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Contact information by city division
Each of the City of Helsinki’s five divisions and various public enterprises handles its own operational and communications management independently. The Communications Division of the City Executive Office is responsible for central administration communications and city-wide coordination of the city’s communications activities.
City of Helsinki emails follow the format firstname.lastname@hel.fi . Use the city’s telephone directory Numerot.hel.fi to find the contact information of city employees.
Media contacts Mon-Fri 9.00-16.00, tel. +358 9 310 26168,
email: city.helsinki@hel.fi
Chief Communications Officer Liisa Kivelä
tel. + 358 400 308 484
External Communications, Unit Head Pi Krogell-Magni
tel. + 358 50 522 5953
Internal Communications, Unit Head Katri Parikka
tel. +358 44 275 3028
Content Production, Unit Head Susanna Rautio
tel. +358 50407 8300
Brand and events, Unit Head Sanna Forsström
tel. +358 40 531 3713
Communications Director Hanna-Kaisa Talvensaari
tel. +358 9 310 15964
Service Communications, Unit Head Mervi Kopomaa-Weymarn
tel. +358 9 310 43360
Media Liaison, Communications Specialist Nina Dale
tel. +358 9 310 23875
Early childhood education ( Daycare and pre-primary education )
Communications Specialist Vilhelm Forss
tel. +358 9 310 27910
Basic education (Grades 1-10)
Communications Specialist Samuli Kuki
tel. +358 9 310 87701
Upper general secondary schools and vocational training and education ( Stadin AO )
Marketing Specialist Ilja Hakala
tel. +358 9 310 15129
Helsinki Adult Education Centre
Communications Planner Mari Larkovirta
tel. +358 9 310 88599
Swedish-language education services ( early childhood education and basic education )
Communications Specialist Vilhelm Forss
tel. +358 9 310 27910
Swedish-language education services ( upper secondary schools and Helsingfors arbis adult education )
Communications Planner Maria Lindh
tel. +358 9 310 70084
English-language communications
Communications Specialist Sari Kämppi
tel. +358 9 310 32325
International visits
International Affairs Planner Marika Lahti
tel. +358 9 310 82611
Communications Director Heikki Mäntymäki
tel. +358 9 310 37368
Media and Customer Communications, Unit Head Virve Kuusi
tel. +358 9 310 79528
Urban Environment Division Communications Unit email: kymp.viestinta@hel.fi
Nature, environmental health and food safety
Communications Specialist Matti Miinalainen
tel. +358 9 310 31520
Parks and planning of green areas
Communications Specialist Lotta Silfverberg
tel. +358 9 310 42171
Traffic and street planning
Participation Specialist Annika Alén
tel. +358 9 310 33951
Street planning, parking control and temporary traffic arrangements
Communications Specialist Sara Juntunen
tel. +358 9 310 39104
Crown Bridges project
Communications Specialist Lauri Hänninen
tel. +358 9 310 20494
Street and park maintenance
Communications Specialist Heli-Anneli Valinen
tel. +358 9 310 33071
Building control and the city’s residential building construction projects
Communications Specialist Marjukka Haavisto
tel. +358 9 310 26446
City-owned buildings and construction projects
Communications Specialist Aki Antinkaapo
tel. +358 9 310 15846
Zoning and plots
Participation Specialist Anu Hämäläinen
tel. +358 9 310 37396
Communications Director Essi Eranka
tel. +358 40 568 13 69
Customer Interface Director Jussi Kaisjoki
tel. +358 40 519 6632
Communications, Unit Head Satu Pusa
tel. +358 50 336 5039
Museums
Communications Specialist Milla Visuri
tel. +358 9 310 34052
Culture centres
Communications Specialist Minna Roine
tel. +358 9 310 88802
Libraries
Communications Specialist Soila Leppäkangas
tel. +358 9 310 85697
Sports and exercise
Communications Specialist Juuso Hämäläinen
tel. +358 9 310 29993
Youth services
Communications Specialist Sylvie Daoud
tel. +358 9 31071628
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Communications Manager Marja Istala Kumpunen
tel. +358 50 555 3551
Communications Director Jaana Juutilainen-Saari
tel. +358 50 380 9738
Communications, Unit Head Outi Huida
tel. +358 40 655 0063
Family and social services
Communications Specialist Nina Puisto
tel. +358 40 641 8002
Health and substance abuse services
Communications Specialist Markus Snellman
tel. +358 40 334 0183
Hospital, rehabilitation and care services
Communications Specialist Hanna Hänninen
tel. +358 40 643 0470
Swedish-language services
Communications Specialist Evelina Rex
tel. +358 40 702 0612
English-language services
