Finland

Spotlight on Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme in Northern Finland

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In spring of 2020, Spot-lit project partners in Kainuu, Finland selected seven product development ideas related to literary tourism for development and funding. Today, we are showcasing the seven selected Finnish organisations participating in the Literary Product Innovation Programme (LT-PIP).

“VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”.

Vienan Portti Oy as one of the seven applicants received funding for the development of the free, adventure mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”.

The game is based on kalevala’s stories and authentic local history and sites in the poetry villages of  Viena Karelia. The starting point for the design of the game was to make the themes and items it presented known and to attract interest in them, thereby also increasing the tourist potential of the region. In collaboration with Vienan Portti Oy, the game has been completed by Kajak Games Osk, run by students from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, and its internal game team Radical Red Games.

The game is made in Finnish and English and is available for free download on Android 10 mobile devices from the Google Play store.  Find Out More HERE.

Kainuun Opisto Oy – Cultural Trips in the Footsteps of the Kalevala

Kainuun Opisto is a community college and course centre open to all. The institution is located in Paltamo, on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi. They offer conference and training services, facilities for parties as well as accommodation and catering services. The story of the institution goes back more than 100 years.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Tours of 1-4 days to destinations around Kainuu region that Elias Lönnrot visited when he was the district doctor and was collecting the poems for the Finnish national epic The Kalevala. Combining literature with culture, landscapes and nature bringing the tourists a broader understanding of the literature. In addition to culture (music, theatre) and literature, the tour products will involve different experiences such as wellness, exercise, traditional medicine (Kalevala style), nature experiences etc. Transport, accommodation and meals will also be arranged.

Find Out More HERE.

Culture Cooperative G-voima & Vaara Collective: Developing a Dramatic Eino Leino Product Family.

Cultural cooperative G-voima was founded in 2006. Vaara-collective is a performing arts collective founded in 2014, producing high quality creative performing and applied art locally and nationally.

Our home base is at Generaattori (in English, “the Generator”) house of performing arts situated in the centre of Kajaani. Generaattori is managed by G-Voima and the space is shared by contemporary dance production group Routa Company, Kajaani Amateur Theatre and Vaara-Collective. Our operations are quite diverse, annually producing 5-10 theatre and dance premieres, guest performances, residencies, training, concerts, discussion events and other events.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

In summer 2019, we launched our first Literary Tourism product; the Eino Leino cruise on The SS Kouta, a Finnish steamship built in 1920, with actor Sami Sainio in charachter as the late poet Eino Leino. The cruise will be offered for the full summer 2020 season. (Due to the ship capacity, numbers are limited.) Find Out More HERE.

Veikko Huovinen Society

Veikko Huovinen (1927 –2009) was a novelist who lived in Sotkamo in the Kainuu region. He was trained as a forester and practised this profession from 1953 to 1956, he then began a career as a writer. His writing is known for its realism, pacifism, sharp intellect, and especially a peculiar humour, Huovinen observed and analysed the world closely, often through satire.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The sites related to Huovinen in Sotkamo include his grave found in Sotkamo, as well as a statue “Havukka-ahon ajattelija’ by artist Nina Terno and a memorial forest dedicated for him. The Huovinen society also arranges many kinds of annual activities. A replica of his study is open to the public in summertime where items from his original office can be viewed.

Veikko Huovinen society plans to further develop the study of Veikko Huovinen and offer year-round activities. New guided tours based on storytelling will be launched with partners. Connected to this process is also raising awareness of the forgotten writers Heikki Meriläinen and Viena Korhonen of Sotkamo. Find Out More HERE.

Idän Taiga Association – Developing Kalevala for the International Tourist

The Idän Taiga association has about 60 member companies mainly located in Kuhmo and Suomussalmi areas in Eastern Kainuu, marketed under the Wild Taiga brand name. The network of member companies offer opportunities to hike in magnificent, unspoiled nature, watch and photograph wildlife, and also enjoy cultural activities.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The network of member companies participating in The Spot-lit Literary Product Innovation Programme have begun work on the development of activities for both domestic and foreign tourists. The activities will bring the Kalevala to life across a range of products and services and support the newly established status of Kuhmo city as a UNESCO City of Literature. Find Out More HERE

