Please welcome to the panel discussion focusing on experiences of foreign-born professionals in the field of art and culture in the Pirkanmaa region. The event is organised by Globe Art Point in collaboration with the Tampere Intercultural Art collective and PUBLICS on Friday, 6th of August at 2–3:30pm in Tehdas 108 / Factory 108 in Nokia and on Zoom.
The aim of the event is to address the pressing matters and launch a constructive dialogue among a wide range of stakeholders (artists, culture professionals, institutions, city officials) with hopes that in the long run this dialogue will help to improve the representation and inclusion of the foreign-born professionals in the art and culture sector in Pirkanmaa and Finland overall, promoting the diversity of the field which in the end benefits society as a whole.
The event is organised as a part of the ARS 108 festival’s programme as well as PUBLICS’ Parahosting programme that includes listening sessions and talks with small-scale independent non-profit initiatives and cultural workers.
After the event, there will also be space for networking. If you like to meet new individuals and professionals from the field of art and culture who are based in Pirkanmaa, you are welcome to stay at the Factory 108’s premises and converse with others.
The participants can join the event in person at Tehdas 108 / Factory 108, Souranderintie 2, Tehdassaari, 37100 Nokia, Finland. Alternatively, the event will also be streamed online on Zoom. Please note, this event will be recorded for archival purposes. If you do not wish to be recorded, keep your camera off for the duration of the event. Please register here for this event.
About the guest speakers:
JUHA AHONEN
Culture Director for the City of Tampere
Juha Ahonen has been the Director of Culture of the City of Tampere since May 2021 and leads Tampere’s Cultural Services. Previously, Juha Ahonen has worked e.g. Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and Espoo City Orchestra – Tapiola Sinfonietta as a general manager. Prior to that, he worked as an orchestra manager of the Radio Symphony Orchestra and for several years as an event manager at the Helsinki Music Centre. In addition, he has previously worked at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki as a producer and at YLE as a journalist and producer.
MAIKKI KANTOLA
Regional Artist of Cultural Diversity for Arts Promotion Centre (TAIKE)
Maikki has worked in several media organisations, art schools and Finnish National Broadcasting Company (YLE) teaching how to make films. For eight years, she has been a board member of the International Centre of Films for Children and Young People. In her artistic practice, Maikki is working on media art, documentary and music videos as well as photography projects. Among the subjects that interest her are human beings, different cultures, nature and happiness. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Finland and Ireland.
LUIZA PREDA
Independent Artist, Production and Stage Designer, Tampere University Student Ambassador
In recent years, Luiza’s art projects have been included in physical and virtual exhibitions in countries like Germany, Italy, Mexico, Romania and Finland. In 2018, when she decided to move to Finland, she broadened her artistic expertise while working in the organisation of several cultural projects, such as CICAT2025 (Circular Economy Catalysts: From Innovation to Business Ecosystems) and INTAC (International Art Collaborations). Luiza graduated magna cum laude in 2018 from the University of Art and Design, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, with a BA Degree in Photography, Videography and Computerised Processed Image. She has also lived and studied in Bordeaux, France and is currently a 4th year Fine Art student at TAMK in the Media and Culture BA Programme.
ILARIA TUCCI
Diversity Agent, Professional in the theatre, acting and performative arts
Ilaria Tucci (MA in Acting, MA in Peace Studies) is from Italy and has worked for the last fifteen years combining theatre with peace education, intercultural dialogue and conflict transformation. She is a certified Diversity Agent (2019) and has recently participated as presenter and facilitator in the workshops organized by the Working Group for Cultural Policy, Immigrants and Promotion of Cultural Diversity.
About the event moderator:
RUBY GUPTE
Chairperson of G.A.P, Founder of Tatinis Art Show, Chairperson of HIAA and Podcast Host
Ruby has lived and worked internationally in India, Singapore and Finland. She has been a promoter of art and culture through her art fairs and art events globally. Ruby has a strong background in human resources, marketing, arts event management and working with people from all corners of the world. She is passionate about bringing new opportunities to artists and giving them a platform to express themselves. Besides Ruby’s voluntary work at Globe Art Point, she is also a chairperson of Helsinki International Artists’ Association and a member of British Women’s Association of Helsinki.
About the organisers:
Tampere Intercultural Art
Tampere Intercultural Art is a community of artists, culture professionals and enthusiasts formed in 2020. Our goal is to bring out the work of aspiring international artists and promote intercultural dialogue and diversity through art practices including community art and education. We also support the promotion of inclusion and equality of foreign-born artists in the field of art and culture in Finland.
ARS 108
ARS 108 is an immersive contemporary art exhibition and festival held at the Tehdas 108 from the 2nd of July till August 29th, 2021. In addition to the exhibitions, the festival consists of performing arts as well as various interdisciplinary events and workshops. The aim is to create an annual high-quality and international art exhibition and festival that takes into account both community and social basis.
Globe Art Point
The core mission of Globe Art Point is advocating cultural equity, diversity and inclusion in the arts and cultural sector in Finland. G.A.P also serves as an information centre and meeting point for artists, cultural workers and arts & cultural institutions in Finland.
The association’s focus is on foreign-born artists and cultural workers, living and working in Finland, being acknowledged and their untapped potential fully utilised. G.A.P, together with its stakeholders and collaborators, is dedicated to improving the existing structures and building a society free from cultural discrimination or any other form of oppression. G.A.p’s goal is to create constructive and action-driven dialogues with the entire society, from local grassroots to the national level.
Globe Art Point (G.A.P) was invited by PUBLICS to organise a small gathering as part of Open Up cultural project and Parahosting Laboratory including listening and reading sessions and talks with cultural workers and independent non-profit initiatives. The idea is that by gathering different individuals and organisations together to listen to each other’s concerns and points of interest, institutional knowledge can grow wider, and more sustainable collaborative methods can be found. Open Up is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme.