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Open call for performances

13 Works Selected for Helsinki Residents in City's Cultural Centres' First Open Call

In December 2025, the City of Helsinki’s Cultural Centres Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Stoa and Vuosaari House held an open call for proposals for the 2026–2027 programme period. The aim of this first-ever call for proposals was to open a new, more accessible and transparent channel for artists in Helsinki to apply to be featured in the centres’ programme.

We have selected 13 works for our programme from among 240 applications. Furthermore, we are continuing discussions with several production groups regarding potential further additions to the selection. The works were selected by a panel consisting of cultural producers, production coordinators and directors from the Cultural Centres.


Selected works

The 2026 autumn period will feature the premieres of RapuRequiem, Agit-Cirk’s dystopian vision blending contemporary circus and theatre, and choreographer Sonja Jokiniemi’s dance piece Arvo, exploring Karelian lament tradition. Past works by street dance group Will Funk For Food, Compañia Kaari, and Kekäläinen & Company are revived as brand-new versions in A Fistful of Funk, Compañia Kaari & Roni Martin Goes ROOTS and Hysteria Mundi – Improvisations on Global Politics.

DuvTeatern and Wegelius Kamarijouset’s Ut genom väggen! / Läpi seinän! celebrates the career of actor and poet Ragnar Bengtström, while Ellin elokuvahetki features dance films created by Myrskyryhmä in collaboration with senior dancers. We will publish further information about the productions selected for 2027 at a later date.

The works selected through the open call are listed below. We may make additions to the list as the discussions progress. Find out more about the works via the links in the list.


Touring works

  • Will Funk For Food: A Fistful of Funk – at Kanneltalo on 12 June, 23 and 24 October; at Stoa on 13 June; at Malmitalo on 22 August
  • Myrskyryhmä: Ellin elokuvahetki: at Stoa on 16 September; at Malmitalo on 17 September; at Kanneltalo (date to be announced later)
  • Maria Nurminen, Ville Oinola and Theo Clinkard: The Days – at Kanneltalo, Stoa and Vuosaari House in spring 2027
    • The Days Project workshops – at Vuosaari House on 6 October, at Malmitalo on 7 October and at Kanneltalo (date to be announced later)
  • Jonglöörin unet, at Kanneltalo and Malmitalo in spring 2027


At Kanneltalo


At Stoa


At Vuosaari House


Please note that the event pages are removed once the performances have ended and new pages will be added later. You can always check our event calendars directly for the most up-to-date information.


How did we select these works?

To be eligible, the works had to meet at least the following criteria:

  • the application contained all pertinent information and attachments
  • a sufficiently large proportion of the creative team consists of Helsinki residents and art professionals
  • the application set out a satisfactory self-financing plan
  • the application indicated expertise in technical and artistic production, as well as persons appointed to be in charge of these areas
  • the technical implementation of the work is feasible in the premises of the Cultural Centres
  • the size and attendance target of the work are in line with the targets of the Cultural Centres.

Through our selections, we wanted to provide a wide range of cultural events spanning different art forms and aimed at Helsinki residents of different ages and backgrounds. We paid particular attention to works aimed at the target groups emphasised in the call for proposals: families, young people, or seniors.

We selected a wide range of performances, from dance to circus and theatre, as well as several works combining different art forms. Given the large number of entries, works representing similar genres or themes inevitably competed with one another for the limited space within the programme.

We assessed the applications on the basis of the City of Helsinki’s strategic priorities and values. Many of the selected works explore the themes of sustainable development and the environment. Their compatibility with the Cultural Centres’ environmental programme made them particularly well-suited for the selection.

Many of the selected works focus on diversity, including perspectives on gender and sexual orientation, in addition to which we greatly valued creative teams with diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, we wanted to highlight young and emerging artists alongside established figures in our selections.


Next open call to be held in later this year

We will hold an open call for proposals for the autumn 2027–spring 2028 programme towards the end of 2026. Find further details on our websites and social media channels at a later date.

Cultural centres as performing arts venues: open call for the autumn 2026 and spring 2027 programme periods

15.12.2025

We received a total of 240 applications and wish to thank all applicants! We trust the process went smoothly and that you will continue to appreciate the open call model.


The applications represented a wide range of content and current topics. They were submitted by both experienced professionals and newcomers at the beginning of their careers, which we were delighted to see.  


The most common art forms were dance, theatre and live music and the primary target audiences given by the applicants were adults, followed by young people and local residents. Nearly all works were suitable for touring.  We wish to extend our thanks to everyone for your many interesting initiatives!


31.10.2025


The City of Helsinki's cultural centres Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Stoa and Vuotalo are seeking new or adapted works of performing arts for their programming periods for autumn 2026 and spring 2027.  

The call is a pilot project aimed at increasing clarity and transparency in the programming choices of cultural centres and finding a permanent way to maintain a functional application process for artists, performing groups and any other performing arts organisations in Helsinki.    
 