Communications Specialist Kaisa Sunimento
tel. +358 40 685 0608
Public enterprises and Rescue Services
Communications Director Piia Rissanen
tel. +358 9 310 33977
Communications Director Mirva Harju
tel. +358 9 310 25161
Communications Planner Anu Cavén
tel. +358 9 310 20199
Communications Unit Head Anna Lehtiranta
tel. +358 9 310 30014
Rescue Service Communications Unit email: pel.viestinta@hel.fi
Communications Director Päivi Seikkula
Tel. +358 50 428 0516
Stara Media Services
Communications Specialist Marja Valjus
Tel. +040 658 9268
Public enterprises and foundations
- Events Helsinki
- Innovation firm Forum Virium Helsinki
- HAM Helsinki Art Museum
- Energy company Helen
- Helsinki City Premises (in Finnish only)
- City marketing, investment and talent attraction company Helsinki Partners
- Metropolitan Area Transport
- Restaurant, security, cleaning and facility service Palmia
- Port of Helsinki
All of the City of Helsinki's subsidiaries and foundations are listed on the Subsidiaries website.
Press releases and news
Press releases from each of the City of Helsinki divisions and public enterprises can found on the website of the STT Info news> service. You can find press releases from the individual divisions and enterprises under the Publishers tab.
News items published by the City of Helsinki can be found on the city website’s News list.
You can find all media releases published by the City Executive Office on the STT Info website.
You can find all media releases published by the Education Division on the following STT Info website .
You can find all media releases published by the Urban Environment Division on the following STT Info website .
You can find all media releases published by the Culture and Leisure Division on the following STT Info website .
You can find all media releases published by the Social Services and Health Care Division on the following STT Info website .
Photography and photography permits
You can also ask the City of Helsinki’s communications personnel directly about photography permits for the city’s areas and facilities. See below for a more detailed explanation of the principles of photography in different situations.
You may take photos and videos on the streets and in the parks of Helsinki without a permit, as long as you do not need to restrict other people’s access to the area being photographed. If you need to section off the area, you must rent the area. If this access restriction affects pedestrian, bicycle or other vehicle traffic, you must also draw up a plan on temporary traffic arrangements. A plan is also required when reserving parking spaces for other use.
Read more about renting an area and temporary traffic arrangements.
Photography in libraries
All locations of the Helsinki City Library are public spaces that are open for everyone. You are allowed to take photographs and videos in these spaces. If you need help with choosing a location for photography, please contact the Helsinki City Library’s communications personnel .
You should be considerate of the library customers, as they have a right to use the library’s services in peace. It is always polite to ask for permission if you want to photograph customers in the library. You must pay extra notice to children and young people under 18 years of age. You must always obtain permission from the parent or guardian if you want to photograph a child or young person under the age of 18.
Photography in museums
You are allowed to take photos and videos in the Helsinki City Museum, Villa Hakasalmi, Worker Housing Museum, Tram Museum and Burgher’s House. Please notify team leader Ari-Matti Helkapalo of your visit in advance at arimatti.helkapalo@hel.fi or on +358 40 533 7238. You must always obtain permission from the parent or guardian if you want to take photos or videos of a child or young person under the age of 18.
Photography is allowed at HAM Helsinki Art Museum, but some exhibitions may prohibit photography. Please notify Press Officer Karri Buchert in advance of your visit at karri.buchert@hel.fi or on +358 50 304 6707. You must always obtain permission from the parent or guardian if you want to take photos or videos of a child or young person under the age of 18.
Photography at cultural centres
You always need a permit to take photos or videos of performances or the premises at cultural centres. Please contact the staff of the cultural centre in question: Annantalo , Caisa , Kanneltalo , Malmitalo , Savoy Theatre , Stoa and Vuosaari House .
