Marvellous art and entertainment programme have the ability to make us stop, reflect and become aware of the beauty, diversity and harmony of the world around us. By marking the European Heritage Days 2019 common theme "Arts and Entertainment", Finland invites us to explore national and common heritage through arts and entertainment forms from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Circle.

“Arts and Entertainment: Heritage on the Stage” is in the focus throughout the year in Finland. The entire country is on a mission to explore the essential value of art and entertainment in our everyday lives and how it translates to our shared heritage. With main events of the European Heritage Days being scheduled from 2 to 8 September, rich and exciting programme dedicated to the common theme will be organized locally and nationally throughout the year.

As announced at the Ministry of Environment of Finland, on Tuesday, 5 February, the year is dedicated to celebrating the magical power of various artistic and entertainment forms to spiritually uplift and provide a common ground for people to share. Around 500 events will be organized around Finland throughout the year at museums, theatres, cinemas, clubs, concert halls and stages to celebrate arts and entertainment in the multitude of its expressions.

Music Takes Centre Stage at the Opening Ceremony

Appropriately, the theme was launched with a song, by none other than the Minister Tiilikainen himself. Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing, Kimmo Tiilikainen treated nearly one hundred guests at the opening ceremony to a song, while being accompanied by Netta Skog and Klaus Lavila on the guitar. The opening performance culminated with the performance by the digital accordion world champion of 2015, Netta Skog.

Delighted audience at the opening ceremony had the opportunity to attend the Kaisaniemi’s primary music class 4C. Some of the youngest heritage bearers presented two songs as an announcement of the future of artistic and entertainment heritage of Finland.

“Heritage Makers” on Stage

Originally designed in Finland, the Heritage Makers Competition is extending to a European dimension as European Heritage Makers Week, an educational storytelling initiative that inspires children to become actively involved as heritage commentators, makers and preservers. With this perspective in mind, the opening ceremony in Finland welcomed 8-year-old Saga Koivisto, the Finnish winner of the 2018 European Heritage Makers competition, to present her work on stage.  

Hotels as Entertainment Venues

Discussing the cultural heritage of Finland at the opening, Maria Ollila, Museum Lecturer at the Hotel and Restaurant Museum, emphasized the traditional significance of Finish hotels and restaurants for the development of art and entertainment scene in Finland. Over the years, hotels from Kämp to Vaakuna and restaurants from Fennia to Kosmos have served as vibrant meeting spots and exhibit spaces for artistic and entertainment expression. 

A walk to Remember

With the aim to highlight the art and entertainment spaces as important custodians of the cultural heritage, the opening ceremony ended with a walking tour of the old and abandoned cinemas in Helsinki, led by Juhani Styrman, creator of the Kallio Cultural Network. Styrman reflected on the international credibility the Kallio's Cultural Network has gained being involved at the European Heritage Days programme.
 

The well-organized work of event organizers and efficient communication with coordinators, will help this years’ EHDs celebration to build on the success of previous seasons, as the Finnish National Coordinator of the EHDs, Jonina Vaahtolammi stated.

Providing a bonding experience between performers, spectators and artists, the captivating effect of artistic and entertainment performance will serve as a shared canvas for expressing connectedness and common values at European Heritage Days 2019 in Finland.