Eino Leino House Foundation – Kullervo Play


Poet Eino Leino was born in 1878 in Paltaniemi, where you will find the Eino Leino traditional house, built according to Leino’s childhood home. Today the traditional house is maintained by Eino Leino House Foundation dedicated to showcasing the poet’s life and extensive work. The foundation promotes culture related to the house and its surroundings. One of the important tasks of the foundation is to support research related to both Elias Lönnrot and Eino Leino and the publication of related literature in various forms.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

With the support from Spot-lit project, Eino Leino house foundation plans to write, direct and pilot one of the cornerstones of Finnish literature, the story of Kullervo, as a play. The play will focus on the Kalevala, the life and work of Elias Lönnrot and the Kainuu region and will include song and dance depicting the Kalevala ‘story telling’ tradition. Find Out More HERE

Suomussalmi Municipality – Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp

Suomussalmi municipality is located in the northern part of Kainuu region, bordering Russia. Known for its pristine nature, strong cultural sector and history. Raate village in Suomussalmi was the setting of decisive battles during the Winter War in 1940.

Supporting the distinctive culture of the region and developing the area of Hossa national park are priorities for Suomussalmi municipality.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Development and piloting a storytelling boot camp in the area of Hossa national park, bringing 10-12 writers from literature, theatre and movie industries in for 5 days in 2021. If found feasible, this will be continued as an annual event. Find Out More HERE.

The Cluster Lit&Tour Questionnaire

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Our colleagues in The University of Lisbon & University of the Algarve are conducting research on the intersection of the scientific areas of Literature and Tourism. Your participation in this survey would be hugely appreciated:  Short Survey. 

The Cluster Lit&Tour was founded in 2012 with the aim of promoting research on the intersection of the scientific areas of Literature and Tourism. An interdisciplinary confluence that has the capability to reframe geography, rebuild places and redefine concepts such as literary place, tourist or traveller.
Today,  Lit&Tour researchers  develop research around three main hubs:
(i) Concepts and methodologies: focused on the definition of concepts and methodologies that would enable the existence and autonomy of Literature and Tourism Studies as a discipline;
(ii) Representations of tourism in literature: focused on textual analysis;
(iii) Literary Tourism: focused on the study of literary tourism practices and products, and on the development of literary products and experiences.

 

Find out more HERE

Travel Bubble to be Developed in Kainuu?

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A working group has been established to develop travel safety and prepare a future Travel Bubble in Kainuu.

The current state of emergency within the tourism industry, caused by the corona pandemic, is painfully affecting Northern Finland. There are plans to create a so-called Travel Bubble for example in Finnish Lapland, that have already been in the national headlines.

The situation is similar also in the Kainuu region, where tourism industry forms a significant proportion of the regional economy. On Thursday the 10th September, the regional mayor Pentti Malinen invited a team of experts in a remote meeting to discuss the situation. The participants agreed to establish a working group to study tourism safety and the possible Travel Bubble operating model in Kainuu.

The work group includes e.g.

Pandemic Manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari from Kainuu Social and Welfare Authority,
Municipal Director of Suomussalmi, Mr Erno Heikkinen,
Tourism Manager Aija Laukkanen from Suomussalmi,
Managing Director Heidi Pyykkönen from Vuokatti Tourism Centre,
Regional Development Specialist Minna Komulainen, Regional Council of Kainuu,
Sector Manager Tuomo Tahvanainen, Regional Development Company Kainuun Etu Ltd.

The group will be supplemented so that all Kainuu tourist areas, Finavia and Visit Finland will also be represented.

All the corona cases and infection chains that have recently been reported in Kainuu have now been traced. According to pandemic manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari, it is safe to travel to Kainuu at the moment.
The work group for tourism safety was established on 10 September 2020 to map out the possibilities occurring in Kainuu in case the Finnish government decides on a new hybrid strategy for travel. The goal of this work group is to form a joint vision and define safety guidelines for safe travel to Kainuu, to be applied in future tourism sales.

“The Travel Bubble could save the coming winter season in terms of international tourism,” says Mr Paavo Virkkunen, Director of Visit Finland. Attending the meeting, he thinks it is good that Kainuu is taking the lead in the Finnish Lakeland area to develop travel safety, professionally preparing for the possible release of the travel restrictions caused by the pandemic in the near future. “As the borders are opened for tourism, we will be ready.”

