Espoo’s cultural venues promote diversity

Espoo Cultural Centre aims to provide more events to seniors. The events have been developed by listening carefully to the wishes of the target group. As a result, the accessibility of events and communication has been improved and the wishes and expectations of seniors have been taken into account when planning the programme.

“We aim to offer free, inclusive events to a diverse group of people as part of Espoo Cultural Centre’s audience outreach work. In the spring, we started to explore potential partners among various seniors’ organisations. We want to reach out to the entire spectrum of senior citizens and to communicate that everyone is welcome to the cultural centre just as they are,” says Cultural Producer Maija Hietala.

On 20 June, Helsinki Gay Men’s Chorus Out ‘n loud will perform on Espoo Cultural Centre’s outdoor stage Amfi. Admission to the event is free, and the programme includes a singalong. The event organisers cooperate with Sateenkaariseniorit ry (association of LGBTQ+ seniors) in order to reach as many LGBTQ+ seniors as possible. 

Read more about Espoo Cultural Centre’s Pride event on the espoo.fi website. 
Read more about Sateenkaariseniorit on the association’s website(external link, opens in a new window).

The autumn programme includes an event for seniors on the eve of Independence Day on 5 December. Information on autumn events will be provided on the website of Espoo Cultural Centre in June.

Kannusali, Espoo’s underground cultural venue located in Espoon keskus, started working with an influencer panel of young people in the spring. These young people aged 16–25 living in the capital region have actively participated in the development of Kannusali’s services. The panellists have suggested ideas for concerts and for improving the customer service experience.

Kannusali will continue engaging in open dialogue with young people. Feedback will be collected more extensively through Kannusali’s social media channels. The goal is to attract more young people to the venue, as Espoon keskus has a sizable youth population. Kannusali will continue to serve people of all ages, but the focus will be on planning events for young people based on their suggestions. Read more about Kannusali’s influencer panel in the espoo.fi news article: Young influencer panel involved in developing Kannusali

Exhibition Centre WeeGee, located in Tapiola, aims to take diverse audiences into account in the design of its services and content. WeeGee develops its operations and services by listening to the public and stakeholders. The centre also collaborates with experts and partners.

In 2023, an accessibility survey was carried out at WeeGee and Espoo’s other cultural venues, based on which their accessibility has been improved. Based on the survey, WeeGee published more comprehensive instructions on the accessibility of the exhibition centre. Customer service training in plain language has been arranged for the staff.

In order to develop its services, WeeGee also carried out a service path project in 2023, in which feedback from the public was collected through facilitated workshops and independently organised service walk-throughs. WeeGee will work on the development targets identified in the service path project during 2024–2025 together with EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art and KAMU Espoo City Museum.

Read more about accessibility and equality at Exhibition Centre WeeGee on the espoo.fi website.

Cooperation between Sello Hall and Espoon monikulttuuriset lapset ja nuoret ry (Mokulat, association of Espoo’s multicultural children and young people) started last year. Among other things, the partners have discussed how Sello Hall could produce more experiences for children and young people who do not speak Finnish or Swedish as their mother tongue.

The first collaborative event took place on 4 January 2024, and it was a success: 269 people came to see the Hyppynarutus performance by Tanssiteatteri Raatikko. For many of those in attendance, this was the first live performance they saw in a real concert hall with fine stage lights. The event was free of charge.  The next collaborative event will take place in early January 2025.

Sello Hall and Espoo’s Roma Association organised a celebration in honour of International Roma Day in April. Read more about the event at espoo.fi (in Finnish).

Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora will bring culture closer to children and their families in autumn 2024. The idea is to offer cultural activities outside the cultural centre itself, for example at the community house and family centre in Espoon keskus. The aim is to gather information on children’s and their families’ needs and wishes related to children’s culture and to find practices that will encourage families to consume children’s culture and visit Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora. Art instructor Jenni Vilander is responsible for the planning and implementation of the art activities in cooperation with Aurora and Mokulat ry. 

 

Principles for a safer space introduced at cultural venues 

In recent years, the staff of Espoo’s cultural venues have participated in many equality training sessions, and the city’s cultural venues have introduced principles for a safer space. You can read more about the principles on the venues’ websites. For example, information about Exhibition Centre WeeGee’s principles for a safer space is available on WeeGee’s website.(external link, opens in a new window)

Diversity work is part of our cultural venues’ development project for 2024, which aims at taking better account of Espoo’s diverse customer groups. Espoo’s Cultural Venues and Services include Espoo Cultural Centre, Sello Hall, Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora, Exhibition Centre WeeGee, Kannusali and the Espoonlahti cultural project.