Finland

Digital Innovations for Growth Literary Framework Model.

Coming into the Spot-lit project, our aim as a developer was to create a place where we could gather curated information on literature in an increasingly digital world. However, as the project progressed and the partnership worked on developing the literature models, it became clear that a single application would not capture the richness and diversity of literature across the NPA properly. Over the past three years, we worked with stakeholders from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Finland to gather information, and design applications suitable for the needs of the regions – a total of 13 applications, available on Android and iOS app stores. A number far greater than we anticipated coming into the project.

By having multiple applications, we gave each region more space to highlight the local authors, cultural assets, heritage, businesses, and events. Each app can provide insight into their area, recommend places to visit, events to participate in, and what to experience. Another benefit of multiple applications is the freedom of each region to choose the contents and visuals of their application, without needing to limit the number of assets they can showcase.

In addition to the applications, we work on an app editing platform, where local stakeholders will be able to update contents of their application without requiring software developers. For each application, a few people have been selected who will maintain the contents of the applications. Information about authors, places and events can be updated, and the built-in map makes it easy to add new locations or points of interest.

Work on the Spot-lit project has been a learning process. We balanced between the requirements of 13 applications, while ensuring that the contents and visuals meet the needs of the regions. A written guide is being prepared, to preserve the lessons learned, and provide guidance on maintaining the applications well beyond the lifetime of the Spot-lit project.

 

The birth of the Kalevala and Kainuu.

Juminkeo’s latest release is Kalevala’s Birth and Kainuu. Markku Nieminen’s book tells about Elias Lönnrot’s activities in Kainuu in the years 1831-1853. The book contains paintings by Karelian artist Vitali Dobrynin from Kainuu during Lönnrot and about 150 years later. You can order the book from Juminkeo’s online store or buy 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.

The first Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp in November 2021 gathered together professional writers of different fields to the magical surroundings of Hossa National Park in Northern Finland. A small live audience, and a larger one online, enjoyed intriguing discussions on stories and writing. The event was a great success with strong interest shown in arranging a new,  international event when restrictions allow.

The first night of the event offered the participants a chance of getting to know each other and to prepare for the main event to follow in an informal atmosphere.  At the main event on Saturday, two facilitated discussion were organised in front of a small live audience, and live streamed online for a bigger audience.  Feedback was also received via online channels during the event. Six writers participated the joint sessions, facilitated by Jan Erola and Marko Karvonen. The discussions touched on many interesting topics and the audience heard stories about how each of the participants had become writers, how they build good characters for their stories, and what do they think are dangerous grounds in writing a story. There also was discussion on transferring a book into a film or a play; what factors does one have to consider , and how is the process built?.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.)

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.

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.

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:

 

“VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”.

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).

Vienan Portti Oy as one of the seven applicants received support 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.

First Storytelling Bootcamp in Hossa National Park, Finland.

Spot-lit project, aiming to grow the literary tourism sector in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region, opened a call for literature tourism product incubation ideas end of January 2020. Suomussalmi munisipality in the Kainuu region in the North of Finland  was one of the successful applicants. Suomussalmi munisipality had an idea to arrange Hossa Storytelling Bootcamps in the surroundings of Hossa national park by the Russian border. Although not directly linked to tourism, it was estimated to have great potential in raising awareness not merely about the region, but also about literature and storytelling, thereby creating many opportunities. The aim is to develop the Hossa area as a location for literature related events.

The original plan was to pilot an international event, bringing together a variety talents from different fields and backgrounds thus  was enabling new partnerships and ideas to emerge. The idea was also to combine traditional residency with interaction with the community, especially with the local amateur writers of different fields. However, before the event planning had even been properly started, the COVID19 pandemic hit the world, meaning no international aspect could be included to the plan. However, the organisers were able to gather together an interesting and articulate bunch of Finnish writers in November 2021 to the first ever Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp for one weekend.

The first Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp in November 2021 gathered together professional writers of different fields to the magical surroundings of Hossa National Park in Northern Finland. A small live audience, and a larger one online, enjoyed intriguing discussions on stories and writing. The event was a great success with strong interest shown in arranging a new,  international event when restrictions allow.

The first night of the event offered the participants a chance of getting to know each other and to prepare for the main event to follow in an informal atmosphere.  At the main event on Saturday, two facilitated discussion were organised in front of a small live audience, and live streamed online for a bigger audience.  Feedback was also received via online channels during the event. Six writers participated the joint sessions, facilitated by Jan Erola and Marko Karvonen. The discussions touched on many interesting topics and the audience heard stories about how each of the participants had become writers, how they build good characters for their stories, and what do they think are dangerous grounds in writing a story. There also was discussion on transferring a book into a film or a play; what factors does one have to consider , and how is the process built?.

Image courtesy of: Tiia Mustonen.

Hossa village is full of history. The oldest dwellings found in the national park are almost 10,000 years old and the famous rock paintings at Värikallio Cliffs are at least 3,500 years old.  Participants discussed the stories of Hossa, how to build a story of Hossa for an audience and in particular the story of the first inhabitants arriving and settling to the area in ancient times. What language did they speak? Who’s behind the rock paintings and what kind of stories are there about those people and their life?

After the live sessions, during a campfire evening the discussions continued, some some short videos were shot and participants enjoyed dinner and bathe in a traditional smoke sauna.  On Sunday morning breakfast, participants gave  feedback on the event before spending time on a small hike and see some of the national park and enjoy the peace of nature.

Hossa Enchanted the Participants

The purpose of the pilot event was to see if a concept like this works, to measure the resources needed, and to find out how the participants see it all from their perspective. The experiences from this first ever Hossa Storytelling Boot Camp were indeed encouraging: the participants found the environment pleasant and the discussions intriguing.

Hossa national park was an idyllic location for such events, the autumn darkness, together with the thin layer of snow that fell on the evening, created an experience the participants described as unique. The timing right between autumn and winter, between two tourism seasons was found a suitable one for arranging such events also for practical reasons.  At the event, filmmakers, authors, and theatre makers got to meet each other in a more informal environment. The group saw it as a real advantage to bring together people from different fields of writing.

It was seen important to keep the Hossa national park in the centre of also the future events, arranging also the possible public events in the same, engaging environment. Of course, the logistics of a remote and sparsely populated region like this create their own challenge, affecting both the schedule and the costs. In the future, joint transportation may be a feasible option for both the writers and the audience, coming by train and by plane. As Hossa is such an interesting place, the organisers should reserve enough time in the schedule, for getting to know the environment and to enjoy the Northern nature.

According to the original plans, Hossa Storytelling Boot Camp was going to include a public event, but this was cancelled due to the pandemic. The writers attending this pilot event also wished for the future events to include interactive sessions with a live audience. We all sure hope to be able to arrange events like that soon!

Discussions on the Future are Going on

Arranging a regular writer event in Hossa has been the goal for the Suomussalmi municipality right from the beginning. Joni Kinnunen, who drafted and sent the application to the project incubation programme, says that now that the concept has been tested and a significant interest has been found among the target group, it is the time to sit down and start visioning the future of Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp.

The recordings of The Bootcamp with Finnish and English subtitles will soon be available online” – Watch This Space and stay tuned for some new stories!

Partners:

 

Associate Partners: