The Finlandia Park, with some 20 events, functions as a central hub during the Night of the Arts.

FOR the 22nd time Helsinki will become the stage of the Night of the Arts on Friday 27 August.

The Night of Arts is one of the highlights of the Helsinki Festival that runs from 20 August to 5 September and is Finland’s largest art festival. It has developed out of the Sibelius week that started in 1951 and was already organised 1968 for the first time. In 1971 the festival was moved from May to late summer and continuously expanded, shifting its focus from classical music to including other art forms.

In 1989 the first Night of Arts was organised and soon world music, children’s events, art-gallery tours and free events were introduced, and the dance and theatre programme was extended. With more than 200 events taking place in various locations around town, from early in the evening to early in the morning, this year’s amazing programme allows everybody to find something to suit their taste.

The central hub of the night will be located in the Finlandia Park, with some 20 scheduled events, such as a jazz picnic, EtnoFitness and short-film screenings among other things. Many art galleries and museums will be opened until late and theatres will show sneak previews of their autumn programmes. Several venues dedicate their programme to one topic: the Cultural Arena Gloria focuses on poetry, while the Korjaamo Culture Factory will be filled with folk music and the Cable Factory goes French with workshops, short films and a restaurant. Art is also created on the spot, for example at the Street Art Exhibition at the Makkara-

With more than 200 events held throughout the whole night, the Night of Arts offers numerous opportunities for enchantment.

talo where Jussi TwoSeven creates an artwork, or on Mikonkatu 3, where Venla Martikainen builds a chocolaty installation.

Instead of only being a spectator, one can also become an active participant, learn or shop as well. At Kännikapina free advice on flirting and dating is offered. At the photography competition Fotomaraton one can get creative and win prizes, and at the C. Hagelstam International Bibliophilic Antiquarian Bookshop you get 25 per cent off all books. At Emmaus visitors can create fruit-storage bags or spice up clothes at a sewing workshop, while children can take part in a space-related crafts project at the Alnilam shop. Those are just a few examples, of course, and the best way to experience the Night of Arts is not to plan too much – but instead drift though the night and discover the different atmospheres on offer at the various events.

NINA RATAVAARA - HT
LEHTIKUVA - MIKKO STIG