Cultural diversity and inclusion in Nordic cultural cooperation
Monday 6.10.2025 at 9.00
Ministry of Education and Culture
A seminar titled Nordic Diversity Connections in Arts and Culture will take place in Oulu from 6 to 8 October 2025. The seminar serves to create a dynamic forum for cultural actors in the Nordic countries to network and cooperate. The main focus of the seminar will be on understanding and promoting cultural diversity.
Highlights of the Seminar (Youtube)
The seminar is an answer to the complex challenges faced by cultural communities. It will help boost the diversity, visibility and impact of cultural expressions.
There will be speeches by the Nordic ministries of culture, presentations by leading experts and authorities, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. The seminar work involves participatory solutions-oriented practices for arts and culture and the programme includes visits to sites of cultural and artistic interest.
The seminar is part of the Programme for Finland’s and Åland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2025. The Ministry of Education and Culture is organising the seminar in cooperation with the following main partners: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Oulu, Oulu2026, Culture for All service and Globe Art Point. A wide international collaborative network will also participate in the seminar preparations.
Seminar programme and registration
Unfortunately the seminar is currently fully booked. However, a waiting list will be available for those still interested. Should you wish to be included on the waiting list, please contact: Laura Siitonen laura(at)oulunjuhlaviikot.fi
Programme of the Nordic Diversity Connections In Arts and Culture Seminar
The working language of the seminar is English, and speech-to-text transcriptions of the presentations will be available.
Seminar recording 7.10.2025 (Youtube)
Presentations 7.10.2025
Keynote 1: From Oslo to Oulu: a cross-country perspective on diversity efforts and gaps in the Nordic-Baltic region
Keynote 2: Why True Democracy Needs Everyone?
Ceyda Berk-Söderblom, Senior Project Manager and Researcher, Trans Europe Halles (TEH), European network of grassroots cultural centres, Lund, Sweden
Parallel sessions: Privilege and Access in Arts Education
- Session recording (Youtube)
- Ke Leng, Programme Coordinator. Cultural Policies and Development, Culture Sector, UNESCO
- Szilvia Németh, Managing Director and researcher at T-Tudok Centre for Knowledge Management and Educational Research and Leader of Creative Learning and Education Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
Parallel sessions: Data, Research, and Cultural Policy
- Marja Alastalo, University Lecturer, Deputy Head of Department. Department of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland
- Malin Weijmer, PhD, Senior Project Manager, Kulturanalys Norden
Parallel sessions: Equitable and Accessible Arts Funding
Cultural Site Visits 8.10.2025
- Cultural Centre Valve
- Saavuta – Equal access to cultural events
- Multidisciplinary cultural cooperative ILME
- Oulu House of Literature
- European Capital of Culture Oulu2026
- Oulu Urban Culture ry
Presentation of the event in Skolt Sámi, Inari Sámi and North Sámi:
Kulttuurlaž määŋgååʹblkallašvuõtt da inklusiivlažvuõtt tâʹvvjânnmallaš kulttuurõhttsažtuâjast
Kulttuurlâš maaŋgâhámásâšvuotâ já inklusiivlâšvuotâ tave-eennâmlii kulttuuroovtâstpargoost
Kultuvrralaš máŋggahápmásašvuohta ja inklušuvnnalašvuohta davviriikkalaš kulturovttasbarggus