The New Year celebrations start in the afternoon for the whole family. An illuminated adventure trail has been set up especially for children in the empty showrooms of Kiasma Museum.

In the lobby, troll magicians wish the guests welcome, after which children and their minders can enjoy the adventure at their own pace. There are workshops, shadow puppet theatrical performances, light painting and shadow dancing along the trail.

An experimental voice and light installation exploring the interaction between people, light and space has been set up in the fifth floor big showroom. The installation invites viewers to laze by its side to experience space in a new way.

The New Year pre-party is a free of charge event suitable for all ages. Prams and pushchairs can be left in a parking place for the tour, and infants can be fed and nursed in a special baby service station.

The City of Helsinki provides the pre-party in co-operation with Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. The contents of the adventure trail are produced by Kiasma, PerformanceCircus and Valopaja light workshop.

The New Year Pre-Party is part the Senate Square New Year’s celebration which will actuate the Helsinki World Design Capital year.

New Year’s Pre-Party to Families with Children 31.12.2011 at 13 to 17 hours in KIasma, Museum of contemporary art, Mannerheiminaukio 2.

The traditional New Year celebrations at Helsinki City Senate Square will launch the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 year. WDC Helsinki 2012 will bring to the evening an extensive light and video show as well as a New Year resolution in the words of a young Finnish designer.

During the evening a special feature will be when Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti will officially accept their joint hosting of the World Design Capital 2012. Hosting of the World Design Capital year will be handed over by President Soon-In Lee of Icsid, International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.

The entire event will focus on the way ahead. A special bar will be opened where people can make their own New Year resolutions and where hot chocolate will also be served. The ’resolutions bar’ will open at 22:00, and this will also indicate the commencement of the joyous celebrations in Senate Square.

The Senate Square will be lit up by the light and video show jointly produced by Mural Media and Agent Pekka. The Council of State and University buildings surrounding Senate Square will be given a new look for the entire evening. The turn of the year will culminate in a video presentation called Ylistys Helsingille (Praise to Helsinki), which uses a 3D architectural mapping technique, emblazoning Helsinki Cathedral with light. The illustrators of the installation from Agent Pekka are Antti Uotila, Eero Johannes, Janine Rewell and Santtu Mustonen.

The evening will be hosted by Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen and will, as usual, feature various musical performances. The Out’n loud choir, AiA band, Step Up Dancers, beatboxer Felix Zenger and the king of all tango kings Jari Sillanpää will be there to take the stage. The evening will be presented by Baba Lybeck and Axl Smith. Designer Antti Asplund is in charge of the performers’ costumes.

All of Finland and the rest of the world will be invited to the celebrations via YLE TV1 beginning from 22:55. Apart from this TV broadcast, the evening's events can be followed on the Internet through Yle Areena at areena.yle.fi. The Yle Areena broadcast can also be seen abroad. The direct broadcast will end with the ushering in of the New Year as well as fireworks accompanied by inspiring musical arrangements.

As part of the Senate Square New Year celebrations, a pre-celebration will be organised at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art for families with children. A light derived adventure for the whole family is to be set up in the empty exhibition halls with workshops, shadow puppets, light painting, a dance of shadows as well as a sound and light installation to be discovered along the adventure trail. Admission to this pre-celebration is free to all, and the event will be open between 13:00 and 17:00. The event will be organised by the City of Helsinki and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art.

It is commendable to arrive to Senate Square by public transport or by foot. Senate Square is best accessible at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Unioninkatu streets as well as at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Snellmaninkatu streets.

Lux Helsinki brings light to the darkest time of the year. The event presents brilliant light installations that transform famous sights and the urban landscape around Töölönlahti Bay and Senate Square. Lux Helsinki continues the recent tradition of presenting light installations and fire art at the start of January, including light art that utilises the latest energy efficient technology.

The light installations will be on display in Senate Square and Helsinki Music Centre. Finlandia Hall, the Olympic Stadium Tower and Hesperia Park will also be transformed by projections and lanterns into new aesthetic experiences.

Professor Markku Uimonen, Artistic Director of Lux Helsinki, welcomes visitors to experience new types of urban performances that will amaze and delight them.

“The diversity and potential of this event can be seen in the brilliant spectrum of light art, spectacles and minimalism. The variation in the scale of the art, from small installations to the entire Olympic Stadium Tower, highlights the countless possibilities of art”, Markku Uimonen comments.

Visitors can enjoy the light installations by strolling between Senate Square and the Olympic Stadium, for example via Helsinki’s official Christmas street, Aleksanterinkatu. The total distance in each direction is approximately three kilometres. Some of the installations can also be viewed by passengers in passing trains.  

A brilliant path of light

Senate Square will be the arena for a light installation by the artist Matti Jykylä entitled “rubix xpress” in which the famous puzzle is solved with the aid of light and movement. An estimated 125,000 regular Rubik’s Cubes could fit inside the installation, which uses the latest LED technology.

The new Helsinki Music Centre will present a light installation projected onto its glass façade next to Mannerheimintie. The work of artist Mikko Hynninen and Canadian author Daniel Canty, “Operator” features dozens of fluorescent tubes combined with English text. The light installation is inspired by the aesthetics of 1970s-era pocket calculators and digital watches, except on a giant scale. The installation also incorporates music that can be heard outside the building.

At Finlandia Hall, the artist Juha Rouhikoski creates a new atmosphere for the national architectural icon with lights and shadows. The light installation highlights the building amidst the ever-changing landscape around Töölönlahti Bay.

The Olympic Stadium Tower, Helsinki’s most visible landmark and the Mecca of Finnish sports, is transformed into a “Variant Spectrum” by the artist Jukka Huitila, showing off the tower in a whole new light.

Students of Aalto University, the Theatre Academy and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences have created unique lanterns around energy-efficient bulbs to decorate the trees in Hesperia Park. The artist Kaisa Salmi and Professor Markku Uimonen serve as the curators for the project. Lantern Park begins from Finlandia Hall and ends at the Finnish National Opera, where the Fire Circus Walkea will perform in the Amphitheatre during Epiphany. Visitors can also try their hand at painting with lights!

Performance times 

Lux Helsinki begins on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2011, and continues until 9 January 2012. The light installations can be admired in non-stop performances daily from 4pm to 10pm. The light installation at Helsinki Music Centre will run non-stop throughout the event.

The Fire Circus Walkea will perform at the Amphitheatre of the Finnish National Opera from 6 to 9 January at 6pm and 7:30pm. Visitors can paint with lights near the Amphitheatre on 6 and 7 January between 5pm and 9pm. Both events take place in Hesperia Park alongside Töölönlahti Bay.

Helsingin Energia is the founding partner of this event. MetroFM is the media partner. VR is a supporting partner. Sun Effects Oy is the technical implementer of the event.

More information: www.luxhelsinki.fi

Lord Mayor’s Independence Day Reception for fourth-graders at Finlandia Hall has become a tradition. This year’s reception given today is the fifteenth in a row. Altogether the fifteen receptions have gathered some 80 000 Helsinki schoolchildren. This year, Lord Mayor Jussi Pajunen’s personal invitation was accepted by 4 700 children and 410 teachers.

