Outsider Art Festival, Pertin Valinta and Kyrö Distillery organised a workshop at the Music X Media conference in Tampere Hall on 4.10.2024. The workshop’s theme was new employment solutions and equality in the creative industries.
Pertti’s Choice founding member Sami Helle and Kyrö Distillery founding member Miika Salmi Lipiäinen, professor of practice at the University of Tampere, talked about Pertti’s Choice and Kyrö’s business cooperation and the True Equality employment program. The program is based on the principle of equal access for all to participate in the rebuilding of the cultural and hospitality sector. True Equality program employs more than 100 people every year. During the workshop, Helle shared his own story of how he has been employed through the program over the years as an artist, shopkeeper, presenter, festival guide, curator and caterer, among others.
Miika Turunen, host of Radio Helsinki’s Pertti Valinnat program, talked about his own path to being emplyed as Finland’s first disabled radio journalist. Teuvo Merkkiniemi, CEO of Pertti’s Choice, highlighted examples of how Pertti’s Choice employs special groups, for example through its shop, gallery and event production. Tuomas Vaahtoluoto, producer of the Outsider Art Festival, spoke about the OAF Academy program, which supports the long-term work of outsider artists, and the festival guides that are employed at the festival. Finally, the workshop participants discussed and sparred over new ideas for improving equality in working life and employing people with special needs.
The workshop also discussed the story of Jessica Rasila, a waitress who has been employed in her own profession through the True Equality programme at for example Kyrö’s and OAF’s events over several years. Watch a video of Jessica’s journey here.
Read more: Kyrö Distillery, Pertti’s Choice, Music x Media, OAF Academy
