From sneaking into movies to managing Espoo’s cultural services
The meadows in Tapiola are a favourite place of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Siru and its owner Leena Hoppania. This January, Leena started her work as Manager of Cultural Venues and Services at the City of Espoo. What is our new colleague like?
What does your job as Manager of Cultural Services involve?
I am responsible for Espoo’s cultural houses, which include Espoo Cultural Centre, Sello Hall, WeeGee, Kannusali and Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora.
In addition to the cultural offerings of the houses, I also work on a few other cultural services. One example is the Espoonlahti cultural project, which in summertime offers low-threshold events and art projects in the middle of the Greater Espoonlahti area.
What attracted you to this job, why did you want to work at the City of Espoo?
I consider myself an Espoo resident. I lived in Espoo from the age of ten to my youth, after which I spent two decades exploring the world. About ten years ago, I returned to Espoo.
I wanted this job, because I consider the cultural houses in Espoo to be so large and impressive that they can have a real impact on the well-being of Espoo residents; they can meet the residents’ hunger for culture. Culture is more than the sum of its parts, not just individual performances and exhibitions. It can be used to improve people’s engagement in society and life overall and to prevent social exclusion and loneliness. In today’s world, we can even say that culture strengthens our crisis tolerance. All of this I want to offer to Espoo residents through our cultural houses and events.
What kind of path led you to this job?
A very winding path. Cultural workers often have rather atypical and erratic careers. I have been an entrepreneur, managed my own production company, and worked as a producer and agent and manager.
I have also been involved in developing culture in large national projects and acted as a deputy member of the Espoo Culture Committee and the City Planning Committee.
We were working on big things, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and everything was put on hold. At the same time, a substitute position for a director of culture became available in Joensuu, and I managed the post for a little over a year. After that, I moved to Vuosaari to lead Cultural Centre Sofia.
Then this position became available and here I am, hopefully for a long time.
What should your new colleagues know about you?
A fun titbit of information is that my pet is a Peruvian Hairless Dog – with fur. Siru is a year-old puppy and my second Peruvian Hairless Dog. My life with Siru is active and we spend a lot of time outdoors.
When it comes to working life, my approach to leadership is very non-hierarchical. I want to make the impossible possible. This requires the effort of everyone I work with.
If tonight’s activity were up to you, are we going on a run or to the cinema, theatre or a concert?
I would first go for a jog around the meadows of Tapiola and, of course, take my furball with me. But after that… oh, this is a hard question!
I really like going to the theatre and concerts, and there is plenty to choose from in Espoo. Next on the calendar is the Nuoruus festival of Tapiola Sinfonietta, and I look forward to it.
But maybe today (a Thursday in April) I would choose going to the movies. Our local cinema is Kino Tapiola, which is part of my childhood memories. People, myself included, tried to sneak in through the back door to watch movies, often with little success. Kino Tapiola now has a wide repertoire. Of the movies playing today, I would choose May December, starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman.
What has your work taught you about Espoo?
The City of Espoo’s strength lies in how expansive it is. There is all kinds of help available, which has been a joy. Things are going really well here.
The most tangible new thing has been Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora. Maybe because I do not have children of my own, I was not really familiar with the centre before. Now that I know it better, I have realised how amazing it is!
Your best tip for recovering from work?
Playing with Siru. There is no time to worry about work when you explore the world and witness the coming of spring with a young and energetic dog.
I also spend a lot of time in the country with Siru. Like many others, I began gardening during the pandemic. Nothing really requiring a green thumb, just a few successful and many unsuccessful experiments in the garden. The experiments will continue.
Text Paula Ristimäki, photos Sabrina Bqain.