Mayor Jussi Pajunen is hosting the reception for the seventh time now. ‘’The Independence Day Reception for children is the highlight of the year also for me. The children’s enthusiasm is catching,’’ says Mayor Pajunen, himself a father of five children and grandfather of one.

Besides Mayor Pajunen, Deputy Mayor Tuula Haatainen and Mr. Rauno Jarnila, Head of the Education Department, and their spouses Mrs. Jaana Pajunen, Mr. Janne Metsämäki and Mrs. Eva Jarnila will take part in the handshaking ceremony.

The Independence Day Reception for fourth-graders was first given in 1997 by Eva-Riitta Siitonen, the then Lord Mayor of Helsinki.

Jigsaw Puzzle of Flavours and Traditional Dancing

After the handshaking ceremony, each guest will be handed a glass of sparkling strawberry drink before going to the table. This year’s menu – Jigsaw Puzzle of Flavours – is the handiwork of Chef Markku Luola and built on local produce. The menu comprises domestic berry flavours, fish, spinach pie, raspberry parsley marinated small meatballs, cherry tomatoes and fresh cucumber.

The children have prepared themselves for the Reception all autumn. Both traditional dancing and etiquette have been practiced in the schools concerned. Probably the least rehearsed type of dance is reggae, performed by the evening’s start artists Jukka Poika & DJ Andor. The Band of the Guards will welcome the incoming guests and provide the music for the dance. The Band will also accompany the National Anthem sung by all together.

Two Fetes to the Minute

The producer of the event, Mrs. Maarit Roschier tells that help in the arrangements is received from many sources. Some 50 students from the Roihuvuori Unit of Helsinki City College of Culinary Art assist Finlandia Hall Restaurant. About 30 students from Lauttasaari upper secondary schools serve as ushers. Many of these helpers have self been celebrating our independence at the Lord Mayor’s reception.

Children are advised to arrive neatly attired. Along the years, however, there have been extremities from sneakers to top-designer evening gowns.

The arrangements for the Reception are the responsibility of the City of Helsinki Events Unit together with the Education Department, HSL (Helsinki Region Transport) and numerous co-operation partners.

More information: Maarit Roschier, Producer, tel. 040 168 8212, Events Unit, Economic Developm

Seurasaari Christmas Path (Joulupolku) is a free pre-Christmas event for families with children, offering visitors peeks into a fairy-tale world and an old-time Christmas. In 2011 the event will be held on Sunday 11 December from 1pm to 5pm. The Christmas Path was originally created to offer children an alternative to the season’s commercialism. One person’s vision gradually developed into an annual pre-Christmas family event for the entire Helsinki Region. In 2010 the event will be organised for the 14th time.

The patron of the event is Dr. Pentti Arajärvi and the parties that make it happen are the City of Helsinki, the Joulupolku Association and hundreds of volunteers who prepare the Christmas Path as a present to the region’s children.

Activities along the Christmas Path

Each year the Christmas Path offers lots of activities, from singing and games to a straw maze, sleigh rides and making Christmas treats. The Christmas trees erected on the island await children’s Christmas decorations, and the elves hide along the path waiting to be discovered. Visitors can also bring a torch along to see the miracles of the woods even after dusk. Visitors can also light candles for peace in the Christmas Arena. The animals of the forest circle roam the Christmas Path giving children gingerbread cookies and cinnamon buns, and Santa Claus with his elves listen to children’s gift wishes. Children are served rice pudding, so they should bring their own plate and spoon.

Detailed programmes and maps are available at the Seurasaari entrance gate. The programme can also be downloaded from the Christmas Path website.

The Baltic Herring Fair in the Market Square is the oldest traditional event in Helsinki. As far as we know, such fairs have been held at least since 1743. The Port of Helsinki is in charge of the arrangements, and the Events Bureau of the City of Helsinki assembles the Baltic herring jury.

The Baltic Herring Fairs programme

Herring jury

Following the tradition, a ten-member jury will convene to sample and choose the pickled skipper and the herring surprise of the year. The distinguished jury will give their verdict on Sunday, Oct 2, 2011. This year was the fifth time that representatives of the general public could also apply for membership in the jury via the Internet. Two herring loving lay members were picked from among a large number of applicants.

This year, the Herring Jury has been so reformed that the judging process can be attended by the general public at City Hall on Sunday, 2.10.2011 at 12 – 15 hours (entry via the main entrance, Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13). Additionally, there will be light marine entertainments in the City Hall lobby, such as Jenny Nyroos’ film on the Herring Market as well as musical numbers by an a cappella ensemble Sulottaret.

The best three products of the contest will be awarded with trophies and diplomas on the Market Square stage on the very same day at 16 hrs.

The members of the 2011 Herring Jury are:

Ville Relander, Chairman, Helsinki Culinary Strategy, project Manager
Pipsa Hurmerinta, Top Chef judge, caterer
Katrilena Eklöf, Tourism Manager, City of Helsinki
Jyrki Sukula, Creative Director of Sukula Co, Chef
Olli Sirén, Executive Director at Restaurant Day
Tuomas Vimma, food journalist and author
Jaana Ahvenainen, lay member
Markku Staf, lay member
Tina Taivaloja, Member of the Board of the Port of Helsinki
Lasse Liemola, Chairman of Helsinki Slang Association

Further information:

Ms. Susa Nokelainen, Producer, tel 050 593 3438, City of Helsinki Economic and Planning Centre, Events Unit.

Uusimaa Regional Council, the cities of Helsinki and Espoo, Helsinki Education and Research Area (HERA) and Opiskelijametropoli Student City project in co-operation with Mundus Nicole Saari Ky, BBG.fi and Jolly Dragon, organize a two-week set of events aimed at ex-pat’s living in the Helsinki region.

During the Welcome Weeks ex-pat’s of all nationalities and their families are given information on living in Finland, and are offered a chance to build their social networks through various activities offered alongside the more informational events. The purpose is to make new friends, get the knowhow – and have fun doing it.

There are approximately 100.000 ex-pat’s and family members living in the Greater Helsinki area. The whole group will be invited to the event, and the goal is to have 10.000 people attending the various events during the two weeks.

More information: www.welcomeweeks.fi

The 32nd IFPA World Footbag Championships are held July 31 - August 6 2011 in Helsinki.

Foot­bag has existed as a com­pet­i­tive sport in sev­eral forms since 1972. Orig­i­nat­ing in North Amer­ica, it has rapidly grown into a pop­u­lar ama­teur sport all over the world. An increas­ing num­ber of inter­na­tional foot­bag tour­na­ments and fes­ti­vals are orga­nized each year.

The most pop­u­lar com­pet­i­tive foot­bag sports are foot­bag net and freestyle. Foot­bag net is a sin­gles or dou­bles court game where play­ers use only their feet, below knee, to kick the foot­bag over the net. The size of the court and the height of the net are the same as in bad­minton. The rules for dou­bles net are a lot like vol­ley­ball: play­ers are allowed three kicks per side, and must alter­nate kicks. In sin­gles, how­ever, play­ers are only allowed two kicks per side.

Foot­bag freestyle is a sport in which the object is to per­form tricks with the bag. It has evolved into a very tech­ni­cal com­pet­i­tive dis­ci­pline. Play­ers com­pete by chore­o­graph­ing rou­tines, per­form­ing very dif­fi­cult com­bi­na­tions of foot­bag tricks to music, not unlike in fig­ure skat­ing. Rou­tines are judged along four axes: pre­sen­ta­tion, dif­fi­culty, vari­ety, and execution.