Photography is allowed in public spaces. You may take photos and videos of people in indoor sports facilities, as long as they are open to the public.
As a general rule, you need a permit to take photos or videos at outdoor swimming pools or in swimming halls.
Photography in locations administered by Sports Services is free of charge, unless you need to reserve a specific location or the photography disrupts other activities. To get a photography permit, please contact the communications staff of the Culture and Leisure division.
Outdoor areas
Photography is allowed in public areas, including photographing individual people. Private individuals cannot prohibit photography in public areas, and the authorities can only do so under specific grounds.
Photography is prohibited on the nudist beach located on Eastern Pihlajasaari island and during the nude swimming time slot on Seurasaari island.
Sports halls and indoor sports facilities
You may take photos and videos of people in indoor sports facilities, as long as they are open to the public. Photography in indoor sports facilities is not punishable and does not require a permit, unless you need to reserve a specific location or the photography disrupts other activities. For example, you are allowed to take photographs of a family member, a friend or activities taking place at the location by using a camera phone.
However, photography in toilets, dressing rooms and similar facilities is prohibited as illicit viewing.
Outdoor swimming pools
Photography in these locations generally requires a permit. Sports Services staff may grant a free-of-charge photography permit for the purpose of photographing a family member or a person who has given permission to be photographed, for instance.
Swimming halls
As a general rule, photography in pool areas and in their immediate vicinity requires a permit. Sports Services staff may grant an oral photography permit for the purpose of photographing a family member or a person who has given permission to be photographed, for instance.
Photography is allowed in customer facilities, such as cafés.
If you need help with choosing a location for photography, please contact the City of Helsinki Education Division’s communications personnel.
Photography at comprehensive schools
If you already know at which school you would like to take photos or videos, you can contact the school’s principal directly. You can find the contact information of the principals of the City of Helsinki’s schools on each school’s website. Photography of children and young people under the age of 18 requires a photography permit from their parent or guardian. Schools request photography permits from the parents and guardians at the start of the school year, but you should ask the parents and guardians for a separate permission for a particular photography project. Before taking any photos or videos, contact the school’s contact person to make sure that the photography permits for the children and young people are in order.
Photography at early childhood education locations
If you already know at which daycare centre or playground you would like to take photos or videos, please contact the unit in question directly. You can find a list of the City of Helsinki’s daycare centres on our website and their contact information under each daycare centre. The contact information for playgrounds is also available on each playground’s web page. Photography of children and young people under the age of 18 always requires a photography permit from their parent or guardian. Before visiting the daycare centre, make sure that the parents and guardians have provided photography permits. When photographing a child in the outdoor areas of playgrounds, you must ask for permission from the child’s parent or guardian. In the indoor facilities, you must also inform the staff about taking photos or videos.
Photography in general upper secondary schools and Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute
If you have already decided at which general upper secondary school you would like to take photos or videos, please contact the school’s principal. The contact information for general upper secondary schools is available on each school’s web page. If you would like to take photos or videos at Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute (Stadin AO), please contact the principal of the educational location in question or the education manager for the particular field of education. The contact information is available here. Photography of children and young people under the age of 18 requires a photography permit from their parent or guardian. Before taking any photos or videos, contact the educational institution’s contact person to make sure that the photography permits for the young people are in order.
Photography at the Finnish Adult Education Centre of the City of Helsinki and Swedish Adult Education Centre Arbis
If you would like to take photos or videos in the premises of the Finnish Adult Education Centre of the City of Helsinki or Swedish Adult Education Centre Arbis, please contact the principal or the educational location in question. You always need a permit to photograph performances and the premises, so contact the building’s staff. Find the educational locations’ contact information here.
If you would like to take photos or videos at health and social service locations, please contact the City of Helsinki Social Services and Health Care Division’s communications staff directly.
Helsinki videos and photos
The City of Helsinki Media Bank is a repository for videos and photos of the city. It also holds the city’s visual identity guidelines and official logos. You must be a registered user to use the service.
The Helsinki Material Bank is another great source of inspiring photos and videos of Helsinki. Use of the Material Bank does not require registration. The images may be freely used to promote Helsinki and its services, but the photographer and Helsinki Partners must be credited.
