2020
This year has been one of strong turbulence, and it has forced us to face the deepest vulnerabilities and recognise the severest flaws of our societies.
On March 23rd, The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes network launched #TogetherAloneFI in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Nine weeks and 437 applications later, we have now commissioned 20 artists, creatives and collectives around the globe. For the third - and final - application round of Together Alone, we have selected eight projects out of no less than 166 applications.
The Benelux Institute's trainees Emil Kusnetsoff and Sara Martinsen are talking about work and life balance during the current global situation.
The second selection round of Together Alone is now completed! We were thrilled to receive (once again!) no less than 142 applications from homebound artists and collectives around the world.
Hanna picked 5 Finnish artists doing creative things with flowers, whether it's photography, installation or making bouquets.
Emil has selected his 5 favourite Finnish films of 2010s that are definitely worth watching. From an 80s style adventure to a BDSM-themed love story and a black-and-white boxing movie, spend your lockdown getting to know fascinating Finnish cinema.
We were happy to receive (and read!) 129 applications for the first Together Alone round, an open call for art projects organised by The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes network in response to the challenges of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Sara has selected 5 Finnish photographers who are definitely worth checking out. Working in different styles, sectors and even cities, they all have a splendid aye for beauty and details.
In memory of Secretary of Cultural Affairs Françoise de Saligny, a great friend of Finland and Finnish culture.
In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing and highlighting organisations, artists, venues, etc. to support the people around us. We encourage you to click, discover, enjoy, support and stick together in these unreal times.
First up: 5 Finnish illustrators at the top of their game, selected by Hanna.
Article based on the Youth/Masculinities panel discussion organised on the 6th of November 2019 in The National Museum of Finland, as part of the Institute's RE/defining Masculinities Helsinki week. The article is written by the journalist Nana Blomqvist, working as the Project Coordinator for Ekvalita's masculinity programme "Vem é man?" - an important partner in the Institute's RE/defining Masculinities project.
Call to the Wild exhibition presents a refined combination of contemporary sculptural works by the glass artist Laura Laine, the textile artist Kustaa Saksi, and the sculptor Kim Simonsson.
2020 does not only ring in a new year, but also a new decade. In a world where everything is in a constant shift, ten years feel like an eternity. We are entering the new decade with question marks all around us. What will become of us, our lives and the world around us? Coming from these questions and ideas, we present NEW Normal as this year's overall theme.
We’re looking for new local advisors in The Netherlands and Luxembourg, to keep in touch and stay up to date with all the trends and future directions in our countries of operation.
Apply before 14/2/20!
2019
Interview with Pieter Claes about men and masculinity. The interview was conducted by The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux as part of the RE/defining Masculinities project.
Interview with the musician Kriticos Mwansa about men and masculinity. The interview was conducted by The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux as part of the RE/defining Masculinities project.
During Finland’s presidency of the Council of the EU starting at in July, Brussels will be featuring some of the top names in Finnish contemporary art and culture, as well as rising new talents. The broad cultural programme supports the priority themes of the EU presidency period and The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux in Brussels is closely involved in carrying out the programme.
In 2018, the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux’s programme focused on Transition. In 2019, our theme is RE/definitions.
2018
How did you wake up this morning? Maybe to an alarm on your cell phone? What was your first thought? For many of us it’s “Can I sleep for another half hour?”. And, what was your last thought of the evening? Maybe you thought about whether you could watch just one more episode on your streaming service or whether it was really time for you to go to sleep. In fact, it is likely that these were the first and last risk management decisions of your day. Each of one us makes hundreds of risk management decisions whether we are at home, in our free time, or at work. Do you know the kinds of risks you are taking while navigating the digital world in our everyday life?
Do you know (or are you yourself) a Finnish artist, producer, programmer, writer, designer or other creative professional working in the Benelux-area?
Besides Finland, the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux operates in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The Institute’s offices are located in Brussels. In order to remain up to date with all the trends and future directions in its countries of operation, the Institute cooperates with local advisors.
What if the future of music came from the Far North? There is no doubt that Nordic and Finnish musicians play an important role in the international music scene. Every category has a Nordic touch : vocal and instrumental music, metal, traditional and contemporary music, and jazz.
Less than two months ago I moved from Tokyo to Brussels, straight into the heart of Europe and the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux’s great programming for 2018! We have our excellent previous Director Aleksi Malmberg to thank for carrying out the preparations for the start of the year, as well as our amazing team, with whom I now have the privilege of adding new initiatives and ideas to the programme.
Okay, so there’s nothing here on the Sámi people”, I noticed at the end of an introductory tour of the House of European History.
I was visiting the relatively new House of European History at the beginning of February as part of a group of twenty odd individuals involved in the Remembering 1918 programme. Each one of us had the task that day of leading our own public tours of the House of European History. After the introductory tour, we were given a few hours to prepare to offer our own views on the museum’s exhibition which deals with European history.
For several years, this small international festival has been experimenting with new curatorial practices in a fierce and open way. The festival distinguishes itself by introducing co-curating, by politicising curatorship, and by rethinking the international. Baltic Circle hereby positions itself as a forerunner and is an ideal ground to visit with students who are themselves operating in the field of “expanding curation”.