Additional information

The biggest sail racing event in Finland next summer

In the summer of 2011, Helsinki is host to Open Europeans 2011, the biggest sail racing event ever to take place in Finland. Between 29th June and 15th July, eight European championship titles in the Olympic classes are at stake.

The Championships being open, sailors from non-European countries can and will participate. The organisers, thus expect 900 sailors from up to 70 countries to take part. For many countries, the Open Europeans are part of the domestic elimination series leading to Olympic selection for the 2012 Games. This obviously adds to the excitement of the Open Europeans.

The eight classes participating in the Open Europeans are: 

- Laser Standard (men)

- Laser Radial(women)

- Finn

- 470(separate classes for men, women)

- 49er

- Star and

- womens’ match racing.

In many of those classes the best Finnish sailors will join the fight for the medals.

Hernesaari, close to central Helsinki is the venue for the races. That former industrial area is large enough to offer room for both boats and sailors. Only the Star boats are moored at the Liuskasaari island nearby.

Helsinki is surrounded by the sea and several classes can race simultaneously on different course areas. Particularly the 49er and Womens’ match races – as well as the final medal races for the other classes - are sailed just outside the Hernesaari venue, well within sight from the Helsinki promenades and beaches.

Both sailors, sports fans, tourists and ordinary townspeople can enjoy the beatutiful park areas and at the same time follow the internationally flavoured Open Europeans event.

More information on Helsinki Open Europeans 2011
Helsinki Sail Racing Management 

Helsinki Week continues until Sunday in the spirit of les Lumières and Piknik-Utopia.

Les Lumières, a culture festival following the ideals of the Enlightenment Age, offers this year a journey with Count Kurt von Stedingk with Washington, Paris and Savo province as destinations.

Count Kurt von Stedingk, our compatriot from the 18th century leads us to fight alongside with the French for America’s independence and the world’s first democratic state following the ideals of the Enlightenment Age, to sail back to Europe to recover at Marie Antoinette’s dinner table, to discuss in Parisian salons and to command the Savo Brigade in Finland.

The Festival programme includes music, literature, science and dance from George Washington’s America. The world famous REBEL Baroque Orchestra from New York and dancers Thomas Baird and Paige Whitley-Bauguess will perform.

Artist Kaisa Salmi is again there to enliven the cityscape and Helsinki Week. This time, the city space is the object of research by means of picnic utopia. Book yourself a picnic spot. The reservation entitles to coffee and refreshments. The picnic will take place in the street between Eteläasplanadi and Pohjoisesplanadi.

The installation studies ways of reducing our carbon footprint. How could we cut down private motoring and widen public transport networks? How will the city space change through minor suggestions? Is it easier to encounter people on lawns? Will hustle and noise disappear on a picnic?

Helsinki bathed in the sun on Helsinki Day. There were events all over the city. Ms Susa Nokelainen, the producer of Helsinki Day, felt that communality became more pronounced on Helsinki Day. ‘’There was spontaneous singsong at the morning coffee, people were cheerful. The best feedback I got was when I heard strangers wishing each other a happy Helsinki Day.’’

One of the main attractions of Helsinki Day was the City Hall and Tori Blocks. Some 15 000 people visited the City Hall, more than 3 000 of whom made a tour in the Mayor’s offices and banquet rooms. Almost three thousand people attended the Mayor’s morning coffee with rhubarb pie.

The events all over the city invited people to celebrate Helsinki Day. One of the biggest hits was the opportunity to sail out on old sailing ships off Halkolaituri pier in Kruununhaka. The free entry concert in Suvilahti, organized by Radio Aalto, also attracted a large attendance.

Helsinki Day will be celebrated traditionally on 12 June all over the city.

There will be guidance to city farming at Annala Garden (Hämeentie 154), and Dodo ry has invited everyone to join the picnic. Apple and plum trees will be planted and participants may attend guided wild vegetable rounds (at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.). At the rounds, you can also get a taste of the city nature’s offerings. Free tickets for the round can be obtained from the Virka Info office at the City Hall.

Töölönlahti bay moves

In the surroundings of the Töölönlahti bay, the whole family may try different forms of physical activities on Helsinki Day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. At the event, Helsinki-based sports and other clubs present their activities, make performances and hold workshops in their respective fields. These include, for example, yoga, dance, park gymnastics and martial arts classes and cheerleading and freestyle football performances.

Get to know the districts

On Saturday 11 June and Sunday 12 June there is a good opportunity to get to know the districts better. Guided walks are being arranged in Vuosaari, Herttoniemi, Veräjämäki, Käpylä, Pihlajamäki and Malminkartano. The first 30 persons to show up will be able to join, no advance registration. Helsinki Day is celebrated in the districts as well, as for example Puu-Vallila, Kontula, Töölö, Kruununhaka and Roihuvuori arrange Helsinki Day events of their own.

Come and greet the Mayor

Jussi Pajunen, Mayor of Helsinki, invites the citizens to the City Hall on Helsinki Day. He will be present in his Office and Reception Room between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you wish, you may wave from the balcony outside the Reception Room, like Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel did on their recent visit.

There will be plenty of programme for children at the City Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including a puppet show, magicians as well as art and musical performances. A ball will start in the Banquet Room of the City Hall at 3:30 p.m. The Guard’s Band, familiar from the presidential ball on Independence Day, will play dance music in the spirit of the 1930’s.

The first stop in the Tallinn–Monte Carlo Electric Race 2011 will be in Helsinki on Friday, 3 June. The cars arrive from Tallinn to the Helsinki Railway Square at 10 o’clock, from where the first race leg towards Turku will start at noon.

The race will start in Tallinn on 2 June 2011. The race route goes across Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to Monte Carlo in Monaco, where the cars will arrive on 11 June 2011. The purpose of the Tallinn–Monte Carlo Electric Race 2011 is to promote environmentally friendly electric vehicles and to create better conditions for the use of electric cars.

Not speed but skill

The route is partly based on the legendary Tallinn–Monte Carlo rallye of the 1930’s. In this race, however, the cars must blend with other traffic and follow traffic regulations. The winner is not the fastest car, but the best timekeeper. For each leg there is a time target that the participants try to match. Minus points are given for times that are over or under the target.

Come and admire the environmentally friendly beauties

Do you think that electric cars are dull and ugly with no power? Now you will have the chance to admire the electric sports car Tesla Roadster at the Railway Square. It may change your prejudices about electric vehicles. Teslas cars were designed by the legendary Lotus studio. They are thoroughbred sports cars, and environmentally friendly at the same time. Tesla’s motto was once Burn rubber, not gasoline. Other vehicles participating in the race are for instance Fiat 500 EV Adapt, an electric version of the famous classic car, and Zero Traces, a covered two-wheel combination of a motorcycle and a car.

Welcome to the Railway Square, where you can admire the race cars on 3 June from 10 o’clock till noon!

