Stories

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.

 

 

Spotlight on Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme in Northern Ireland & Cavan and Monaghan.

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Lead Partner on the Spot-lit Project, ICBAN, has recently selected seven projects to participate in the PIP programme and receive innovation supports in the programme territory of Northern Ireland and counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Iniskeen Enterprise Development Group – Patrick Kavanagh Literature Project

The Patrick Kavanagh Centre is a visitor experience and performance space dedicated to the life and work of poet Patrick Kavanagh.  It is newly refurbished and will open to the public in July 2020.  The visitor experience includes a series of six memory boxes augmented by touch-screen terminals, each dealing with a period or aspect of Kavanagh’s life and work. The centrepiece of the experience is a stunningly evocative 15-minute film featuring readings of Kavanagh’s poetry.

With support from the Spot-lit project, a cluster of authentic experiences will be created, using literature as a theme – for visitors to enjoy over a day/ two days in this rural area. There has been substantial investment in the new Visitor Experience in the Kavanagh Centre recently but the Group’s view is that the key to the success of the Centre will be to link and further integrate it with the Kavanagh Trail and Kavanagh Country more widely, as a pivotal element of a rural tourism cluster, better combined with other priority segments of the market to give wider appeal, including heritage, food and drink, walking and cycling.

It is envisaged that the Kavanagh Centre – which tells the story of the poet himself – his life, work and the influences that shaped his writing – will be the central ‘experience’ in this cluster and that sites/activities/attractions/businesses will be promoted to visitors who will choose which ‘experience’ best suits them, so that it is tailor-made to their own needs.

 

Droimnín Destinations

Droimnín Destinations is a new business established with the intention of providing specialised tourism initiatives working with a range of stakeholders throughout County Cavan – from the Chamber of Commerce, adventure centres, genealogy, museums, heritage, accommodation sector, theatres, and all artists.

The Spot-lit project will assist in developing bespoke literary tours to the domestic, European, and International ‘culturally curious’ tourist. These tours will explore Cavan’s rich literary heritage through a culturally packed experience of art, music, drama, the virtual and the adventurous reality.

The trails will follow writers of the past and their ties to Cavan; Dean Jonathan Swift, Brinsley Sheridan, Charlotte Brook and the more contemporary names of Tom MacIntyre, Dermot Healy and Michael Harding. Events will also offer avant garde exhibitions from young award-winning artists and a chance to take part in workshops on sculpture, ceramics, contemporary crafts as well as participating in literary performances that combine music with the spoken word.  Droimnín Destinations will offer workshops that combine poetry, art and place in unique Irish traditional settings that explore Cavan in its richest literary and artistic sense. Input from the community and local businesses sector will realise a totally distinctive experience for the intelligent traveller.

 

The Light Theatre Company – Bloomsday Festival

The Light Theatre Company was conceived by Director, Alistair Livingstone and Writer, Csilla Toldy as a vehicle to develop and perform high quality theatre in small alternative venues. To date it has produced Bananas, a one-woman piece based on mental ill health, homelessness and recovery for the East Belfast Festival and subsequently toured it and The Emigrant Woman’s Story, to various venues in the North and South of Ireland.

The Spot-lit project will help the development and delivery of a new Bloomsday Festival in Rostrevor, County Down. It will also help to expand local links associated with CS Lewis, Charles Dickens and Seamus Heaney. The Light Theatre Company view the Spot-lit project as an opportunity to capitalise on the literary and creative heritage and potential of Rostrevor and County Down as a tourism generator.

 

Todd’s Leap Activity Centre –Farrell’s Lanavoye

Established 30 years ago, Todd’s Leap Activity Centre was the brainchild of Benny O’Hanlon. When Benny acquired the two neighbouring farmlands, beside his family home, his inspiration for Todd’s Leap, came from a verse of a poem that he had been taught in school.  The poem ‘Lanavoye’ by the local writer Patrick Farrell (1856 – 1938) laments of the ‘happy colony’ that once resided on the beautiful glens of Lanavoye but through time had emigrated away. Patrick writes ‘oh would kind fate where brave men lived, let joy once more prevail. With the children’s merry laughter, ringing on the evening gale’. Coincidently, the glens of Lanavoye make up the 100 acres of rugged picturesque countryside, where Todd’s Leap is based.  Patrick’s vision was adopted by Ben as the vision for Todd’s Leap and along with his wife & four children, Ben would set about creating an outdoor attraction, that would welcome people back to ‘Lanavoye’ and joy would once more prevail with merry laughter ringing through the glen.

With the assistance of the Spot-lit project, Todd’s Leap will host a seven-day, free admission poetry festival with guest speakers, readings, activities, old traditions, music, food stalls, story-telling, trails workshops, and poetry competitions. An outdoor literacy schools’ programmes will be developed, which combine creativity and literacy in an instructor-led outdoor environment. The programmes will include outdoor trails, storytelling, poetry reading, reading and writing activities, outdoor adventure activities and drama workshops. A Writers’ retreats will also be developed, hosted by writers Shirley Rocks and Eddie McClenaghan, that will offer sanctuary in peaceful log cabins to allow writers to create their own work and come together with like-minded writers. They will also be given the opportunity to explore the works of Patrick Farrell and other local writers.

 

Lurgan & North Armagh George Russell Festival Society (GRFS)

The Society runs an Annual Festival in Lurgan, County Armagh centred around the heritage of George Russell – better known as ‘A.E.’. The Festival includes various talks and a historic walking tour as well as poetry readings and ‘open mic’ nights. As Russell was a fantastic artist as well as poet, author, editor and publisher, the Festival includes exhibitions of his art.

The Spot-lit project will help to build the AE Annual Festival in Lurgan as a successful and sustainable literary tourism offering. The first step is to establish a strong online presence. Spot-lit will also help to create a literary hub based on AE’s myriad literary connections within a 20-30 mile radius of Lurgan, and working with the support of the John Hewitt Society.

 

Armagh Rhymers – Digital Guidebook

The production of a digital guidebook featuring recordings of poetry, song and music which allows the casual visitor, the enthusiast or tour leader a chance to explore the hidden Ulster, the stories of the province’s townlands, and the productions of the Rhymers. The centrepiece of this will be the WR Rodgers poem, ‘Armagh’. More details to follow.

 

Strabane Business Improvement District – Flann O’Brien Literary Programme

Strabane BID Company was set up in 2016 to increase the prosperity of Strabane town by delivering a programme of events and supports to encourage people to live, shop and visit the town. This is delivered via three strands – supporting local businesses, accessing finance and delivering an arts and culture calendar of events for the town. In addition to supporting local musicians and artists through our annual festivals and events, it was recognised that further development was needed on the literary tourism offering. Strabane has a rich culture of poets and literary greats, including the greatly talented and globally celebrated Flann O’Brien and the Strabane BID wanted to celebrate his work and showcase his heritage.

With support from the Spot-lit project, a programme of events will be developed to celebrate Flann O’Brien and his work. This project has the potential to become a very significant cultural tourism product for Strabane as Brian O’Nolan / Flann O’Brien / Myles Na Gcopaleen is a literary figure of international renown and his birth place originates within the Bowling Green Square of Strabane Town.  It is envisaged that the project programme will be launched in October as this is the month of Brian O’Nolans birth and will be hosted in various venues across Strabane Town. These connections will be explored and exploited through music, drama, heritage and discussion.  A programme of literary initiatives will be developed to celebrate the life of Flann O’Brien (Myles Na Gcopaleen) and his world-renowned works. These will build on the grass roots appreciation of the author, as well as developing school and community group workshops, and completing a hiking trail.

In tandem with the SME Product Incubation Programme, a new Literary Tourism Model known as ‘Wilde Things’ will be developed by fellow Northern Ireland Spot-lit partner, Arts over Borders. Wilde Things is based around the schooldays of Oscar Wilde in Enniskillen and is another opportunity for local businesses to develop new literary tourism products and services through the project.

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.”

 

 

Vienan Portti Ltd – Viena – The Great Kalevala  Adventure Game

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Vienan Portti Ltd is a start-up company located in a remote Vartius village in Kainuu. The company is based on an old family estate close to the Russian border with history tied to Viena Karelian culture and the Karelianism phenomenon.  A variety of literature has been collected from the Viena Karelian villages. Ancestor of the current owners, Eljas Ahtonen (better known as “Rimmin Uljaska”), acted as the model for artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, when painting Väinämöinen for his famous Aino triptych!. The authentic history of the farm together with several historical/mythical destinations ensure that there are an abundance of stories to be shared.

The owners’ plan to offer accommodation and programme services for tourists as well as a café-restaurant serving Viena Karelian delicacies.

 

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The product being developed is a free mobile game “VIENA – the great Kalevala adventure” . The bilingual game, designed with the tourist in mind, will be based on old Kalevala stories intertwined with authentic local history and locations and is aimed at triggering interest in the destinations and history of Kainuu. Place based virtual experiences will be developed on a continuous basis, allowing guests experience the Kalevala in vitual reality (VR) in authentic surroundings.

Contact Us:

  • You’ll find us at address Kostamustie 5645, Lentiira
  • Entrepreneurs behind the business idea based on their family farm are Mr. Keijo Ahtonen and Ms. Pirjo Kyllönen.
  • Please visit our website vienanportti.com (to be opened in June 2020) and
    follow us on Facebook.

“Entering our house you will be overwhelmed by the tranquility, it’s as if  the old log walls quietly whisper the ancient stories to your ear. We can’t wait to open our doors to offer you a journey into the mythical world of the Kalevala!”

 

Cairde Sligo Arts Festival: Introducing Cairde Connected

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Our Spot-lit colleagues Cairde Sligo Arts Festival have put together an exciting programme of events which will be shared online from July 8th to July 11th.  Join the conversation:  @cairdefestival  #CairdeConnected

View Full Programme of Events HERE

Cairde’s literary programme has been growing year by year and now, more than ever, it is vital to remain open to divergent voices and viewpoints, and to allow ourselves to be curious, inspired and moved.

 

 

Spotlight on Spot-lit: Five Irish Projects Chosen to Participate in Spot-lit Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme

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We are moving ahead with the Spot-lit programme, working with partners across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Finland and Iceland. 

Following a call-out for proposals, the Spot-lit teams across the partner regions selected in excess of twenty literary tourism related businesses & organisations to be supported through our Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme. To read more about this programme, click here. 

This programme will also include a Literary Tourism Business Exchange Programme where participating organisations in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland and Scotland will form a literary tourism-related cluster giving businesses the opportunity to network, transfer knowledge and support each other in the development of Literary Tourism and jointly and individually promote literary products through the Digital App being developed by our Finnish project partners.

Today, we are showcasing the five selected Irish organisations. In the West of Ireland, successful projects were selected from across a range of bookshops, festivals, literary organisations and publishing. 

Tertulia Bookshop, Co. Mayo 

Tertulia a bookshop like no other

“Tertulia, a bookshop Like no other” is more than just a bookshop, it is a space for people to engage in and experience literature and philosophy in Co. Mayo. The Spot-Lit supported project is to develop the bookshop in Westport as a hub for literary and philosophy events. 

Tourists and locals are encouraged to visit the actual shop and participate in events being held, they can then continue that connection by becoming members and participating in our on-line membership/community forums.

