Since September of last year, Globe Art Point has been hosting Cultural Dialogues, an event series in a dialogue format spearheaded by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike). The dialogues centred around art and culture question the role of artists in today’s society with a specific focus on the experiences of BIPOC and foreign artists living and working in Finland. 

The theme for the dialogues in the spring season 2024 is “security and trust”.

WHAT?
Cultural Dialogues are moderated discussions between artists, cultural workers and other creatives who would like to share their experience from their professional and personal lives with like minded people. These conversations aim to foster a deeper understanding of the professional artistic community and the unique challenges faced by artists from diverse backgrounds based in Finland. An audio recording will be made during the Dialogues. Transcripts of the recording will be anonymised. The summary of the dialogues will include the topics and issues that the participants talked about but not their personal stories. 

BY WHOM?
Cultural Dialogues have been initiated by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and organised in collaboration with Globe Art Point (G.A.P) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM). The insights and topics discussed during these events will serve as valuable input for Taike, G.A.P and OKM in developing programmes that support diversity and accessibility within the cultural and artistic landscape in Finland. 

Importantly, the summary of our dialogues is to be presented to the working group on the cultural policy report that will be included in the prime minister Orpo’s government programme. The vision presented in the cultural policy report and the measures to achieve it are based on the situational picture of the arts and culture sector and its key drivers of change. This report will create an ambitious vision for the long-term development of Finland’s arts and cultural policy.

STRUCTURE
All sessions will run between 16-18:00 at the Globe Art Point’s premises, located in Malminkatu 5, 00100, Helsinki. (Please refer to the accessibility information on our website). The dialogue itself takes 2h. The rest of the programme is dedicated to getting to know each other and networking. 

15:30 – 16:00 Slow gathering and mingling with the participants (optional)
16:00 – 18:00 Dialogue time 

WHEN
The Spring Dialogues 2024 are happening on: 

27.2. Opening Info Session – introducing the project and summarising the outcomes of the previous dialogues (session is facilitated in the English language).
11.3. Cultural Dialogues in Russian – theme “Trust and Security”
12.3. Cultural Dialogues in English – theme “Trust and Security”
8.4. Cultural Dialogues in Russian – theme “Trust and Security”
9.4. Cultural Dialogues in English – theme “Trust and Security”
6.5. Closing Info Session in Russian – the summary of Spring Dialogues 2024
7.5. Closing Info Session in English – the summary of Spring Dialogues 2024 

HOW
Would you like to join our Cultural Dialogues and connect with fellow artists through conversations? The Opening Information Session for our spring dialogues is happening on 27.2. between 16:00 – 17:30.

The aim of this event is to introduce the project and summarise the outcomes of the previous dialogues. This session is facilitated in the English language. 

Please secure your spot by registering through the following online form: forms.gle/PgPhYqYBiC7Pk8AN6

Note the registration is binding. This event has a limited capacity so only register if you are motivated to attend. If you register and realise you can no longer participate, you are required to cancel your participation at least one day in advance. 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
These dialogues are founded on principles of open and respectful discussion. Participants are encouraged to share their personal perspectives without judgement or pressure to reach a consensus. Each participant’s viewpoint is valued, and the goal is mutual understanding.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
To facilitate productive conversations, we follow the constructive dialogue rules developed by Timeout method “Erätauko”:

1. Listen to the others, do not interrupt or start additional discussions.
2. Relate what you say to what the others have said and use everyday language.
3. Talk about your own experience. It is important for us!
4. Raise your hand when you want to speak up. Ask questions if you want to know more about other participants’ experiences.
5. Be present and respect the others and the confidentiality of the discussion. Each participant’s feelings are individual. Together we make sure that all participants feel safe.
6. Find and bring together. Don’t be afraid to express unfinished or unclear thoughts, they may be picked up by others. Don’t be afraid to share what you have not yet found an explanation for.

For more information about the dialogues, please contact Anna Sidorova, Arts Advisor at the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike): anna.sidorova@taike.fi.