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    Nordic Cultural Policy Conference

    In times of rapid societal change and global uncertainty, the need to strengthen the foundations of our shared communities becomes ever more pressing. At the heart of this resilience lies culture—not only as a source of identity and creativity, but as essential infrastructure for democratic societies.

    Date

    9.10.2025

    Time

    10.00 - 13.40

    Location

    Hanaholmen, Espoo

    Event type

    Free of charge

    Language

    English
    Register here
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    Art and Culture as Critical Infrastructure in a New Era

    We warmly invite you to a Nordic conference dedicated to examining how art and culture can be recognised and supported as critical societal infrastructure in today’s world. This gathering brings together voices from across the Nordic region to discuss the role of cultural policy in promoting sustainable development, social cohesion, and democratic engagement.

    The conference will place particular focus on the essential contributions made by local and regional governments, as well as the grassroots cultural actors who form the backbone of cultural life across urban and rural areas alike. Together, we will explore how to build cultural ecosystems that are inclusive, dynamic, and equipped to meet the challenges of the future.

    You will find the latest version of the conference programme here:

    TimeProgramme

    13.00

    Welcome
    Gunvor Kronman, CEO, Hanaholmen

    13.05

    Keynote: How Investment in Culture Creates a Better Society
    Kristin Danielsson, Director, Nordic Culture Fund

    13.25

    Panel: How to reach out beyond the capitals and big cities?
    Auri Ahola,Dancer
    Mathias Lafolie, Head of Culture, City of Kalmar
    Aili Liimakka Laue, Head of Secretariat at the Art Council in Greenland
    Piia Rantala-Korhonen, CEO, Oulu2026, European Capital of Culture

    14.10

    Musical performance

    14.25

    Coffee break

    14.55

    Keynote: How to profile the Nordics as a global creative hub
    Christian Have 

    Comment: Interplays between different levels of cultural funding – key findings from the recent report of Kulturanalys Norden
    Jenny Johannisson, Senior Lecturer, Högskolan i Borås

    15.35

    Panel: The Art of adaption - Newways of empoweringculture
    Aleksi Malmberg, Director, Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland
    Helen Sildna, Founder, Tallinn Music Festival
    Tasso Stafilidis, Director, Nordic Institute on Åland
    Anna Takanen, Actor, Director

    16.20

    Magical performance: Elmo Huovila

    16.30

    Concluding remarks
    Gitte Wille, Director, Nordic Culture Point

    16.40

    End of conference


    The conference is arranged by Hanaholmen and the Nordic Culture Point, in cooperation with the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation.

    Contact details

    Victor Andersson

    Programme Director

    victor.andersson@hanaholmen.fi