Recovering demand for charter flights are a prerequisite for creating a Travel Bubble. Ensuring travel safety and smooth testing are essential factors for both the tourists and the inhabitants and entrepreneurs of Kainuu region.

According to Pandemic Manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari, the world will be wrestling with the coronavirus for a long time before vaccinations are brought to rescue on a comprehensive level. He instructed the group on the health authorities’ approach to supporting health safety in cooperation with Finavia, in charge of the airports in Finland,  and on what is possible and realistic for the Social and Welfare Authority related to monitoring tourists. “At this stage, it is important to ensure the safety of future travelers, both individuals and groups, and to introduce instructions on safe travel, such as downloading the national Koronavilkku smart phone application, mask recommendations, social distancing and hand hygiene,” Olli-Pekka Koukkari says.

Regional Mayor Pentti Malinen finds it also important that the organisations in Kainuu are organizing themselves to investigate the new tourism opportunities in this challenging situation and setting up a wide-ranging work group to develop local solutions. According to Malinen, “Good local solutions must also be developed in Kainuu, so that the region is a safe and attractive tourist destination. The space we have and the good health safety can be our competitive advantages. ”

For more information, please contact:

Regional Mayor Pentti Malinen,  tel. +358 44 7970 197, pentti.malinen@kainuu.fi
Pandemic Manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari,  tel. +358 44 797 4668, olli-pekka.koukkari@kainuu.fi
Regional Development Specialist Minna Komulainen, tel. +358 44 410 0726, minna.komulainen@kainuu.fi

Photo: Vuokatti image bank

Courtesy of  Kainuun liitto 

Launch of ‘VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure’ in Kainuu, Finland

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In spring of 2020, Spot-lit project partners in Kainuu, Finland selected seven product development ideas related to literary tourism for development and funding.

Today we are delighted to launch the first of these products: Vienan Portti Oy’s mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure” .

Vienan Portti Oy as one of the seven applicants received funding for the development of the free, adventure mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”

The game is based on kalevala’s stories and authentic local history and sites in the poetry villages of  Viena Karelia. The starting point for the design of the game was to make the themes and items it presented known and to attract interest in them, thereby also increasing the tourist potential of the region. In collaboration with Vienan Portti Oy, the game has been completed by Kajak Games Osk, run by students from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, and its internal game team Radical Red Games.

Traditional themes in a new format

“I’m excited about the game’s release and how the game has been adapted to the elements familiar from literature. The game has given written stories a visual form, which also inspires young people to get to know tradition and possibly also visit the site to experience the magic of the environment,” says the father of the idea, Keijo Ahtonen.

The game is made in Finnish and English and is available for free download on Android 10 mobile devices from the Google Play store. The game is therefore suitable for both domestic and international markets, and through it information about kaininga’s history can be experienced widely. It is a technologically innovative approach to literary tourism and the promotion of Kainnu’s culture to large audiences at national and international level.

Vienan Portti is a family business

Vienan Portti Oy is a company founded in 2019, located on an old Karelian family farm in Kuhmo Vartiuskylä, a few kilometers from the Russian border. The history of the farm means that it is well placed to promote karelianism and Karelianism, (Karelianism was a late 19th-century cultural phenomenon in the Grand Duchy of Finland and involved writers, painters, poets and sculptors). Eljas Ahtonen, the ancestor of the current owners, better known as The Uljaska of  The Rmmin, was a model for Akseli Gallen-Kallela when he painted väinämö in his famous Aino triptych.

Eljas Ahtonen, the ancestor of the current owners, better known as The Uljaska of  The Rmmin, was a model for Akseli Gallen-Kallela when he painted väinämö in his famous Aino triptych.

Keijo Ahtonen and Pirjo Kyllönen are entrepreneurs on their traditional family farm. Vienan Port will provide programme services and accommodation for tourists in the future where visitors can enjoy Viena delicacies. This summer Rimm has already got off to a good start in renovating the sites. The work continues, but you can enjoy the atmosphere of Rimm on a limited schedule at the Furniture Shed Café.

The authentic history of the farm, the proximity of the Russian border and many historical/mythical sites create a certain attraction both for the site itself and for the program services offered there. Site-based virtual experiences are also being developed on a long-term basis, enabling future customers to experience the world of Kalevala in almost its authentic environments.

