Finland is bringing its latest feats in sustainability to the fore at the upcoming Festival of the New European Bauhaus, which is open for all and free of charge. It takes place in Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Arts & History Museum in Brussels, Belgium on 9–13 April, 2024. The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux serves as a liaison between the Finnish initiatives in the festival and local organisations in Brussels.
Held under the theme Planet for All, the festival is organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. You can also take part online or attend Satellite events around Europe and beyond. Find out how Finland is part of the festivities!
Wednesday, 10 April
Panel discussion: Transforming our built environment: key challenges and opportunities
16:10–16:55, Park Stage
Attendees interested in the future of carbon-neutral construction are in luck! The discussion is moderated by Professor Matti Kuittinen from Aalto University and it includes a video introduction by Ciaran Cuffe, Member of the European Parliament, rapporteur for the Energy Performance in Building Directive.
The panellists are Kurt Vandenberghe, Director General for Climate Action, European Commission, Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Stora Enso, Andreja Kutnar, Professor at the University of Primorska and Director of InnoRenew CoE and Giulia Frittoli, Senior Landscape Architect and Partner at BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
Exhibition opening: Time Out! Rethinking Construction
17:00–19:00, Museum of Art & History
Aalto University‘s exhibition highlights solutions that could help keep the built environment within planetary boundaries. It is set in motion with an opening event that includes the likes of Associate Vice President Hannu Seristö and Associate Professor of Sustainable Construction Matti Kuittinen from Aalto University. Keen to take part in the festive proceedings? Make sure to register for the opening by Monday, 8 April.
Time Out! Rethinking Construction is on display until Saturday, 13 April.
Panel discussion: Change on the ground: success stories of the NEB
17:05–17:55, Park Stage
What have been some of the positive impacts of the New European Bauhaus initiative? Find out together with moderator Mária Beňačková Rišková, who is a curator and editor at the Slovak Design Museum. The panellists are Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku, Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform, Marcos Ros Sempere, Member of the European Parliament, Adrian Câciu, Minister for Investments and European Projects, Enda Hogan, Assistant Director of Southern Regional Assembly and Mato Frankovic, Mayor of Dubrovnik.
Performance: Veila
18:45–19:30, Park Stage
Veila, the first and only co-play kantele band in the world, delights the audience with present-day hits with a traditional twist. Based in Joensuu, Finland, the band includes performers Siiri Ahtola, Joel Kenakkala, Lumi Ollila and Tiia Turunen.
Thursday, 11 April
Workshop: Finimalize this!
14:00–15:00, Fair Stage
Finimalism, the joint initiative of Archinfo, Finnish Design Info and Fashion Finland, indulges festival-goers in a live workshop. The moderator Katja Lindroos, Project Manager of Finimalism, is joined by Matti Kuittinen, Anna Ruohonen and Jaakko Torvinen. Together, the panellists and audience members have the opportunity to look at everyday environments with new eyes – and to finimalize them.
NEB x Finland: Discovering Nordic Dimension to Green Transition
18:15–20:00, Helsinki EU Office
Archinfo, Finimalism, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Aalto University and the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) cordially invite festival participants to an informal discussion on the role of the creative industries in the green transition. The event at the Helsinki EU Office will provide an opportunity to get to know the Finnish participants of the festival better over light refreshments and snacks.
Fill out the registration form here.
Friday, 12 April
Workshop: NEB Stewardship Lab
12:00–13:00, Fair Stage
What is the role of higher education as part of the EU’s social, economic and ecological restructuring? Join the workshop to find out. The NEB Stewardship Lab is a joint effort of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, University of Turin, IADE – Universidade Europeia, NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Cyprus Institute and Green Growth Generation.
New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024 Ceremony
18:00–20:00, Museum Stage
The New European Bauhaus Prizes recognise initiatives that contribute to shaping a sustainable, beautiful and inclusive future for Europe. From Finland, the Circular Green Blocks project is among the finalists in the category Regaining a sense of belonging, more specifically in its strand New European Bauhaus Champions. The project is a partnership between Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY), Forum Virium Helsinki, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Aalto University.
Satellite events
If you are in Finland during the Festival of the New European Bauhaus, have a look at the Satellite events held in Oulu, Pori and Helsinki. The hybrid events are also live-streamed.
All times are given in Brussels time (CET). Kindly note that the festival programme is subject to change.
Reimagining Nordic Living Environments – Discussion on Nordic Construction Culture
To get in the festival spirit, take a trip down memory lane with a recording of our event Reimagining Nordic Living Environments – Discussion on Nordic Construction Culture. It was organised as an official side event of the previous Festival of the New European Bauhaus held in 2022, as a collaboration between The Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland and The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux.
Read more on the event and its panellists.