Programme

Our Programme

The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux encourages and supports artistic and critical collaboration and exchange between the Benelux and Finland. Our programme is infused with contemporary, sustainable, and cross-disciplinary cultural initiatives.

We work with artistic projects as well societal and topical themes, aiming for equality, inclusivity, and anti-racist efforts within our programming. Our focus ranges from visual arts and contemporary design to creative performances – from expertise exchange to discussion forums on current issues. We produce our own content as well as collaborate with different partners, and we are actively involved in networks such as MoveMen, and the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) clusters in Belgium and the Netherlands.

For more information please contact our Head of Programme, Malin Bergström, malin.bergstrom@finncult.be

Programme 2026

World premieres and a sauna gathering: Finnish film at IFFR 2026

The Institute and partners hosted a networking and sauna event at IFFR 2026, celebrating Finnish film and fostering industry collaboration.

Learn Finnish at the first-ever Brussels Multilingualism Week!

Spend Valentine’s Day learning Finnish with us at Bourse! The Institute is excited to be part Brussels Multilingualism Week together with the EUNIC Brussels cluster.

Juha Vehmaanperä’s exhibition infuses traditional craft and fashion with punk energy

Finnish knitwear artist Juha Vehmaanperä’s first major solo exhibition, Craft Punk opens at the Gallery of the Architecture & Design Museum on 20.2.2026.

2026: New year, new horizons

Johanna Råman shares more on 2026 at the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux. It’s all about artists, international exchange, and cultural policy in action!

The Days: Maria Nurmela, Ville Oinonen and Theo Clinkard

The Days performed by Maria Nurmela and Ville Oinonen comes to TROIS C-L this March.

Strong Finnish presence at IFFR 2026

Explore Finnish films at IFFR 2026, featuring world premieres and Tiger Short Competition entry “I Am a River” by Heidi Piiroinen.

Programme 2025

Institute office closed for the holiday season 2025-26

Our office will be closed 19.12.2025–4.1.2026. We wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to reconnecting in the new year!

Mami Kang and Salim Mabrouk take the stage as Grid premieres in Helsinki

Emmi Venna’s Grid, a movement-dense, constantly reforming vortex of music and dance premieres 3.12 at Tanssin talo.

Pink Screens film festival is a kaleidoscope to queer existence

Communications Assistant Oscar Arminen shares his experience attending and volunteering at the Pink Screens – Brussels Queer Film Festival.

Oulu unveils its 2026 programme as the European Capital of Culture in Brussels

The European Capitals of Culture 2026, Oulu and Trenčín, unveiled their programmes to audiences in Brussels on the 4th of November.

blood and thunder: A conversation with Kevin Fay

An in-depth interview with Kevin Fay about his artistic process, balancing the personal and the political, and his use of tender improvisation.

Explore gender identity through movement and sound with Kevin Fay at TOIVOLA festival

Join Kevin Fay and Guillaume Soula on 14 November at TOIVOLA Festival for a performance and workshop exploring gender identity.

Everyday Priorities at Metro54

Join us on 1 November at Metro54 in Amsterdam for an evening featuring new performative works by artists Flis Holland and Joy Mariama Smith.

The Green Train: Riding the night, planting the future

The Green Train in collaboration with European Sleeper brings art, sustainability, and ecological action on a unique cross-border journey with Nina Backman.

Everyday Priorities at Baltic Circle

Join us at Baltic Circle on 26 November for two new performative works by artists Flis Holland and Joy Mariama Smith that stretch the limits of communication, access, and perception.

Benelux-based choreographers take the stage at Moving in November 2025

Don’t miss Cherish Menzo’s FRANK and Soa Ratsifandrihana’s Fampitaha, fampita, fampitàna at Moving in November, 6–16.11.2025 in Helsinki.

Netherlands-based artist duo join ‘Invisible Race’ exhibition at the Finnish Museum of Photography

The Institute supports Zibelnik and Ganslmeier’s visit to Helsinki for the exhibition and its curated programme.

Finnish curators visit RendezVous Brussels Art Week

RendezVous – Brussels Art Week welcomes Finnish curators Sakari Tervo and Max Hannus this week.

Save the date for Jenna Sutela’s first solo exhibition in the Netherlands

From 4 October, experience Finnish artist Jenna Sutela’s exhibition ‘Ave bossa, bow ole’ at Stroom Den Haag.

Eeva Juutinen performs Unknown for talking bodies in Brussels

Finnish choreographer Eeva Juutinen performs “Unknown for talking bodies” on 27 and 28 August at Pianofabriek.

Policy and accountability: Finnish cultural and academic institutes gather in Brussels

We are excited to host the annual Spring Days in Brussels, where all 17 Finnish cultural and academic institutes are gathering to explore policy, accountability, and collaboration from 4–6 June 2025. We will be joined by experts, and policymakers.

Michelangelo Miccolis joins professionals programme organised by Hangö Teaterträff, Kiasma Theatre and Performing Arts Centre – Eskus

We are thrilled to support Belgium-based Michelangelo Miccolis’s participation to the professionals programme at URB Festival taking place this June in Helsinki, Finland.

Leading international curators from the Benelux, Sandrine Colard and Gabi Ngcobo, visit Helsinki Biennial Preview

International curators Sandrine Colard and Gabi Ngcobo to visit the Helsinki Biennial Preview as part of Frame’s visitor programme at the Helsinki Biennial, organised in partnership with HAM Helsinki Art Museum.

Alma Heikkilä’s solo exhibition opens on 31 May at RADIUS in Delft

Discover Alma Heikkilä’s solo exhibition at RADIUS, in Delft, The Netherlands, 31.5.–24.8.2025 exploring human-microbial entanglements and multispecies art practices.

Press Release: Teo Ala-Ruona’s powerful performance debuts in the Netherlands

The Finnish performance artist Teo Ala-Ruona’s Parachorale has its Dutch debut this May at Vleeshal in Middelburg, the Netherlands. Experience this groundbreaking performance blending choral singing, live tattooing, and ritual 17–18.5.2025.

Disabled futures – Josefien Cornette in conversation with Jenni-Juulia Wallinheimo-Heimonen

Josefien Cornette (BE) and Jenni-Juulia Wallinheimo-Heimonen (FI) reflect on art-making as disabled creators, exploring accessibility, community, and humour, offering a powerful vision of a more inclusive cultural field beyond an ableist world.

A gothic carnival of flesh and voice: Teo Ala-Ruona’s Parachorale debuts in the Netherlands this May

Parachorale by Finnish artist Teo Ala-Ruona and working group, has its Dutch debut at Vleeshal Center for Contemporary Art in Middelburg this May.

Ready to gather again for Everyday Priorities – Art, Technology and Accommodations?

Join us for Gathering II of Everyday Priorities – Art, Technology and Accommodations in Helsinki, Amsterdam and online 6.5.2025, 18:30 CET.

Colour: Seeing Beyond Pigment with Tiina Pyykkinen

Helsinki-based artist Tiina Pyykkinen joins “Colour – Seeing Beyond Pigment” at Z33, an exhibition in Hasselt, Belgium, spotlighting sustainable colour innovations using melanin. From 8.5.–24.8.2025, researchers, designers, and artists unveil their fascinating results.

Unveiling Renaissance: WAUHAUS’ Dutch debut at SPRING festival

Experience Renaissance by WAUHAUS, the acclaimed Helsinki-based arts collective, in their Dutch debut at SPRING Performing Arts Festival. This powerful 60-minute performance ritual explores transformation, queer futures, and radical imagination. 30.-31.5. at SPRING, Utrecht.