Spot-lit project is funded by Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme 2014 – 2020.

Kainuun Opisto Oy – Cultural Trips in the Footsteps of  the Kalevala

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Kainuun Opisto is a community college and course centre open to all.  The institution is located in Paltamo, on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi. They offer conference and training services, facilities for parties as well as accommodation and catering services. The story of the institution goes back more than 100 years.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Tours of 1-4 days to destinations around Kainuu region that Elias Lönnrot visited when he was the district doctor and was collecting the poems for the Finnish national epic The Kalevala. Combining literature with culture, landscapes and nature bringing the tourists a broader understanding of the literature. In addition to culture (music, theatre) and literature, the tour products will involve different experiences  such as wellness, exercise, traditional medicine (Kalevala style), nature experiences etc. Transport, accommodation and meals will also be arranged.

The products are targeted both for domestic and international audience, since the work of Elias Lönnrot has given inspiration to international authors, artists and other national epics.

Contact Us:

 

 

 

 

 

Suomussalmi Municipality – Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp

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Suomussalmi municipality is located in the northern part of Kainuu region, bordering Russia. Known for its pristine nature, strong cultural sector and history. Raate village in Suomussalmi was the setting of decisive battles during the Winter War in 1940.

Hossa national park in the farthest corner of the municipality invites you to experience both its gentle and mystical side. The beauty of the easily negotiable paths amid the pine trees leading from one ridge to the next and the crystal-clear waters are a joy to behold. The landscape’s mysticism derives from the ancient paintings of Värikallio and the monumental canyon lake Julma-Ölkky.

Supporting the distinctive culture of the region and developing the area of Hossa national park are priorities for Suomussalmi municipality.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Development and piloting a storytelling boot camp in the area of Hossa national park, bringing 10-12 writers from literature, theatre and movie industries in for 5 days in 2021. If found feasible, this will be continued as an annual event.

The boot camp will combine a traditional residency model with new ways of working, possibly creating novel, cross-sectoral development ideas and networks and interesting story lines. It will be about creating new contents at the international, creative writing camp for professional writers, but also about interactive public events, that will inspire and help new writers.

The public events include a storytelling/ scriptwriting training event, where the participants could discuss their own scripts with professionals and a bonfire event where a famous writer will tell about his/ her writing process.  The open events will be broadcasted online.

Contact Us:

 

 

Eino Leino House Foundation – Kullervo Play

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Poet Eino Leino was born in 1878 in Paltaniemi, where you will find the Eino Leino traditional house, built according to Leino’s childhood home. Today the traditional house is maintained by Eino Leino House Foundation dedicated to showcasing the poet’s life and extensive work.  The foundation promotes culture related to the house and its surroundings. One of the important tasks of the foundation is to support research related to both Elias Lönnrot and Eino Leino and the publication of related literature in various forms.

The Eino Leino House is rented out for various occasions especially summer weddings. During the summer holidays, the house also hosts a café, a summer theatre and other events. In summer 2019 the summer performances by Giant Opera was performed in the open air at the Eino Leino House, involving a cast of up to 80 Dutch and Finnish singers, actors, and dancers.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

With the support from Spot-lit project, Eino Leino house foundation plans to write, direct and pilot one of the cornerstones of Finnish literature, the story of Kullervo, as a play. The play will focus on the Kalevala, the life and work of Elias Lönnrot and the Kainuu region and will include song and dance depicting the Kalevala ‘story telling’ tradition.

 

 

Culture Cooperative G-voima & Vaara Collective: Developing a Dramatic Eino Leino Product Family.

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Cultural cooperative G-voima was founded in 2006. Vaara-collective is a performing arts collective founded in 2014, producing high quality creative performing and applied art locally and nationally.

Our home base is at Generaattori (in English, “the Generator”) house of performing arts situated in the centre of Kajaani. Generaattori is managed by G-Voima and the space is shared by contemporary dance production group Routa Company, Kajaani Amateur Theatre and Vaara-Collective. Our operations are quite diverse, annually producing 5-10 theatre and dance premieres, guest performances, residencies, training, concerts, discussion events and other events.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

In summer 2019, we launched our first Literary Tourism product; the Eino Leino cruise on The SS Kouta, a Finnish steamship built in 1920, with actor Sami Sainio in charachter as the late poet Eino Leino. The cruise  will be offered for the full summer 2020 season. (Due to the ship capacity, numbers are limited.)

