yourself in Latin American dance, music and traditions on Saturday, 11 November at Malmitalo’s Latin Folk Night. Multicultural Nomad Festival’s programme can also be seen at various cultural centres in November.

Caisa is building an inclusive Helsinki – now also at Kino Caisa

Cultural Centre Caisa in Kallio promotes diversity and inclusion through arts and culture. In September, the lávvu built in Caisa’s Hall will be the scene for Ritni Ráske Pieski and working group’s decolonial utopia Girjái, which is dedicated to rainbow Sámi people and BIPOC queers. In October, a young adult ponders their relationship with queer sexuality and nationality in Today my cat died. The play’s production team consists of Russian artists who escaped their home country due to their political opinions. In December, inclusive dance group Tanssivat timantit will step on Caisa’s stage with Encounters.

Global Club Nights will play world music once a month on Fridays. This autumn, there will also be multicultural Global Club event days for families with children. In addition, the GCN clubs will expand to Kanneltalo in October–November.

Cultural Centre Caisa’s new initiative this autumn is Kino Caisa that will start movie showings in early October. The Tuesday showings will highlight people, stories and storytellers who are often invisible in mainstream movies.

“I hope that Kino Caisa’s movies will be thought-provoking and offer new perspectives on humanity and the world. I also hope they will increase understanding of the diversity of humanity,” says Johanna Rissanen, Producer, Cultural Events at Caisa, who is responsible for Kino Caisa’s programme.

The October programme at Kino Caisa will include the movies You Resemble Me, Costa Brava, Lebanon, Bacurau and Prism. They include topics such as racism, refugees and mental health. The October programme has been curated by movie event connoisseur Diego Ginartes. More movies will be added to Kino Caisa’s programme during the autumn.