City of Helsinki Cultural Office Year 2012 in Brief Cultural Director’s The year 2012 was one of major events. Helsinki was both the World Design Capital (WDC 2012) and celebrated its bicentennial as the capital of Finland. During the year, Helsinki’s uniqueness was highlighted around the world, from Rio de Janeiro to Shanghai and from London to Cape Town. Within the city, the jubilee year showed design on a broad scale, with a focus on user-centred design. A variety of bicentennial events celebrated historical milestones. Both jubilee years were reflected in the Cultural Office’s programme and at our venues. The Cultural Office also held a celebration: the Savoy Theatre and Annantalo marked their 25th anniversaries, and Kanneltalo its 20th. The Savoy Theatre’s jubilee year was a success on many fronts: its programme contents, number of visitors, and finances. In addition to the 25th anniversary celebrations, Annantalo’s year included an abundant programme built around the theme of design and the capital city. Kanneltalo’s Café Stage has established itself as a popular, low-threshold programme venue. Stoa and Vuosaari House boosted their multicultural programme. Malmitalo received news of a favourable major decision on financial aid for the digitalisation of its cinema equipment – long live Helsinki’s own, and only, municipal cinema! The Chinese New Year at Caisa broke the venue’s visitor record, with 30,000 people attending. The venues of the Cultural Office housed more than 1,500 performances during the year, with an audience of 176,000. Almost 14,000 children and young people attended the over 1,100 art courses provided. Exhibitions totalled more than 100, with 177,000 visitors. The year under review was the last of the Cultural and Library Committee’s current term. The many milestones passed during this term will provide the next Committee with an excellent basis for continuing efforts to promote culture in Helsinki. The Committee was responsible for preparing Helsinki’s Cultural Strategy, as set out by the City Council. During the current term, the Helsinki Music Centre was also completed. An architectural competition was initiated for the Helsinki Central Library. The Committee’s heart beat to dance: subsidies tripled; dance schools providing the curriculum for the advanced syllabus in basic education in the art of dance, became eligible for an operating subsidy; and the House of Dance project was launched. Subsidies for circus art were also increased and new operators were granted an operating subsidy. In 2012, the Cultural and Library Committee awarded almost 15.9 million euros in grants, in support of the arts and culture. Of the total sum, 84 per cent was granted in operating subsidies to arts and cultural institutions, and four per cent to smaller associations. The remaining 12 per cent was awarded in one-off contributions and grants. 28 ToimiNtAKERTOMUS 2012 Review The Helsinki Culture Award was granted to dance artist Susanna Leinonen. To celebrate the WDC year, a one-off design award was granted to graphic artist Erik Bruun, in recognition of his remarkable life’s work. The film festival Night Visions was selected as the Helsinki Cultural Act 2012. Helsinki will retain its position as Finland’s leading cultural city, even after the jubilee years. The new Cultural Strategy will show the way until 2017. Our aim is to be a city that reflects the nature of its citizens - fun and functional. We aim to maintain and strengthen structures that support resident-driven activities. The city is a platform for the arts and culture, which creates anew and questions established practices. Our success is based on the city’s provision of equal and appropriate opportunities for this. I would like to extend a big thank you to the skilled and committed staff of the Cultural Office – let’s continue to be ‘colored with culture’. Veikko Kunnas Acting Cultural Director
Toimintakertomus
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