Music, exhibitions, dance, nature photos, theatre and literature
Kuhmo is worth a cultural visit even in the middle of the darkest time of the year when the thermometer shows the coldest readings. Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter already for the ninth time from December 31st till January 6th 2017.
Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter is a joint arena for Kuhmo organizers and artists, some of them internationally-acclaimed and a showcase for some of the best Kuhmo culture: music of many kinds, theatre, exhibitions and literature.
The slogan chosen when the event was established was “The Best of Kuhmo Culture”, and this applies again this year. The people involved have various links with Kuhmo: some are now living in Kuhmo, some were born or have their roots here, and others have cultural ties with the town.
This time Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter opens already in the end of December. From Kuhmo to Kuusamo, an exhibition of photos by nature photographer Lassi Rautiainen, will be opened at the Kuhmo Arts Centre on December 30. Lassi has been photographing for decades in Kuhmo, and on Tuesday January 3 he will show more of his photos at a Nature Photographer’s Night, carrying the same name as the exhibition.
On New Year’s Eve, December 31, Kuhmo dance starts celebrating the centenary of Finland?2?s independence a little in advance in a Night of Dance – Finland 100 Years through the eyes of children and youth. The MyDance groups are choreographed by Maija Palsio.
The New Year’s Day, January 1 at 6 pm, we will be treated to the traditional New Year’s Day concert at the Kuhmo Arts Centre. This will be given by the Lentua Sinfonietta conducted by Jukka-Pekka Kuusela. The program of the concert Finland 100 Years consists of both old and new Finnish music.
Writer´s Night at 6 pm on Monday, January 2, presents writer, philosopher Heikki A. Kovalainen at the Kuhmo Library. Heikki has his roots in Kuhmo, and his first novel was widely acknowledged. This event will be in Finnish.
At 6 pm on Wednesday January 4, Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter will open an art exhibition The Kalevala of Kuhmo presenting paintings by students of Kuhmo Folk High School made under the guidance of artist and teacher Urho Kähkönen. The art exhibition is open until March 10, 2017.
Thursday January 5 at 6 pm is the time for a Kuhmo Chamber Music winter concert. Vladimir Mendelssohn, the artistic director of the Kuhmo Chamber Music, is performing with young chamber musicians.
Friday January 6 is dedicated to the Ethno Music Festival Sommelo and its winter concert Joy from long sorrow. Rajamailla Company presents lamentations of different nations through dance and music.
The aim of Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter is to present a wide selection of culture both to local residents and to people from further afield. It is organised by Juminkeko, the Ethno Music Festival Sommelo, Kuhmo Chamber Music, the City of Kuhmo, the Kuhmo Arts Centre and the Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola. At the same time, visitors can enjoy all the exciting winter delights on offer in the Kuhmo region.
The graphic design of Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter is the work of visual artist Klaus von Matt.
Further info:
[url=http://www.kuhmowinter.fi]www.kuhmowinter.fi[/url]
or
Sari Rusanen, Kuhmo Chamber Music, tel. +358 8 652 0936
Taina Hyvönen, City of Kuhmo, tel. +358 44 7255 389
Olga Zaitseva, Juminkeko, tel. +358 40 741 9191
Sirpa Nieminen, Juminkeko, tel. +358 8 653 0671
Pekka Huttu-Hiltunen, Ethno Music Festival Sommelo, tel. +358 44 250 1395
Eeva Pulkkinen, Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola, tel. +358 206 39 6380
Matti-Jussi Pollari, Kuhmo Arts Centre, tel. +358 8 6155 5450