ADW 2021 to present arts and culture too

Arctic Design Week 2021 is slated for 22 to 28 March in Rovaniemi with ‘Be Proactive’ as its theme.

Although this, the world’s northern-most design expo, was originally intended for the promotion of Nordic design expertise and business by inspiring designers, students, scientists, and artists, over time, it has gradually evolved to stage various cultural and entertainment events on the side-line in the form of a festival of arts and culture named Arctic Passion.

Arctic Passion, with its movies, handicrafts, visual arts, literature, dance, music, theatre, and other performing arts, gets the residents of Rovaniemi as well as visitors to the city more involved in the exposition.

People’s interest in cultural and travel experiences has already made the events on art and culture the most vibrant segment of the week, in addition to ensuring the Arctic Passion’s permanence as a part of the design week.

“The Arctic Passion City Festival has been built up to strengthen and lift up the unique field of art and culture we have here in Rovaniemi. A need for this kind of community-passed open platform for artists and culture-producers had been in the air for many years. Now we are happy to be able to do this as an important part of the Arctic Design Week,” exclaimed Niina Oinas, a former producer of the festival and an official of the event management organisation Silhaus, too, told the Daily Finland.

Describing the events of the “Arctic Passion, she said the main events include dramas and workshops for small audience groups, and the opening ceremony on 22 March, Monday.

There will be many small events this time and these would be planned considering the safety measures in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

The biggest show will be held during the closing ceremony scheduled for 28 March, Sunday at the Lordi’s Square, where an Arctic fashion show, music, and a mystique in the middle of snow and ice will be organised, said Oinas. She sees the city festival as an opportunity for artists and other people working in the cultural arena.

She said, “I hope in the future, there will be a bigger role to play in everyday Arctic life for arts and culture as a key to the wellbeing of people. I also hope the people working in this field will get more stable occupation here.”

“The first Arctic Passion City Festival was held in March 2020. As a producer of the festival I had a strong feeling for people working in the field of arts and culture as well as for the audience. And the local people were very excited about the week’s programme. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic broke out just a day before the launch of the festival. So it didn’t really go as planned,” recalled Oinas, adding that they are working hard to organise the 2021 Arctic Passion City Festival in a very safe manner.

She believes that people now need arts and culture more than ever and they, the organisers, will try to present pure Arctic joy and goodies for all the senses, new ideas, and a big amount of hope for the future to every member of the audience.