More on the race: www.electricrace.eu

Helsinki Week will be celebrated on 3. – 20.6.2011, and Helsinki Day traditionally on 12.6.2011. The new Helsinki Week web pages are now available. The pages will be constantly updated with news related to Helsinki Week and Helsinki Day, and the events calendar will be complemented with all the Helsinki Week events with further information. The events also have their own pages. The Helsinki Week pages in other languages than Finnish will be soon updated.

Again this summer Helsinki Week, shaped around Helsinki Day, will offer citizens experiences and activities t suit all tastes. The versatile programme will be seen, heard and tasted all around Helsinki, from the city centre to more distant city sectors.

The good old festivals such as Pihlajamäki Goes Blues, the Festival of the Band of the Guards, Helsinki Samba Carnival and Les Lumières – Enlightenment Cultural Festival will take place this year too.

A newcomer to Helsinki Week is the Nordic Juggling Convention which is the largest and longest-lived juggling and circus event in the Nordic Countries.

Helsinki Day for its part means pulsating programme all over the place. A swinging Sunday around the city is in the offing.

Welcome to plunge yourself into Helsinki with us!

Reaktori, the biggest youth centre in history opens its doors again in the Cabel Factory during the winter break.

In Reaktori you can try out sports, make handicrafts, see performances, climb a wall, do media, chill out with friends etc. The aim of the event is to present all the hobbies and possibilities that Helsinki offers young people and children.

Reaktori has free entrance. Last year the biggest youth house ever gathered 11.000 visitors to the Cabel Factory and also this year thousands of young visitors are expected.

Reaktori is divided into different departments which you can wander during the day. Stop for a music session at the music corner, make art at the art department, see bands or theater groups perform on the stage, take a cup of coffee in the café or climb near the ceiling – Reaktori has a lot to offer.

Reaktori

The ISU World Championships in Synchronized Skating will be held April 8-9 in Helsinki Ice Hall.

There will be around 26 teams participating in the competition in April. The audience is expected to see many great performances, drama, colourful dresses and unforgettable moments during the weekend.

Synchronized skating is a team discipline of figure skating where speed, quick transitions and unison are the key elements. In junior and senior categories teams have 16 skaters on the ice. Programs usually tell a story by having a clear theme where music and dresses play a big part.

Synchronized skating was created in the United States during the 70s. The first official World Champion-ships were held in 2000 in Minneapolis, USA.

Finland is one of the leading countries in synchronized skating among Canada, USA and Sweden. Synchronized skating has become very popular in Finland. There are approximately 130 teams with 2600 skaters in the country of 5.4 million people.

Mrs. Tarja Halonen, the President of the Republic of Finland, is the official guardian of the competition.

Finnish national television YLE will be broadcasting the event.

More information

Good Light!
Helsingin Energia will replace your incandescent bulbs with energy-saving lamps free of charge in Senate Square from 5 pm−10 pm on 1−9 January 2011. Distribution of 300 lamps per evening. www.helen.fi.

Photography competition
Metro FM is organising a photography competition where you can win a valuable Helsinki Card. The card allows free entrance to Helsinki’s main attractions and museums and use of public transport for one day.
Participation is easy. Take a brilliant photo of a Season of Light event, send it through Metro FM’s website to Laura Salonen and you’re in the competition! www.metrofm.fi.

Stage Emotions
The Media Piazza of Sanoma House will present the Stage Emotions photo exhibition by German Ralph Larmann. The celebrated photographer’s work will allow the audience to acquaint themselves with spaces and atmospheres created with light on stage.
The photography exhibition will be open on weekdays from 7am-10pm and on weekends from 9am-10pm.

Fire circus Walkea
Further excitement will be created in the courtyard of the Topelia building at Unioninkatu 38, where the fire circus Walkea will perform and invite members of the public to join them. The group expresses the beauty and warmth created by fire by means of circus and dance.
The fire performances will take place in the courtyard daily at 6pm, 7:30pm and 9pm.

Light workshop and light painting
From 5 pm−9 pm on 6 January, Courtyard of the Topelia building at Unioninkatu 38.
Each participant in the light workshop gets to make silhouette patterns and fascinating projections themselves. Light painting utilises long camera exposure times and streaks of light drawn in the air with torches. Working with light is suitable for all ages and has been very popular with children.

Light workshop from 5 pm−9 pm, light painting at 6:30 pm and 8 pm.

Further information:
Light workshop Jukka Laine http://valoelamys.weebly.com/. Light painting Janne Parviainen, jannepaint.com and Hannu Huhtamo, hannuhuhtamo.com.

Night exhibition and mulled wine café at Sederholm House
Helsinki City Museum’s Night exhibition at Sederholm House on the corner of Senate Square (Aleksanterinkatu 18) is open to celebrate the Season of Light from 11 am−10 pm on 2−9 January 2011. The Night exhibition tells about life in the city after dark. In the dim rooms of this old merchant home visitors peep into the bedchambers of Helsinki residents from times gone by, gaze at stars, do night work, make merry at festivities, interpret dreams and are startled by nocturnal apparitions. The Night exhibition is a relaxing and refreshing time trip into nighttime Helsinki.

Palmia's mulled wine café where visitors can warm up and rest after the Night exhibition is open at Sederholm House from 5 pm−10 pm on 2−9 January 2011. Mulled wine mugs can also be purchased. Spicy-scented mulled wine, or “glögi” in Finnish, became a Christmas season beverage in the late 19th century in Sweden. It did not became popular in Finland until the 1960s.

J. S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio (cantatas IV-VI) at Helsinki Cathedral
Thu, 6 January 2011 at 6 pm, Helsinki Cathedral
Cantores Minores, soloists: Piia Komsi, soprano, Maria Kettunen, alto,Tom Nyman, tenor and Tuomas Pursio, bass.
Lohja City Orchestra, con. Hannu Norjanen.

Tickets: € 35 / 17 / 10 (numbered rows), from Lippupalvelu ticket vendors and at the entrance on Kirkkokatu an hour before the event.

The 2010 Men's World Floorball Championships will be the eight such world championships in men's floorball. The tournament will be held from 4 December to 11 December 2010 in the cities of Helsinki and Vantaa. 16 countries will participate in this event playing in 4 groups: Finland, Russia, Denmark, Canada, Switzerland, Latvia, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Australia, Czech Republic, Norway, Italy and Japan.

The games will take place at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki and Energia Areena in Vantaa.

Floorball as a sport is unique for its variety: the game is played throughout all social classes, gender and age groups. The ball in the logo is Magic ball. The theme of the games is Magical games.

Match schedule and additional information

Tickets

Here we go again, Official WFC2010 promotion video

Helsinki Week will take place in Moscow at the end of September. The main event will be the exhibition “My Helsinki” at the Moscow House of Photography from 23 September to 31 October.

The City of Helsinki invited five representatives of the creative industry from Moscow to visit Finland in summer 2010. The visitors, including two photographers, each explored everyday life in Helsinki, their Finnish colleagues, corporate and institutional representatives of their fields, recreational activities and local cuisine. The exhibition “My Helsinki” reveals what the visitors from Moscow saw and experienced during their stay in Helsinki.

The visitors from Moscow were writing short journals during their stay in Helsinki and the journals can be read in English by clicking the names of each visitor below.

