My Oulu: The city has chosen 14 culture partners – significant support for local art and community
Oulu’s culture partners are, for example, Flow Productions (left), Oulu Urban Culture which organizes the Frozen People event (upper right) and the Oulu Culture Events Assocation which coordinates the Oulu August Festivals. Photos: Janne-Pekka Manninen / Oulu Theatre, Pasi Rytinki & Maria Rautakoski / Oulu August Festivals.
Jaa sosiaalisessa mediassa:
The city of Oulu has chosen culture contract partners for the coming 2025–2027 season. Culture partnerships support communities that practice culture professionally and reinforce Oulu’s cultural life.
14 communities representing different forms of art were chosen as the city’s culture contract partners. The activities of these communities enrich the lives of Oulu’s citizens with diverse cultural content and events.
The new contract partners cover a wide range of art forms. There are communities representing dance, film, literature, visual art and music among the partners. This is a way to ensure that Oulu’s culture field continues developing and invigorates the city for both locals and guests.
“The city of Oulu’s goal is that culture and art build communality and creativity, and reinforce identities”, the city of Oulu’s Culture Director Sami Ylisaari states.
29 applicants
The culture partners were chosen by open applications, for which the city received 29 applications. The selection process considered the feasibility of the applicants’ action plans, production volume and finances. The most important criteria were accessibility, sustainable development, and the realization of equality, non-discrimination and diversity in the applicant’s activities. The final selection was carried out according to a specialist group’s recommendations.
“Culture partnership is a significant matter to operators, which is seen in the number of applications. The city’s goal is long-term support for the work of goal-oriented culture and art professionals and reinforcing Oulu’s cultural field”, Ylisaari explains.
An annual total of 805 000 € is distributed to culture partners during the contract period starting from 2025. The amount is confirmed as the city’s budget estimate is approved.
“Oulu’s culture partners carry out activities based on their personal goals and participate in culture matters that involve the entire city as well, such as updating the culture strategy. Partnership is an important tool for the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year and its inheritance work”, Ylisaari explains.
City of Oulu’s culture partners 2025–27:
- Flow ry, 60 000 €
- JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre ry, 110 000 €
- Cultural Cooperative ILME, 30 000 €
- Oulu Urban Culture ry, 50 000 €
- Oulu Film Centre ry, 110 000 €
- Oulu Writers Association ry, 40 000 €
- Oulu Culture Events Association ry, 120 000 €
- Oulu Music Video Festival ry, 40 000 €
- Oulu Comics Center ry, 30 000 €
- Oulu Artists Association 63 ry, 50 000 €
- Northern Photographic Centre ry, 70 000 €
- Circus and Theater Association Lumous ry, 20000 €
- TaikaBox ry, 40 000 €
- Uleåborg Jazz Organisation ry / Oulu All Star Big Band, 35 000 €