Espoo’s cultural venues have a fantastic cultural offering for Women’s Day

24.2.2025 8.35Updated: 26.2.2025 7.47

A visitor at the Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora. Photo: Kerttu Penttilä

Exciting women of history, the story of Minna Canth, Sara Siipola, Katri Ylander, Janna, female figures in films and much more will be on the programme in March around International Women’s Day!

The Espoo Cultural Centre, Sello Hall, Kannusali, Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora and WeeGee Exhibition Centre will once again pay attention to equality as International Women’s Day approaches on Saturday, 8 March. The day is also reflected more widely in the month’s programme, while also serving as a reminder that there is still a long way to go to achieve equality.

Equality has slowly improved, especially in the music industry

According to Teosto’s 2024 Equality Report, equality and parity are slowly improving in the music industry. “The share of women who compose and write music has remained at around one-fifth. However, women have long accounted for more than half of music students. In Finland, the share of women among music performers and producers has remained at around 25%. People from ethnic, linguistic and sexual minorities experience the most discrimination and unfair treatment in the music industry.” (Source: Musiikkialan yhdenvertaisuus ja tasa-arvo kehittyvät hitaasti(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish), Teosto 18 April 2024)

For Leena Hoppania, Manager of Cultural Services at Espoo’s Cultural Venues and Services, Women’s Day is a reminder of the work that strong women have done throughout history to promote equality.

“While much has already been achieved in the Nordic countries, there is still work to be done. There have been times in my career when it has been a little difficult to be heard or seen as a woman. As a man, it is probably more acceptable to be louder and tougher, but I have tried to disregard that. Espoo’s cultural venues use anonymous recruitment, which ensures that employers hire the best people on an equal basis, regardless of gender, ethnicity or anything else,” says Hoppania.

The cultural venues aim to pay attention to diversity in their contents. During Women’s Day week, Hoppania plans to go to Sello Hall to see the performance “Suomifilmin Salaiset Kansiot – The Search for the Missing Female Role” on Wednesday, 5 March.

“The historical female role presented to us through entertainment is very narrow. This does of course not correspond to reality, but has been a representation of a certain ideal. That is why it is interesting to see how the subject has been approached,” Hoppania continues.

Exciting women of history and the story of Minna Canth at the Espoo Cultural Centre

Next week, on Wednesday, 12 March, you can enjoy the play “Exciting Women of History”, which brings to life female figures forgotten and excluded from historical writing because of their gender. The play is based on Maria Pettersson’s book of the same name.

The monologue play “Minna C. – For the Love of Human Dignity” tells the story of the exceptionally talented Finnish woman, Minna Canth, on Wednesday, 19 March. Minna was a controversial figure who shocked the 19th century Finnish society with her argumentative writings and lifestyle. Free admission.

Read more about the performance “Exciting Women of History” on the espoo.fi website.

Sello Hall once again to celebrate Women’s Day for an entire week

Sello Hall in Leppävaara has celebrated Women’s Day over several days for several years in a row. This year’s programme will not disappoint!

Sello Hall’s Women’s Day week starts on Tuesday, 4 March with an afternoon concert by Duo Susanna and Henna, accompanied by piano and accordion. The programme includes both the duo’s own compositions and old dance music from decades past. Free admission.

“During the week, we will celebrate not only International Women’s Day, but also the achievements of great artists: Janna’s eponymous album just celebrated its 10th anniversary (in Sello Hall on Saturday, 8 March), Katri Ylander celebrates her 20-year artistic career (on Friday, 7 March) and Sara Siipola just released her already-platinum-selling album, Sanon Sen Nyt Ääneen (Thursday, 6 March),” says Sello Hall’s Cultural Producer Teo Ottelin.

On Wednesday, 5 March, Sello Hall will also feature the performance “Suomifilmin Salaiset Kansiot – The Search for the Missing Female Role”, which explores, among other things, the history of female roles in films with a humorous approach.

Barbie film, wall rug workshop and jazz

The film Barbie (2023) was chosen to the programme of Kannusali in Espoon keskus on Women’s Day on Saturday, 8 March, because it raises the issue of the diversity of femininity and equality in a fresh and entertaining way.

“The film offers not only a nostalgic journey into the world of the iconic Barbie character, but also a thought-provoking story that is perfect for celebrating the themes of Women’s Day,” says Cultural Producer Ella Lindeman.

Read more about the Barbie film on the espoo.fi website.

The Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora in Järvenperä organises programme for adults and children alike. Production Manager Johanna Kallioaho says that it is of paramount importance for the activities of the Children’s Cultural Centre that children can experience a wide range of artistic experiences, regardless of their gender. The Women’s Day programme on Saturday, 8 March includes a Common Wall Rug workshop with recycled materials.

April Jazz Club + WeeGee: Silva Kallionpää Quartet will perform at the WeeGee Exhibition Centre in Tapiola on Friday, 7 March. Violinist Kallionpää’s compositions inquisitively stretch familiar moulds and continually seek new paths of expression. In addition to jazz, Kallionpää’s open-minded approach is realised through and influenced by art pop and electronic music.

Espoo’s cultural venues and services

The City of Espoo’s cultural venues and services include the Espoo Cultural Centre, Sello Hall, Kannusali, Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora, WeeGee Exhibition Centre and the Espoonlahti Cultural Project.

Espoo’s cultural venues apply the principles of safer spaces.