Helsinki through the eyes of Russians

The exhibition consists of photographs by the talented young photographers Mikhail Novitsky and Tatiana Ilina from the Moscow School of Photography. The two spent a week in Helsinki photographing the city and its people. The exhibition reveals the kind of atmosphere and objects from Helsinki that the photographers and the other guests from Moscow, President Association of Designers of Russia, Prof. Dr. Yury Nazarov, Strelka Institute's Director of Cultural Programmes Roman Mazurenko and Fashion editor Julia Vydolob, want to present to the people of Moscow. In addition, the exhibition presents Finnish design and publications about Helsinki that can be read in a setting designed by the Helsinki-based design consultancy Kokoro & Moi. The exhibition is being organised by the City of Helsinki in partnership with the Moscow House of Photography.

Creating international networks of professionals

The visits are a continuation of the City of Helsinki’s “Invitation to Helsinki” programme, which was kicked off in 2009 in Washington DC and Madrid. In 2010 the programme has included both Moscow and Shanghai. The objective of the “Invitation to Helsinki” concept is to encourage people to interact on the personal level and in this way create international networks of professionals.

The Helsinki architect school Arkki will organise five free-of-charge “Sweet architecture” workshops for children and their parents in Moscow during the “My Helsinki” exhibition on October 2 and 3, 2010 at the Manezh.

The Helsinki Week programme also features the “News from Helsinki” music festival at the Ikra Club in Moscow on September 29 and 30, 2010.

Helsinki Week is being organised in partnership with the Embassy of Finland in Moscow.

Check out additional information and the accurate programme from the press release of the event

Read press release in Russian/Подробнее см. пресс-релиз на русском языке

The exhibition United Buddy Bears – THE ART OF TOLERANCE, which started on a world tour in 2004 in Berlin, will be opened in the Senate Square in Helsinki on 1 September 2010 at 4.00 p.m. The free exhibition is open to the public around the clock until 26 October 2010. Everyone is welcome to the opening ceremony.

The exhibition comprises 142 individually painted bear sculptures, just over two meters high. Each one of them represents a state recognised by the UN and was painted by an artist from the country in question, emphasising national characteristics. The Finnish bear was designed by the artist Mirka Raito.

The United Buddy Bears project was initiated by Eva and Klaus Herlitz from Berlin. With the first exhibition in Berlin in 2002 they wanted to raise thoughts about cultural diversity in the world and tolerance between peoples. The exhibition, originally intended to be a one-off event, has travelled across all five continents since then. The Helsinki event will be the 20th exhibition of the bear sculptures. During the exhibition a new Finnish bear sculpture will be created, and the old one will be auctioned off. The profits are donated to local child protection organisations.

In addition to the exhibition a photo contest will be arranged. The prize for the most original picture of the exhibition in the Senate Square is a trip for two to Berlin. Terms for taking part in the competition can be found on www.ubb-helsinki.com.

The exhibition is arranged by the Embassy of Germany, Buddy Bär Berlin GmbH and Goethe-Institut Finnland with the support of the City of Helsinki and DB Schenker.

United Buddy Bears website

The Baltic Herring Fair in the Market Square is the oldest traditional event in Helsinki. As far as we know, such fairs have been held at least since 1743. The Port of Helsinki and the Premises Centre of the Real Estate Department of the City of Helsinki are in charge of the arrangements, and the Events Bureau of the City of Helsinki assembles the Baltic herring jury. The next fair will be held in yhe autumn 2012.

A tradition at the Baltic Herring Fair is that a Baltic herring jury of ten come together to taste the products and choose the spiced fish and the Baltic herring surprise of the year. There are both experts and lay members in the jury. Traditional trophies and certificates will be awarded for the three best products in both classes on the Market Square stage the same day.

Helsinki Design Week 2010 invites design professionals and the general public to a week of events centred around the theme of storytelling. Now in its sixth year, Helsinki Design Week tells all the best stories behind the creations and processes involved in design. The week-long series of events, exhibitions and publications is already a story itself – a tale that communicates the message of design. Design is something for everyone, and it belongs to everyone. Design is important in our everyday lives, but it is also a strategic tool for competitive businesses. Helsinki Design Week offers design professionals a unique op-portunity to display their skills and versatility – and everyone can be a part of the story. Heads are already turning towards the future, and particularly towards 2012, when Helsinki will reign as the World Design Capital. The story of design will continue into 2012 and on into the future.

This city-wide event, encompassing design, architecture and fashion, was first organised in 2005 and has evolved into a real phenomenon. The mission of Helsinki Design Week is to encourage companies to de-velop their business in new directions, to contribute to improvements in various areas of Helsinki, and to become more international in scope. Helsinki Design Week offers visitors exhibitions, seminars, workshops, fashion shows and shopping experiences, as well as open days in private homes, public build-ings and design studios.

Helsinki Festival is the largest arts festival in Finland, organised annually in late summer. The festival's aim is to make art accessible for all. The Helsinki Festival is arranged this year from August 20 to September 5.

The Night of the Arts 27.8.2010

This is the night when Helsinki never sleeps. The August night will be filled with events and experiences of all shapes and sizes from the early evening until the small hours. Discover what's going on just around the corner - in the city's parks, streets and squares. Full Night of the Arts programme is available from August.

Additional information and Festival programme: www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi

Tickets: www.lippu.fi

A Finnish and American group of architectural students designed a Kalevala-inspired installation that will be constructed by the students in 9 days at the southern tip of Seurasaari during the dates of 16.-26.8.2010. The installation will be called Kalevalakehto: Shaman’s Haven of the Kalevala. The project will be dedicated in a ceremony on August 26, 2010 at 6 pm, which will launch Helsinki Design Week. It will also be part of celebrations of Helsinki as World Design Capital 2012. Kalevalakehto is open for audience during the Night of the Arts on 27 August.

The American architect Travis Price was invited to Finland by the City of Helsinki in Spring 2009. During his visit he conceived of the Kalevala inspired Spirit of Place/ Spirit of Design project. In autumn 2009 Travis Price gathered a group of architectural/design students from around the US and the Aalto University. There are 23 students from the US and 8 students from Finland taking part in the construction of the project.

The goal of the Spirit of Place/ Spirit of Design project is to create meaningful places to echo and celebrate the most ancient cultural lyrics of place within a modern design. The themes for the Seurasaari project were derived from the Kalevala: the birth myth, the mysteries of the Sampo, and the non-linear and cyclical time represented by the shamanic character of Väinämöinen.

The Kalevalakehto has received support from The City of Helsinki and the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and from US and Finnish sponsors including Outokumpu, Fenestra, Kuhmo Oy, Woodpolis, Iittala, and Marimekko. The National Geographic Society, Helsinki Design Week, Seurasaari Foundation, Finnish Literary Society, and Kalevala Society also support the prog-ramme. The demountable installation will be owned by the City of Helsinki after its completion. It has a temporary permit in Seurasaari until 31.8.2013. Spirit of Place / Spirit of Design is a non-profit organization founded by Travis Price who has completed similar building projects around the world over fifteen years: (the US, Canada, Italy, Nepal, Peru and Ireland) http://www.spiritofplace-design.com/

The project is a follow up to the MyHelsinki exhibition organized by the Embassy of Finland and the City of Helsinki at the Embassy in Washington DC in May 2009.