We plan to develop a full product family related to the famous Finnish poet Eino Leino, suitable for different environments and audiences. We are partnering with Luonnollisesti Oulujärvi LP, a small family business offering nature-related recreation and excursion packages in the fascinating surroundings of Lake Oulujärvi . Finland’s fourth largest lake, it offers, among other things, Finland’s largest inland backs, shallow sandy beaches and clean water.

We welcome other potential partners to join with us in developing the Eino Leino product family.

Contact us:

  • Our premises are located at address Kauppakatu 36, 87100 Kajaani
  • Visit vaarakollektiivi.fi and follow us on www.facebook.com/vaarakollektiivi
  • The key contacts related to Spot-lit Literary Tourism product development at the organisation are Chair of the board/ Event producer Veikko Leinonen and actor Sami Sainio.

 

Veikko Huovinen Society

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Sotkamo – One of The Richest Regions in Finland Measured in Words

Veikko Huovinen (1927 –2009) was a novelist who lived in Sotkamo in the Kainuu region. He was trained as a forester and practised this profession from 1953 to 1956, he then began a career as a writer. His writing is known for its realism, pacifism, sharp intellect, and especially a peculiar humour, Huovinen observed and analysed the world closely, often through satire.

Huovinen wrote more than thirty books and many of his works are based in the Kainuu region, in his own soul landscapes. Veikko Huovinen society was founded in 2007 as a birthday gift to the novelist as he turned 80 years old to honour, cherish his lifes work and make it known.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The sites related to Huovinen in Sotkamo include his grave found in Sotkamo, as well as a statue “Havukka-ahon ajattelija’ by artist Nina Terno and a memorial forest dedicated for him. The Huovinen society also arranges many kinds of annual activities. A replica of his study is open to the public in summertime where items from his original office can be viewed.

Veikko Huovinen society plans to further develop the study of Veikko Huovinen and offer year-round activities. New guided tours based on storytelling will be launched with partners. Connected to this process is also raising awareness of the forgotten writers Heikki Meriläinen and Viena Korhonen of Sotkamo.

Some Thoughts and Quotes of Veikko Huovinen

“I became a writer because when walking in the woods at a young age, I saw so many beautiful and exciting things. My first stories, that gained me experience on writing, were batch stories. As a young boy, I was strongly influenced by nature on my hunting trips. ”

“Well I guess I became a writer when I was a young hunter and I got it in me to get up very early in the mornings. Many times, I sat on the doorstep of the barn, wondering about the rising sun… It was a peculiar feeling to walk into sleepy villages where the people did not know what was going on in the forest beside them. It felt like I alone owned something that should be shared with others.”

“I seek to describe the people’s core essence. Not to show them as puppets, nor as saints, but digging in somewhere in the area where good and evil collide. Life is full of satire. It is impossible to fit it into the framework of a small book as much as one would like. ”

“Having written as much as I have, I know that books don’t just change the world, but if they made you think, now that would be good.”

“Basically, I am an optimist and I do not have it in me to understand why there are so many gloomy books these days. Rather should we grow smiles on people’s faces.”

 Contact Us:

 

 

Idän Taiga Association – Developing Kalevala for the International Tourist

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The Idän Taiga association has about 60 member companies mainly located in Kuhmo and Suomussalmi areas in Eastern Kainuu, marketed under the Wild Taiga brand name. The network of member companies offer opportunities to hike in magnificent, unspoiled nature, watch and photograph wildlife, and also enjoy cultural activities.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The network of member companies participating in The Spot-lit Literary Product Innovation Programme have begun work on the development of activities for both domestic and foreign tourists. The activities will bring the Kalevala to life across a range of products and services and support the newly established status of Kuhmo city as a UNESCO City of Literature.

Contact us:

Kalevala tradition is not something from the past but a living and breathing thing
that is doing well in the Wild Taiga region in Kainuu. Wild Taiga’s strength lies in combining culture and nature in the collaboration with local entrepreneurs. Through the Spot-lit project, the Finnish national epic Kalevala will gain new wings through tourism.”

 

 

Partners:

 

Associate Partners: