© Natalie Chong
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"5 Million People, 100 Festivals - The Experience of Finland"
12/3/2010 (Fri)
2:00 - 6:30pm
Speakers:
Kai Amberla (Executive Director, Finland Festivals)
Minna Pensola (Violin, Meta4 Quartet)
Tomas Djupsjöbacka (Cello, Meta4 Quartet)
Timo Heino (Director of Public Diplomacy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland)
Sari Rusanen (Director, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival)
Morgan Stanley Auditorium
Level 46, International Commerce Centre
1 Austin Road West, Kowloon
(MTR Kowloon Station)
Fee: $ 120
In English
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The annual symposium is a significant and integral part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. It is an opportunity for contemplation, examination and discussion about a subject that is of interest to the arts community, pertinent to the cultural development of Hong Kong and complementary to the work of the Festival.
The symposium this year looks into the case of Finland, a country with a population of only 5 million, and yet is able to support over 100 festivals a year - the factors behind the large number of festivals in Finland, and how with such a small population, these festivals manage to thrive. Issues will be presented not only from the point of view of arts administrators, but also from the point of view of artists. With the Hong Kong government’s policy of creating an environment that is conducive to the growth of the arts; the formation of more arts groups; and the prospect of a significant increase in the number of venues and audience capacity; what lessons can Hong Kong learn from the Finnish example?
This is a rare opportunity for local artists and arts administrators. You can meet and learn from the experience of festival directors and policy makers behind successful events in Finland, many of which feature international artists.
Participants stand a chance to receive two invitations to the Savolinna
Opera Festival in Finland.
Programme Schedule:
2:00pm Registration
2:15pm Welcome Remarks
2:30pm Festivals in Finland: From modest start to true diversity. Why are there so many festivals in Finland? What is the story behind the success? How are the Festivals financed?
Speaker: Kai Amberla, Executive Director, Finland Festivals
3:15pm Planning and running festivals in Finland: An artist’s view. New trends, old tricks.
Speakers: Minna Pensola and Tomas Djupsjöbacka, members of Meta4 Quartet
3:45pm Questions and Answer
4:10pm Tea Break
4:30pm The festival impact: Not only arts and entertainment but
also economy, tourism, diplomacy, education and more.
Speaker: Timo Heino, Director of Public Diplomacy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
5:00pm Planning and running festivals in Finland: An administrator’s view.
Speaker: Sari Rusanen, Director, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival
5:30pm Questions and Answer
6:00pm Draw for two invitations to the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland.
Closing Remarks
Speakers:
Kai Amberla, Executive Director Finland Festivals
Born in 1962, Kai Amberla graduated with a Master’s of Arts degree in world literature and musicology with training in classical guitar. He has contributed articles on music, literature and culture, to various newspapers and cultural journals, becoming Editor-in-Chief of Rondo magazine in 1990. In 1995, he assumed the post of Executive Director of the Association of Finnish Symphony Orchestras. In 2001 Amberla was appointed Head of Classical Music at the Finnish Music Information Centre, and in 2002 was appointed the Executive Director. In 2007 he become the Executive Director of Finland Festivals, a collaboration forum for Finland’s leading cultural events. Alongside his duties, Amberla has taken an active part in theFinnishdebateonculturepolicy.Hecontinuestowrite pieces on music and culture for a number of magazines, and is also a consultant to a number of music foundations and organisations.
Minna Pensola Violin, Meta4 Quartet
Minna Pensola started her violin studies at the age of three at the Conservatory of Helsinki. From 1995-2001 she studied at the Sibelius Academy with Kaija Saarikettu and continued at the Musikhochschule Zürich with Ana Chumachenko and Josef Rissin. Since winning 3rd prize at the Nordic Nordsol Competition for young soloists in 1997, Pensola has performed extensively as a chamber musician and soloist. In 2006 Pensola was appointed Artistic Director of the Sysma Summer Sounds Festival in Finland. As a member of the award-winning Meta4 Quartet, Pensola plays a 1770 A. Bellosio-violin. The quartet performs regularly all over Europe and in 2008 was selected as a BBC New Generation Artist.
Tomas Djupsjöbacka Cello, Meta4 Quartet
Tomas Djupsjöbacka started his musical training at the age of three in the Western Helsinki Music Institute. In 1997 he enrolled at the Sibelius Academy and studied with Martti Rousi, Marko Ylonen and Ralf Gothóni. In 2001 Djupsjöbacka moved to Switzerland to study with Patrick Demenga in the Conservatoire de Lausanne. He received his Soloist Diploma with honours in 2003.
Since winning second prize in the National Cello Competition held in Turku 1998 Djupsjöbacka has performed as soloist with orchestras in Finland as well as abroad. As a chamber musician Djupsjöbacka has performed in most of the Finnish music festivals.
As a member of the award-winning Meta4 Quartet, Djupsjöbacka plays an 1857 Vincenzo Postiglione cello made in Naples, owned by luthier Ilkka Wainio. The quartet performs regularly all over Europe and in 2008 was selected as a BBC New Generation Artist.
Timo Heino, Director of Public Diplomacy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Timo Heino is the Director of the Unit for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He also had cultural export duties in several Finnish embassies in Scandinavia, Asia and Central Europe. Prior to joining Foreign Service he was journalist at the Finnish News Agency. Timo Heino studied music at the Sibelius Academy and has an MA degree in political sciences. He is married and has two sons.
Sari Rusanen, Administration and Finance Director, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival
Since 1980 Sari Rusanen has been working for the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival which is Finland’s oldest and biggest chamber music events. As of autumn 2009 she has been the Festival’s Administration and Finance Director. Her duties also comprise marketing, sponsor partnerships, quality issues, collaboration with tourist organisations and management of the year-round staff of six and the summer staff of 250. In conjunction with the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival she is a member of the board of the umbrella organisation Finland Festivals, of Wild Taiga (the joint association for culture and nature tourism organisations in the region), and of the Kuhmo Arts Centre.
Co-presented with Finland Festivals
With support of Finnish Appetizers
Venue supported by Morgan Stanley
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