Art is hope – and hope is action. The OAF HOPE Talks discussion series highlights hopeful talks, encounters and actions from the creative events sector on OAF stages, on the radio and on social media.
Wednesday, August 19
Opening of the Forest of Hope exhibition, Pertin Valinta x Tiketti Galleria
- 17:30 · Opening speech at Pertin Valinta — Emilie Gardberg, Director General of the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency
- Talks by the curators of OAF’s visual arts programme: Jaana Miettinen, StudioViis, and Christine Langinauer, Amos Rex. Artist talks alongside the work presentations.
Thursday, August 20
- 16:00–18:00 · MegOAFone talks, under the Lippa canopy at Oodi — featuring MC Harakka, shout poet Eero Heinonen, Kynnys ry, Pekka Luodeslampi, and Pekka Suomalainen, an ordinary Finnish man, plus open mic slots for the audience
- 16:00–20:00 · Encounters of Hope, Opera House foyer — with OAF curators Nilas Lindell and Maija Karhunen
- 17:00 Thu 20 Aug – 20:00 Fri 21 Aug · Sauna of Hope, an installation by Natalia Tong-Ochoa, Kuutio, Oodi, 2nd floor — Natalia’s talk on Thu 20 Aug at 17:00
- 18:00–20:00 · Amfilava stage, Opera House — Markus Raivio, Executive Director of Kukunori ry and Ashoka Fellow, interviews the makers of the Jarmo drum tribute
- 18:45 · Amfilava stage, Opera House — Javier Torres, Artistic Director of the Finnish National Ballet, and Heini Merkkiniemi, Executive Director of OAF, in conversation
- 19:20 · Lavaklubi, Finnish National Theatre — Mika Myllyaho, Director of the Finnish National Theatre
- 20:00 · Lavaklubi, Finnish National Theatre — Jenni Haukio, Director of Corporate Relations at WSOY
Friday, August 21
- 15:00–15:30 · OAF x EMMA curators’ discussion, EMMA — moderated by Heini Merkkiniemi, Executive Director of OAF, with panellists Reetta Kalajo, Curator at EMMA, and OAF curators Maija Karhunen, Riikka Hänninen and Nilas Lindell
- 15:30–16:30 · OAF x Espoo opening speeches — Reetta Kalajo, Curator at EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art; Leena Hoppania, Head of Cultural Services, City of Espoo; Sami Ylisaari, CEO of the Helsinki Events Foundation. Jenni Haukio presents the Vimma Award.
Throughout the festival
Outsider Art Festival on social media: Instagram and TikTok
Pertin valinnat radio show