Helsinki City Marathon is run on Saturday 14th August, 2010. The first Helsinki City Marathon was organized in 1981 with 1,574 runners. In August 2010 the event is organized for the 30th time and hence, it is time to celebrate.

Set yourself a challenge to run the 42,195 meters long route along the beautiful streets of Helsinki! The refreshment points, happy runners to run with and the fresh breath of the sea wind along the route will help you all the way to the finish. The last date to sign up for the run is 31st July 2010.

Additional info: www.helsinkicitymarathon.fi

Young footballers from around the world are gathering up in Helsinki to play the traditional Helsinki Cup which is organized every summer. This summer Helsinki Cup will take place 11.–17.7. Like last summer there will be a big Helsinki Cup event at Kamppi's Narinkkatori at the centre of Helsinki during the tournament. All in all football will be played in 45 football fields all over Helsinki. Naturally, the highlight of Helsinki Cup will be the finals played in Pallokenttä. The Opening ceremony of Helsinki Cup will be particularly special this year as July 11th is the day when the finals of World Cup will be played in South Africa. This summer will be a dream come true for a football fan!

Important:

11.7.2010 Teams arrive to Helsinki

11.7.2010 Opening ceremony

13.7.2010 Helsinki Cup Disco

17.7.2010 Finals

17.7.2010 Teams depart Helsinki

Additional info www.helsinkicup.fi

In January 2011, the lighting installations of the Season of Light will illuminate Helsinki to a greater extent than ever before. Several foreign top designers in lighting are going to participate in this free-of-charge urban event.

Next year, too, Helsinki will break the darkest time of the year with the help of lighting installa-tions. In the first week of January, the Senate Square and the Parliament House are being transformed into stages of various exciting installations.

Besides Finnish lighting artist Mikki Kunttu, several international top designers in lighting art will participate in the Season of Light. They come from Germany, Sweden and Finland. The installations of the event are going to illuminate the very centre of Helsinki to a greater extent than ever before. Thanks to the light, Helsinki will treat everyone to a strong experience and a free-of-charge urban event that shines more brightly than any other in the Baltic area.

Last Monday the artists of the Season of Light acquainted themselves with the possibilities for lighting art in Helsinki, and after their visit they are able to start their actual designing work.

Lighting artists of the Season of Light 2010:

Mikki Kunttu has worked in a variety of ways in the fields of theatre, popular music, opera, television and industrial art. He was in charge of the lighting and video design for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki. He was also in charge of the lighting design for the last two Season of Light urban events. Additional information www.mikkikunttu.com

Tülay Schakir from Finland has worked with lighting in the fields of environment, architecture, modern dance and lighting art both in public places and in connection with private exhibitions. She has received a Finnish State Prize for Art and been awarded a Black Woodpecker Prize by the Artists’ Association of Finland. Additional information www.valotoimisto.net/suunnittelija/index.html

Martin Kuhn from Germany is a versatile lighting artist in Berlin who has been active in the field for almost 30 years. He has received various awards internationally and been in charge of lighting at several public events, for example the opening ceremony of the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin 2009 and an architecture exhibition in Mexico. Additional information www.mkld.de

Per Sundin from Sweden is a distinct pioneer of lighting art. During his career of more than 20 years, he has made productions for television, concerts, theatre and various events, such as lighting at the City Hall of Stockholm as well as celebrations held by the Swedish Royal Court. Additional information www.persundin.com

Main partner in co-operation for the event is Helsingin Energia.

Read press release published on 22.6.2010

Information:

www.valonvuodenaika.fi

www.seasonoflight.fi

www.hel.fi/events

www.helen.fi

Helsinki and Kainuu, known for the Region Pilot Project, will build up new type of co-operation during the theme year 2010.The aim is to exchange experiences and views and possibly find new forms of co-operation in the business and tourism sectors, for instance. The year offers many Kainuu people an opportunity to create connections in the metropolitan area on one hand, and for Helsinki people an opportunity to learn to know Kainuu on the other.

During the theme year, Helsinki presents herself in the cultural events of Kainuu Summer with the theme Helsinki Residents Now – Encounters in Kainuu, among others. The Helsinki City Board for their part will make a fact-finding trip to Kainuu on August 11-13. The Board will learn about the Region Pilot Project and local employment models.

Industrial co-operation will culminate in Kuhmo on August 12 in a business seminar Helsinki – Kainuu: Creators of the Future. The speakers come from the top brass of Finnish business life: Mr. Jussi Pesonen, CEO UPM (United Paper Mills), Minister Mauri Pekkarinen, Mr. Erkki Leppävuori, Director General VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland), Mr. Jussi Pajunen, Mayor of Helsinki, Mr. Lauri Nakari, CEO Kuhmo Ltd. and Mr. Alpo Jokelainen, Kainuu Region Mayor.

Helsinki in Kainuu Cultural Events

The Helsinki in Kainuu project offers Helsinki youth an opportunity to participate in the Young Theatre camp on June 11-19 in Ristijärvi. The participants were found through Kallio Upper Secondary School of Performing Arts and the drama club of Q Theatre.

In July, accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and juggler Ville Walo perform in Kuhmo folk music event entitled Sommelo. Philomela Choir from Helsinki with Marjukka Riihimäki as choir conductor will perform in Kajaani Poetry Week event.

Furthermore, Helsinki gives a special concert Towards the Sea in the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival.

Main Festival Takes Place in August

The theme year will culminate in the festive week-end in August. Mayor Jussi Pajunen will give the main speech in the traditional Kainuu Regional festival on August 14. The Helsinki Guard Brass Band with soloists will also perform. The performers in the main concert of the co-operation year on August 15 will include UMO Jazz Orchestra and Rajaton Vocal Ensemble. The public has free entry to the events and free transport will be organized from different parts of Kainuu to Kajaani city.

Moreover, the City of Helsinki Library will also introduce literature from Kainuu in their outlets and on their net pages.

Further information: http://kainuu.fi/helsinki_kainuussa

www.facebook.com/kainuu

The biggest jazz festival of Finland’s capital city area is arranged in Espoo from April 28th to May 2nd for the 24rd time.

The warm and cozy Festival tent will traditionally be located next to the Espoo Cultural Centre. Venue’s restaurant services will be provided by the TV chef Jyrki Sukula’s catering company “Kaikilla Mausteilla” (With all spices).

The April Jazz tent’s program will be opened on Wednesday 28.4, by a soul-funk band The Brand New Heavies and the Japanese Jazztronic. On Thursday Zap Mama will mesmerize the audience with soulful afro-jazz. First of May will be paraded with the hottest jams when Dwayne Dopsie & the Hellraisers turns the heat on with the Swedish latin-combo Calle Real. The May Day’s Jazzy brunch entertains the whole family with high quality live artists from Finland and abroad. The same evening the famous pianist George Duke, who is also known from the legendary Frank Zappa’s band, will climb on the stage.

This year April Jazz salutes the all stars of jazz. One of the most awaited artists of the festival is 85-year- old drummer legend Roy Haynes, not to mention the guitar hero of jazz, Stanley Jordan, from New York.

Joni Mitchell Sinphonically will be performed by Tapiola Sinfonietta and Espoo Big Band together at Tapiola Hall. The performance is conducted and arranged by Petri Juutilainen and featured by sin-gers Emma Salokoski, Johanna Iivanainen and saxophonist Manuel Dunkel.

Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden is the spot for the festival’s international jamming after party, where the restaurant Sevilla will serve Spanish late-night delicacies.

April Jazz is known from its warm atmosphere and for opening the festival season. The City of Espoo once again supports the festival greatly, making it possible again.

Additional information

The City of Helsinki will join WWF’s Earth Hour climate awareness campaign on March 27th, to show its support for actions to fight climate change. For one hour on that day, from 20:30 to 21:30, companies, other organizations and individuals around the world will switch off lights as a symbol for their concern for the climate change.

The City will participate in the campaign at many central sites. The outdoor lighting will be turned off at the City Hall, the Olympic Stadium tower, Finlandia Hall and many other City operations. The City energy company Helsingin Energia will turn off the neon and decorative lights on the façade of its head office and at other operations, and the Port of Helsinki will turn off many lights at its harbours.

A light artwork by Miska Knapek will be projected onto the façade of the National Theatre from 20:30 to 22:00. The artwork visualizes fluctuations in Helsinki’s energy consumption in real time, to make citizens aware of their energy use. The project is produced by Helsingin Energia.

The main Earth Hour event in Helsinki will take place in the Esplanade Park starting at 20:00. The performers will include fire-performance artists and bands on the outdoor Espa Stage (More information here in Finnish).

The City of Helsinki has opened a feedback forum on the Web for good ideas on how to slow down the climate change. Ideas that are posted before April 1st will be evaluated by a jury, and the best ones will be awarded on April 15th. The main prize is a Jopo-bicycle. Ideas can be posted at feedback webpage (the page is in Finnish only).

Turku and Tallinna will present themselves in Helsinki at the Nordic Travel Fair “Matka” in January and in Senate Square in June.

The 2011 European Capitals of Culture are a unique pair and two of the most beautiful cities on the shores of the Baltic Sea: Turku in Finland and Tallinn in Estonia. These two Capitals of Culture are closer to each other than any previous pairing, not only in terms of distance but also in terms of their shared history, culture and values – not to mention their common sea.

The Baltic Sea plays the starring role in the joint programmes of the 2011 European Capitals of Culture. Altogether there will be around ten of these programmes, which will be published in April 2010.

The two cities are engaging in close co-operation throughout the project, and also afterwards. One of the most important goals of both Turku and Tallinn is to leave a lasting impression on their cities and residents, as well as in a variety of operating models within and between the cities.

Helsinki plays host to Capitals of Culture

Turku and Tallinn will visit Helsinki again in June 2010, when the two Capitals of Culture present their best in Senate Square, along Esplanade Park and in Helsinki’s top clubs and restaurants.

Turku and Tallinn will arrive in Helsinki in the afternoon of Friday 11 June. The first big event takes place in Senate Square on the same evening, followed by performances of electronic music from Turku and Tallinn in Helsinki’s clubs.

Saturday 12 June is Helsinki Day, when the city’s own birthday celebrations take over the city centre. Turku and Tallinn are also invited to the party and will participate, for example, in the traditional samba carnaval.

On Sunday 13 June Turku and Tallinn will again present themselves throughout Helsinki. The programme includes a fun cultural event for the entire family.

The 2011 European Capitals of Culture Turku and Tallinn will publish their full programmes for their visit to Helsinki in April 2010.

The Helsinki-Madrid FINDESIGN Exhibition was held at the Central de Diseño, Matadero from 4 November 2009 to 10 January 2010. The exhibition marked the main event of Finnish Design Month (Mes des Diseño Finlandés). The main promoter of the event was the City of Helsinki, which has adopted the promotion of design as part of its new strategy. The exhibition also served as an excellent forum for promoting Helsinki as World Design Capital 2012. Approximately 20,000 visitors attended the exhibition over the two-month period.

The exhibition presented hundreds of examples of design in different fields – from furniture and textiles to footwear, tableware and lighting. Established classics were exhibited alongside the latest innovations in design. Contemporary design emphasises a holistic approach that covers everything from graphic design to architecture, industrial design to fashion, and even designing services. The key words for the future are interactivity and communication, as well as tailored products that end users themselves will be able to help design.

The exhibition was produced by Helsinki Design Week in partnership with the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Institute in Madrid and the Association of Designers in Madrid DIMAD. Four design experts from Madrid also visited Helsinki in September to find out more about local design companies and to select the most interesting products for the exhibition. Their journals can be read online on the MyHelsinki website:

http://www.myhelsinki.fi/helsinki-madrid.html

Image © Hilkka Hytönen

As part of the design exhibition, the Helsinki City Event Office produced three special events for specific target audiences.

On Sunday 13 December 2009 the Arkki School of Architecture for Children and Youth organised a workshop entitled “Arquitectura Dulce” for young people between the ages of 5 and 11. Architect and Pedagogue Pihla Meskanen acted as the director of the workshop. The participants in this family event designed headwear from candies and cocktail sticks and presented them on the “hatwalk”.

On Monday 14 December 2009 Pihla Meskanen gave a lecture on children and architecture at the La Casa Encendida cultural centre. A large number of architects and students participated in the event.

On Thursday 17 December 2009 the Uusix workshops of the Helsinki City Social Services Department presented itself at the Matadero Design Centre. Workshop Manager Vuokko Oikarinen and Ceramic Artist Lisa Giraldo-Gerdt presented the ethical principle of their workshops, which is based on sustainable development. Approximately 300 persons work in the Uusix workshops. Half of them are in the rehabilitating program and the rest are trainees or subsidised and permanent staff. All Uusix products are handmade using recycled materials.

Finnish Design Month attracted a lot of attention in Spain, both in the printed media and online. El País magazine published a six-page article on the exhibition in its weekly supplement, while La Vanguardia wrote four pages on the exhibition in its own weekly supplement. Through these and other channels Helsinki and Finnish design were promoted among millions of Spanish readers.

StadiJump in the middle of Helsinki, Kamppi's Narinkkatori 12.-14.2.2010 gathers together a group of daredevils and their fans. You can join too! 

On the opening weekend of the Olympic Games there will be a K5-sized ski-jump hill in the middle of Narinkkatori. This event aims to bring ski-jump closer to city and its inhabitants and also respect the strong traditions that ski-jump holds in Finland. The official opening jump is jumped on Friday 12 February at 5 pm. The jumper will be the famous Finnish ski-jumper, the Olympic Winner Toni Nieminen himself. Also there will be ski-jump training and a chance to try up your own ski-jumping skills. StadiJump is organized by Story Of Sports and it is carried out in co-operation of Finnjumping association and the City of Helsinki.

The official website of the event can be found here.

Helsinki Week will be celebrated in 2010 on 3-20 June and Helsinki Day on 12 June.

Helsinki Week offers and expanded programme of events before, during and after Helsinki Day. This summer residents and tourists of all ages will be treated to exciting things to do and experience. The diverse programme can be seen, heard and even tasted throughout Helsinki, from the city centre to outlying suburbs.

Helsinki Day celebrates the city’s birthday, as well as the 20th anniversary of the Samba Carnaval. In honour of this special occasion, the fun carnaval spirit and music will take over Helsinki this year for the entire weekend.

