A big, warm thank you to all the artists, partners, working groups and of course the audience!!!
This year, the main venue of the festival was the old Elanto bread factory, and the venues of the Cultural Centre Caisa and the House of Text. It was great to organise the festival in a great setting in the middle of the city, and the audience found the new venues great! OAF also broke new ground this year by taking over Espoo’s cultural houses.
Highlights from the festival include the OAF Poetry Stage, which was packed with people and had an electric and enthusiastic atmosphere. Many OAF poets were performing for the first time in front of a large audience, and everyone outdid themselves. Alongside newcomers were sovereign performances by WSOY and Runokuu poets.
The fantastic exhibitions at Caisa Gallery and Pertti’s Choice must also be considered absolute highlights of the festival. We asked Juhani Rusanen, artist of the OAF visual arts programme, for his feelings about the festival: “The standard of the festival was high and the event was joyful as it has always been. It was great to be part of it!” Rusanen’s red clay work “Strong Opinion” sold immediately on the opening day, when it was picked up by journalist Maria Veitola.
Thanks again to everyone for the great atmosphere!!!!
