The open call generated a great deal of interest in the field of art: a total of 240 applications were submitted by the deadline. Thirteen new or reworked pieces were selected for the programme and will have their premieres in 2026 and 2027 at one or more of the cultural centres. Additionally, the cultural centres are having discussions with certain artist groups regarding possible additions to the programme.
The selected works represent a wide range of art forms, from dance to circus and theatre. A number of works that combine different art forms are also included. The works were selected by a panel consisting of cultural producers, production planners and directors from Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Stoa and Vuosaari House.
“When making our selections, we placed emphasis on the artistic quality of the works, the feasibility of their production, and the cultural centres’ aim of serving as diverse an audience as possible. The works also reflect the City’s values: they explore themes such as the environment, equality and diversity, and examine today’s society from various perspectives. In addition to established names, we want to shine the spotlight on upcoming and young artists,” says Cultural Producer Sara Hirn from Stoa.
First premiere in late August
The first of the works selected through the open call will be presented in late August as Agit-Cirk’s RapuRequiem, a fusion of contemporary circus and theatre, premieres on 28 August at Kanneltalo. The absurd, poetic and physical work examines modern humanity and the phenomena of our time through the lens of dystopian sci-fi.
In late autumn, Stoa will host the world premiere of Arvo, a performance by Dance Theatre Tsuumi and Eloa Cultural Company that explores the Karelian lament tradition (28 November–5 December), and Kekäläinen & Company’s 30th-anniversary production Hysteria Mundi – Improvisations on Global Politics (15–19 December), which is based on Sanna Kekäläinen’s classic work Studien über Hysterie from 1991.
The autumn programme also includes previously performed works and new versions of existing pieces, such as DuvTeatern and Wegelius Kamarijouset’s combination of poetry, theatre and music entitled Ut genom väggen! / Läpi seinän!, performed at Vuosaari House on 24 September, and A Fistful of Funk, a locking performance by Will Funk For Food, one of Finland’s most successful street dance groups, performed at Kanneltalo on 23–24 October. Tickets for the performances are available via lippu.fi(Link leads to external service).
Another open call to be held in the autumn
Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Stoa and Vuosaari House will hold their next open call for works in late 2026, seeking works for the 2027–2028 programme period. The application criteria and more detailed application instructions will be published on the cultural centres’ websites and social media channels during the autumn.
Holding an open call for works is not an entirely new practice in Helsinki’s cultural services, as Cultural Centre Caisa has been putting together its entire programme on the basis of the ‘open call’ principle for several years now. However, the call for works for Caisa emphasises the cultural centre’s special role as a promoter of diversity in Helsinki. The call for works for the regional cultural centres was carried out on the basis of their own programme-related principles, and it has, for the first time, opened up a shared entry route into the cultural centres’ programmes.