KAIPO

Strengthening Culture Networks in Kainuu and Northern Ostrobothnia 2024–2025

Background of the project

The development task defined for the project was based on the previous work done in Kainuu and Northern Ostrobothnia in 2022–2023. During this period, the Cultural Kainuu project implemented in Kainuu invested in finding new cultural contents and production methods in the region, to increasing cooperation between municipalities, to creating and maintaining a network of actors in the field of culture and art, and to promoting the visibility of culture, for example by means of joint marketing. In Northern Ostrobothnia the “Kulttuurikenno” project has previously organized skills clinics and art pilots, building a strong cultural and art cooperation network in the region, strengthening the competence of the municipalities’ cultural activities and piloting art activities planned and acquired in cooperation in the municipalities.

These two regions already had existing art and culture cooperation and joint regional tasks. These created a good basis for developing closer and broader cooperation. The regions were united not only by neighborhood and cooperation, but also by the fact that they cooperated closely with regard to the implementation of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year. The entire project area was part of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year.

Project goals

The main focus of the project connecting both regions was further development and introduction of cooperation and production models between the regions, their municipalities and cultural sector operators, as a continuation of the development work done before.

The project aimed at:

1. The cooperation and production model between the regions and their municipalities taking root
2. The availability and accessibility of culture improving
3. The operating conditions for artists improving.