The applicant must use the same form to apply to all the cultural centres participating in the pilot. From these applications, the joint production team of the cultural centres will select the content to be included in the programme and any works or events to potentially tour the centres. The target group of the work can be families, young people, adults or the elderly. The selected works will be performed at one or more centres during the coming seasons. Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Stoa and Vuotalo are participating in the pilot.  
 
The call is open to operators (associations, cooperatives and other similar organisations) based in Helsinki or artist groups with at least one Helsinki-based artist (resident of Helsinki). You cannot apply for the open call with a work or concept that receives project funding from the City of Helsinki. 

The content of the works or performance concepts can be dance, theatre, circus, performance art, live art or multidisciplinary art. Conventional concerts are not selected through an open call, but live music as part of a work or adapted into a new performing art form can be selected for the centres' programmes.   
 
The selection is based on both artistic content and technical feasibility. The choices are guided by the strategic priorities of the City of Helsinki.  


Timetables

The call is open from 3 November 2025 to 7 December 2025.

Production negotiations will start in early 2026. The production decisions of the call will be announced by 23 February 2026.  

Communication and marketing materials for the works selected for the autumn 2026 programme must be delivered by 28 April 2026. 

The first performance in the cultural centres will take place in autumn 2026 or spring 2027, depending on the centre, the selected work and the working group's schedule.  
 
Artist-in-residence summer projects are available in Stoa from 7 to 27 July 2026, Kanneltalo from 8 June to 14 August 2026, Malmitalo from 15 June to 31 July 2026 and Vuotalo from 30 June to 31 July 2026 during the opening hours of the centres. 


For those selected for the programme, we offer: 

  • an artist-in-residence summer project in one cultural centre (2–4 weeks depending on the centre) 
  • 2–8 days of building and stage rehearsal time before the first performance 
  • 2–6 performance days (the number of performances is agreed separately and depends on the number of performances and performers and the type of performance) 
  • stage space and in-house stage technology 
  • technical staff to assist in the construction and implementation of the performances (2–3 people) 
  • exposure in the programme calendar on the cultural centres' websites and social media accounts 
  • Lippupiste advance and door ticket sales 
  • the possibility to share ticket proceeds 
  • lobby security and performance ticketing provided by the centres 
  • a small production grant based on the size of the performing group, the content of the work, the number of performances and the estimated budget 
  • support for the production process and invoicing upon separate agreement 


What we expect from applicants: 

  • Production know-how: the production should have a designated technical production manager, who will plan and be responsible for the running of the show and a possible touring version in collaboration with the cultural centre's producers and production planners. 
  • A timetable and a description of the production schedule and budget estimate 
  • Pre-planning for the technical implementation (submitting schedules, music files and simple lighting requests to the in-house production planner at least six weeks before the first performance) 
  • Responsibility for communication and marketing: providing ticket sales information and communication materials (images, presentation text and performance times) in accordance with the cultural centres' communications calendar (approximately seven months before the performance date) and active participation in the marketing and communication of the work. 
  • The ability to provide invoices or information on the need for production support via the production platform 


Find out more about the facilities and technology of the cultural centres on their websites:


Kanneltalo facilities and technical equipment
Malmitalo facilities and technical equipment
Stoa facilities and technical equipment 
Vuotalo facilities and technical equipment

Possible types of production:  

The final type of production will be negotiated before the contract is signed.    

  • premiere 
  • adaptation 
  • work concept 
  • touring performance  

When applying, please note that productions will be scheduled more precisely after the programme selection.  

How to apply

Apply by filling in the online application form (PLEASE NOTE! The application form opens on November 3, 2025.) and sending a PDF attachment by email to: avoinhaku.kulttuuri@hel.fi  

Information required on the PDF file: 

  • work plan including a schedule and working group bios 
  • technical plan / concept for the work (also include a possible touring version)
  • total budget including the self-financing share


Send the attachment in PDF format to: avoinhaku.kulttuuri@hel.fi.
Please provide a clear email subject line: Avoin haku 2026–2027 Name of performer / working group

The deadline for submission of the application and the attachment is 7 December 2025.

Unfortunately, we cannot consider late applications or applications missing the attachment. 


Further information:  

Maria Junno, cultural producer, Kanneltalo 
maria.junno@hel.fi
Call times: 12 November at 10.00–13.00 and 19 November at 10.00–13.00
​​​​​​​Tel. +358 40 508 6022

Sara Hirn, cultural producer, Stoa
sara.hirn@hel.fi
Call times: 7 November at 12.00–15.00 and 26 November at 10.00–13.00
Tel. +358 50 382 8151 

Information events on the open call:  
Stoa lobby on Tue, 11 November, at 17.00–19.00
Kanneltalo lobby on Wed, 26 November, at 16.00–18.00