Details about the programme will be updated on the www.helsinkiviikko.fi website throughout the spring.

Helsinki will serve as World Design Capital in 2012. The arrangements begin immediately.

 “We invite all residents, design companies and other interested or-ganisation in Helsinki Region, as well as the design professionals and enthusiasts who intend to visit in 2012, to take part in the prepara-tions and special events. It is a great opportunity to harness design in order to develop Helsinki and the other participating municipalities taking part in this project socially, culturally and economically, as highlighted in the selection criteria for the World Design Capital,” comments Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen.

“Our work begins immediately. The project involves much more than just a single year or a single city. The World Design Capital designa-tion serves the long-term development of the entire region. At the same time we can strengthen our international position.”

“This is a tremendous honour and important recognition for Helsinki and the consortium of municipalities and partners that supported our bid, including Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti, as well as nu-merous other organisations and individuals. We intend to make the most of this great opportunity,” comments Mayor Pajunen, who ac-cepted the WDC 2012 nomination at the World Design Congress in Singapore.

Image © Joni Rousku

The theme of Helsinki’s bid was “Open Helsinki – Embedding De-sign in Life”. The ambitious programme of events in 2012 will also be based on this theme.

Over 40 cities around the world competed for the title World Design Capital 2012. In the final voting Helsinki was chosen ahead of Eind-hoven in the Netherlands. The title is awarded every two years to a city who can harness design to enliven and renew its urban environ-ment. The WDC project is design to encourage cities to utilise design for the promotion of social, economic and cultural development. Hel-sinki is the third city to hold the biennial designation following Torino in 2008 and Seoul in 2010.

Helsinki opened its design website to support its application. Further information is available in three languages on the Open Helsinki - Embedding Design in Life website.

Further information about the World Design Capital project

The European Athletics Council has awarded the 2012 European Athletics Championships to Helsinki. The games will be organised by the Finnish Athletics Federation and the City of Helsinki.

It will be a busy year for sports in 2012, as several major events are planned for the same year. To make space for the European Athletics Championships in the summer schedule, the European Cup or European Super league meets that are traditionally held at the same time will not take place.

The European Athletics Association considered several nominees before selecting Helsinki as the host for the 2012 European Athletics Championships. Europe is the last continent to switch to the biannual format. The games will be held in Helsinki from 27 June to 1 July 2012.

Over 1200 athletes representing 50 countries are expected to take part. Almost 2000 volunteers will be required for the organisation of the event. The television rights are still open, and the European Athletics Association, which owns the broadcasting rights, is negotiating principally with the European Broadcasting Union.

Further information on the website of Finnish Athletics Assosiation 

Helsinki is one of the host cities for the 2013 Tall Ships’ Race. The race starts in Århus, Denmark and continues to Helsinki, after which it visits Riga, Latvia before ending in Stettin, Poland. The race will be held in July and August, and the tall ships will spend four days in Helsinki, including at least one weekend day.

The Tall Ships’ Race is held each year on European waters, but only once every four years in the Baltic Sea.

The event will be one of the highlights of the summer in Helsinki in 2013. This year the tall ships will visit the City of Turku on 23-26 July 2010.

Helsinki has previously hosted the Tall Ships’ Race in 1972, 1988 and most recently in 2000, when around 80 ships from around the world participated. The event attracted approximately 450,000 spectators in the Pohjoisranta and Katajanokka districts of Helsinki.

Further information about the event

Before then young people themselves are devising and organising 500 local and at least 5 regional sporting events. Planning and im-plementing these events is a great way to activate and inspire young people. They also know for themselves what kind of event is interest-ing to people of their own age. Your Move addresses a major issue concerning the health of the nation, as less than half of young people exercise sufficiently. Your Move is in fact the most significant event in Finnish sports aimed at young people, and hopefully it will lead to a new culture of health and exercise among youth.

Internet and regional events

Your Move will activate young people in part by utilising the internet. A Your Move community has been created in IRC-Galleria where young people can announce their own events and find other interesting events for themselves. The target is to generate 500 events created by young people themselves by the end of 2011.

Regional Your Move events will be held in spring 2010 throughout Finland, including in Oulu, Seinäjoki, Pori, Joensuu and Helsinki. Each event is expected to be attended by 2000 to 5000 young people.

Your Move main event

Your Move 2011 will culminate in the main event in Helsinki from 27 May to 1 June 2011. In Finland’s biggest recreational and sporting event 50,000 young people will get to try out various disciplines, including fun Japanese-style obstacle courses, and have lots of fun while spending time with each other. The venue for the main event is the Olympic Stadium and adjacent areas.

Further information about this event

Art belongs to everyone again this year in Helsinki Festival from 20 August until 5 September 2010. In 2009 Finland’s biggest arts festival, the Helsinki Festival, broke its visitor target. The overall number of visitors to the Helsinki Festival reached almost 288,000. Ticketed events attracted a record-breaking 92,000 visitors, whilst 196,000 art lovers participated in the free events. More updated information about this year's Helsinki festival can be viewed here.

The Night of the Arts

This is the night when Helsinki never sleeps. The August night will be filled with events and experiences of all shapes and sizes from the early evening until the small hours. Discover what’s going on just around the corner - in the city’s parks, streets and squares. The next Night of the Arts is on 27 August 2010.

Image©Terjo Aaltonen

Back in 1994 Kainuu, a region in northeast Finland, paid a visit to Helsinki, presenting itself to local residents and tourists in Senate Square. This year the City of Helsinki is repaying the visit. The pro-gramme in Kainuu ranges from puppet shows to business seminars and from chamber music concerts inspired by the sea to nostalgic dances. The Finnish capital will promote itself in Kainuu throughout the year under the theme “The People of Helsinki Today – Meetings in Kainuu”. The aim is create new and lasting contacts between the only Finnish metropolis and Kainuu, a region of immense natural beauty and resources.

Events for people of all ages

The programme in Kainuu offers something for children and adults alike. The 1300 pupils at elementary schools in Kainuu worked throughout the autumn to create props for the puppet show. Adults in turn will be treated in May to nostalgic dances to the music of Pirkko Mannola and Lasse Liemola at Naapurinvaara in Sotkamo. In addi-tion, Kajaani Poetry Week, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and the Sommelo Folk Music Festival will feature expanded programmes connected with the Helsinki theme. Kainuu residents will also get to enjoy special art exhibitions and films, as well as Helsinki cuisine served by top chef Jyrky Sukula.

Main events in August (12-15.8.2010)

The Helsinki theme year culminates in August. Representatives of business and industry in Helsinki and Kainuu gather at a special seminar in Kuhmo on 12 August. Helsinki City Council will also visit Kainuu on 11-13 August to attend the business seminar and learn more about Kainuu’s regional model. Helsinki’s decision-makers will also get to admire the scenery in Kainuu from atop the Vuokatti Ridge. Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen will deliver the ceremonial speech at Kainuu’s traditional regional celebrations on 14 August. The celebrations will also feature a performance by the same Guards Band that performs annually at Finland’s Independence Day Reception at the President’s Castle in Helsinki. The main event at Kajaani Hall on 15 August will feature performances by the UMO Jazz Orchestra and the singing group Rajaton.

The programme for the theme year will be updated regularly on the Kainuu Region website where you can enter by pressing the button below.