Turku is the European Capital of Culture in 2011. The Turku 2011 Programme is a wide entity that emphasises the long-term impacts of all of the activities. The programme´s key goal is highlighting the importance of culture for the well-being of people and the environment. Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 is among the largest investments in Finnish culture in several decades. The programme currently includes 120 individual projects and will be supplemented with approximately 20 new projects by the end of the year.
The internationally widely recognised Capital of Culture programme is the most important cultural initiative by the EU.During 2011, Turku will host thousands of events. The Turku 2011 Programme is expected to attract nearly two million visitors altogether. Most of the events are free of charge.
In 2011, Turku will broaden the concept of culture. The goal is to break traditional borders, seek new concepts and offer surprising experiences for audiences of all ages. The Capital of Culture programme includes a wealth of projects that are directly related to increasing well-being. The projects include creating cultural plans for schools and homes for the elderly, for example. The tested new methods and ways of working can be extended to the rest of Finland and Europe in general.
"Our starting point is that the entire Capital of Culture programme does good to people in various ways. According to research, culture increases the mental and even physical well-being," says Cay Sevón, CEO for Turku 2011 Foundation responsible for preparing the Capital of Culture year.
The events take place in the Turku city centre, city neighbourhoods and various locations in the Southwest Finland region. Culture will also extend to the Turku archipelago and events will also take place elsewhere in Finland, such as Mänttä and Pori, for example.
The main venue in Turku for major performances and exhibitions is an old engineering workshop for the Finnish railway company VR, now called Logomo. The renovation of the building in itself is a key example of the desire for long-term development of the creative industries.
The Turku programme is divided into five individual themes that each represent the different aspects of the programme. 2011 Transformations will bring culture to everyday life and make meeting culture easy. 2011 Take Off offers small and large take offs from mundane life and will emphasise the key cultural aspects of Turku. The 2011 Explores the Archipelago theme will introduce the marine nature of Turku with the archipelago, the Baltic Sea and the River Aura. 2011 Personally examines questions related to the mind, the self and different identities. The 2011 Memories and Truths theme will take a closer look at the extensive history and the future of Turku.
"The different domains of culture and various target groups are extensively represented in the programme. The programme offers, for example, circus, underwater concerts, aerial acrobatics, sauna culture, spectacular exhibitions, contemporary opera and theatre. The programme is easy to take in and provides unique experiences," says Programme Director Suvi Innilä.
The programme for the Capital of Culture year is based on an open project application. Over a thousand applications by both Finnish and international organisations and actors were submitted. The programme will be realised by thousands of artists and other participators from Turku, Finland in general and from all over the world - the farthermost artist visitors coming from Japan.
The European Capital of Culture year is a major undertaking for the City of Turku that provides 18 million euros in funding. The city sees the Capital of Culture year as an investment that will generate manifold financial revenue back to the city and the entire region. The total budget for the year is 50 million euros.
"The Capital of Culture year is a unique opportunity to present Finland as a nation of culture and Turku as the Capital of Culture for the entire Europe," says Christoffer Taxell, Chairman for the Turku 2011 Foundation.
Turku is the European Capital of Culture 2011 at the same time with Tallinn, Estonia. The main objectives for the Capital of Culture year are increasing well-being, developing creative industries and cultural exports and strengthening internationality. All activities aim at creating long-term impacts.
The Capital of Culture year will include thousands of various events involving over 150 individual projects, thousands of organisers and 200 volunteers. During 2011, Turku will host thousands of events. The Turku 2011 Programme is expected to attract nearly two million visitors altogether. Most of the events are free of charge.
The Turku 2011 Foundation has been commissioned by the City of Turku to oversee the implementation of the Capital of Culture year. The purpose of the foundation is to coordinate and partly provide funding for the projects in the Capital of Culture year programme.
The total budget for the Capital of Culture year is 50 million euros.
www.turku2011.fi