Through Spot-lit, a new experiential product offering is being developed for visitors to Westport; half and full-day “Literature and Philosophy” events throughout the year. These events will involve speakers, workshops and debates based on the model of a mini Citizen’s Assembly, using experts and informed debates. Right now events are taking place online via the innovative Tertulia TV  YouTube show is being being beamed into book lover’s homes throughout Mayo, the west and beyond, see Tertulia TV for more. We will also leverage our unique position on the ocean and the Wild Atlantic Way for example with Wild Atlantic Writing events.

Mayo Celtic Holidays Ltd./Kiltimagh Tourism Association


The voluntary-run Kiltimagh Tourism Association promotes and develops tourism in this rural area in Co. Mayo, as well as organising a number of festivals. The Spot-lit supported project here is focused on “Aintoine Raifteirí”, a wandering musician with a fiddle and like so many vagrant musicians of the time he was taught to play an instrument so that they would be able to earn a living.

The Spot-lit supported programme will highlight several events throughout the year culminating in RAFTERY RETURNS’ in October 2021 and annually after this time. Included in the programme of events are creative writing and performance skills with children in the area, readings and workshops as well a literary tour through Cill Aodain and a programme to reach out to the visually impaired community.

”Spot-lit affords us the opportunity to deliver on our aims, to make Kiltimagh into a ‘Raftery’ town, put Cill Aodain on the literary map, nurture future generations of young writers and establish ourselves both national and internationally”

Cairde Sligo Arts Festival 

An eight-day cultural festival set in Co. Sligo, Cairde has developed a reputation for presenting an exceptional and thought-provoking arts festival programme which sees a great coming together of regional, national and international artists, thinkers, communities and audiences.

With the support from the Spot-Lit project, Cairde Sligo Arts Festival aim to develop two special strands of the arts festival programme. Strand one, Cairde Word a series of high-quality literary performances and a literary trail incorporating poetry, readings and performance art. Strand two will be an annual site-specific spectacle performance linking current Irish literary works with well known scenic sites along the Wild Atlantic Way.

In July 2020 Cairde Sligo are hosting Cairde Word and Vagabond Voices online –  details HERE

Sligo town and county are synonymous with art and literature. Endowed with recognition by the Yeats family and its connections to Sligo, as well as a wealth of distinguished contemporary writers who call (or have called) Sligo their home including Kevin Barry, Sally Rooney, Dermot Healy, Una Mannion and many more.

Cairde Sligo Arts Festival’s aim is to complement the existing and celebrated literary scene and provide a platform for contemporary voices both from the region and beyond set amongst the stunning backdrop of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Yeats Thoor Ballylee Development CLG

Thoor Ballylee

Rooted in the fourteenth-century hiberno tower just outside Gort, Co. Galway, Thoor Ballylee Development CLG is a literary and cultural organisation with a track record of over 25 years delivering educational and artistic infrastructure, attracting visitors seeking literary and cultural tourism experiences in South Galway.

Originally the home of poet WB Yeats, today the tower is developing as a visitor centre.. 

Through Spot-Lit, the group proposes to develop a new network connecting local people and visitors to locations and sites of international literary and artistic importance in our region. 

The project will connect the region by creating a newly branded network in geographical space, in coordinated media profile, and through renewed online presence, integrating activities, places, and online visibility, and enhancing collaboration with major partners, such as Cúirt International Festival of Literature, the Druid Theatre, National University of Ireland Galway, the Abbey Theatre, and especially the Wild Atlantic Way and Fáilte Ireland.

View Thoor Ballylee Video HERE

Artisan House, Connemara, Co. Galway 

In the heart of Connemara, this independent publishing company specialises in beautifully illustrated high-quality books and bespoke publications on a richly diverse range of subjects. Artisan House is currently extending its operation to include a bookshop/cafe on the ground floor of their premises and to become a destination location. 

Connemara has an abundance of literary and artistic associations extending over many decades and even centuries. Through the Spot-lit programme, the publishing company plans to develop a series of literary tourism guided tours in Connemara including package holidays, printed materials and maps. 

Partners: