ABOUT UNIMA FINLAND

READ ABOUT UNIMA FINLAND

UNIMA Finland: Report 2021–2022

Founded 11th February 1984, 168 members.

Administration: board 5 members (position of trust) and a secretary-coordinator (part-time employee). Chairpersons Katriina Andrianov (2021) and Timo Väntsi (2022).

Address of office & library: UNIMA Finland c/o Metropolitan Puppets, Lepolantie 19, 00660 Helsinki.

E-mail: unimafinland@gmail.com, Tel. +358-46-8114024, www.unima.fi

In 2021-22 all activities were aimed at strengthening collaboration and team spirit amongst all members. Theme of the year 2022 was “Invitation to Meeting”, the emphasis being on:

·        Strengthening the members’ communal feeling of belonging to the community of UNIMA

·        Promoting higher profile visibility

·        Ensuring accessibility and inclusion

In autumn 2022 UNIMA Finland sent all members a questionnaire for evaluation. The results were presented in the general assembly, and they were considered when planning activities for 2023.

Information for members: In addition to the Internet pages, Facebook and email newsletters, the board of UNIMA Finland started to organize online briefings on current topics such as “Harvest of the Congress 2021” and “Financial News”. The briefings were open to all members.

The Magazine: UNIMA Finland has published magazine Nukketeatteri (Puppet theatre) regularly since 2008. The articles of the magazine are written by the members, mostly in Finnish but partly also in English. In 2021-2022 the magazine was published once a year but in the future the purpose is to publish it twice a year.

Remote Coffee Breaks: During the COVID-19 pandemic UNIMA Finland started to invite all its members to gatherings online for informal discussion. Remote Coffee Breaks were organized five times. One of them was focused on how to support Ukrainian refugees in Finland.

Finnish Puppetry Day: The Finnish Puppetry Day is celebrated every year on the 11th of February. On that day, UNIMA Finland awards a person, group, or event for “The Activity of the Year”. In 2021 the award was given without festivities and in 2022 the day was solemnized online.

Activities connected to UNIMA International:

Members of UNIMA Finland participated in World Puppetry Day activities.

ResiliArt UNIMA #18: Finland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcGbb8mM32Q

Congress 2021, Fishing Fresh: UNIMA Finland presented its project ”Meeting Point Finland” (2019).

Collaboration with commissions: Research (research day 2022), Professional Training (answering the questionnaire), Publications (PPO-project), International Festivals (information given on Finnish festivals).

New in 2022: UNIMA Finland participated in establishing a new interest group “Nordic UNIMA”.

Open sessions: Board members of UNIMA Finland have participated in Open sessions. Invitations have been sent to all members.

Mentoring: UNIMA Finland has been mentoring ideas for new puppet shows since 2018. The projects, chosen to be mentored in a week-end event called “Comet”, are offered professional artistic help, possibility to be introduced to customers, and small financial support. Two mentors choose 3-4 ideas, offered in an open application process, and spar the artists before, during and after the event. In 2022 the event was organized as a “Supportive Clinic” concentrating on dramaturgy according to the participants’ wish.

Education: In 2021 UNIMA Finland participated actively in a project “Vision for Performing Arts Education for 2030”, run by Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy. Participating was vitally important because of the lack in Finland of educational path from basic studies of puppetry to the university level. Vocational examination in either puppetry education or puppet building (competence-based qualification, defined by the Finnish National Board of Education) alone will not bring new puppeteers in the field. https://www.uniarts.fi/en/projects/vision-for-performing-arts-education-for-2030/

Research: In spring 2022 UNIMA Finland organized an international research day in collaboration with Theatre Research Society Finland, Tampere University, and UNIMA Research Commission. The theme was “Human and Inanimate Non-Human Performers”, and the event was primarily targeted to the members of the organizing associations. Tampere University facilitated the seminar both on the spot and online.

Intangible cultural heritage: In 2021 UNIMA Finland was invited by the Finnish Heritage Agency to participate, for the part of puppetry, in reporting on national implementation of The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The convention was ratified in Finland in 2013, and Finnish puppetry was nominated in the national inventory of living heritage in 2020.

“Talks about Puppets” – online panel discussions: During 2021-22 UNIMA Finland has organized five panel discussions in collaboration with puppetry festivals in different parts of Finland. The panelists were invited according to the themes that were chosen together with the facilitating festival organizations. The themes were: puppet building, pedagogy, elements of a puppet performance, puppeteering, and shadow theatre.

Courses on puppet building: In 2021-22 three courses on puppet building were arranged, two of them online and one face-to-face. The teachers, hired by UNIMA Finland, were members who work as freelancers.

Promotion of interests and fair art: UNIMA Finland does not promote its members’ interests like a trade union but it tries to improve working conditions when possible. Information on minimum wages and contract models are found in the Internet pages. Update for the suggested fees was published in 2021. A guild of puppet theatre professionals was founded in 2009 and it is open for all members of Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland. For its part, UNIMA Finland takes care of informing on the guild’s activities evenhandedly regardless of its members’ background organization, network, or community. When hiring artists for its projects, UNIMA Finland follows the operation mode of a responsible employer, described by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland in its Campaign for Fair Art https://reiluntaiteenmanifesti.fi/en

Collaborators in 2021–22:

Culture Factory Vernissa, Theatre Research Society Finland, TINFO – Theatre Info Finland, University of Arts: Theatre Academy, Puppet Theatre Sampo, Pikku Aasi Puppet Theatre Festival, Aura of Puppets, Metropolitan Puppets, Theatre Mukamas, Puppet Theatre Hupilainen, Youth Theatre Riihimäki, UNIMA International / Research Commission, The Association for Cultural, Scientific and Advocacy Magazine - Kultti ry, Finnish Heritage Agency, Tampere University.

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UNIMA FINLAND         REPORT 2018-2019  

  
OFFICE AND STAFF

The office of UNIMA Finland is in the Cultural Centre Vernissa in the city of Vantaa, 30 minutes’ drive from the capital city Helsinki. The part-time secretary works as well as a producer within projects.

MEMBERS

UNIMA Finland has approximately 200 members, individuals, students and companies representing all generations and fields of puppetry in Finland.


EVENTS

Finnish Puppetry Day

UNIMA Finland celebrates the Finnish Puppetry Day on the 11th of February. According to a tradition, the Declaration of National Puppetry Day is written and announced by a person or a group, having remarkably developed Finnish puppetry and having thus received the Finnish UNIMA’s annual Puppetry Award. In 2018, the award was given to Marja Nykänen for organizing Katsos! -event, The Showcase of Finnish Puppetry in France, at Charleville-Mézières International Puppetry Festival in September 2017. The showcase, consisting of eight Finnish shows and 26 performances, was included in the main program of the festival.

In 2019 the Finnish Puppetry Day was celebrated with the 35th anniversary of UNIMA Finland and the 110th anniversary of professional Finnish Puppetry. Annual Puppetry Award was given to puppet theatre ensemble Le Royal Joutava  for arranging seven times a regional festival Joutavat Nukketeatteripäivät (Idle Puppetry Days) in the region of Lappeenranta.



KOMEETTA 2018  

UNIMA Finland started in 2018 a new project called KOMEETTA, in order to develop and enhance new touring puppet theatre performances. Open call to the puppetry field invited puppeteers to present their new ideas, out of which six candidates were elected in Spring 2018 to a workshop led by experienced professional puppeteer. In September 2018 KOMEETTA showcase was held in the Cultural Centre Vernissa (Vantaa). Two of the demos, Kuuma Ankanpoikanen/Hot Duckling: Iso Haha Susi/Big Baaad Wolf and VaurioTeatteri: Home Sweet Home were awarded a grant securing the further development of puppet theatre performances.

KOMEETTA 2019

In 2019 KOMEETTA-project had its second edition at Cultural Centre Vernissa, with five candidates at the workshop and showcase. Two of the demos, Iida Vanttaja & team: Havaintoja kädellisistä/Observations of primates and Perrine Ferrafiat & team: Asuntovaunu/ Caravan CoCoon - Fala Favela were awarded a grant securing the further development of puppet theatre performances.




INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

UNIMA Finland publishes a magazine Nukketeatteri (Puppet Theatre), which since 2019 appears four times a year (one printed edition, three in the web). Nukketeatteri is a member of The Association for Cultural, Scientific and Advocacy Magazines and is financially supported by Ministry of Education and Culture. For the members of Finnish UNIMA, the magazine is included in the membership fee. Moreover, complimentary copies are regularly posted to decision-makers in the field of culture and to the stakeholders of UNIMA Finland.  Since 2016, the issues of Nukketeatteri include articles not only in Finnish but also in English and are available for al in the internet: http://unima.biz/publications.html
UNIMA Finland on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNIMAfinland
Web pages www.unima.fi.

EDUCATION

Students of theatre at Arts Academy Turku / University of Applied Sciences can include courses on puppetry in their curriculum. It is also possible to accomplish vocational examination in either puppetry education or puppet building. To complete this competence-based qualification, candidates must demonstrate certain skills and competence required in the profession. These skills are outlined in the Requirements of Competence-based Qualifications defined by the Finnish National Board of Education.

In 2018 and 2019 UNIMA Finland informed about puppetry workshops and courses around Finland on its web pages. UNIMA Finland also admins a record of artists and companies that organise courses in puppetry.


INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

In its general assembly 2019, UNIMA Finland appointed three councillors for the term 2020 - 2023. The councillors are Ms Roosa Halme, Ms Marjut Tawast and Mr Aapo Repo from different parts of Finland.

UNIMA Finland is a member of NEECPA - The Northern and Eastern European Centre for Puppet Arts, a cooperation network of Northern and Eastern European puppet theatres and organizations (founded in 2011). Our association belongs also to the Barents Region Puppetry Network, founded in 1992.


In 2018 - 2019, UNIMA Finland administrated a directory of Nordic puppeteers NORDPU and a net portal www.nordpu.net for collecting information on both actors and activities in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland. The objective of this project is to create a Nordic network for collaboration and for developing the professional puppeteers’ visibility and employment.


Meeting Point Finland 2019

In 2019 UNIMA Finland arranged in cooperation with Maria Barič Company and Kulttuurimylly Art Venue a Nordic, multinational and multicultural art project MEETING POINT FINLAND in Helsinki. Nordic puppet theatre artists from all five Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland) came to Helsinki in order to enhance and change the knowhow of puppetry and street theatre. Two artists from Cuba led a week long workshop, which resulted in the creation of a gigantic walking spider and several performances in the street theatre carnival in the suburb of
Myllypuro.  Kulttuurimylly Festival offered puppetry performances and other events in their theatre during the week. The project was funded by Nordic Culture Point / Nordic Council of Ministers and it will be continued in other Nordic countries in the coming years.




FINANCES

UNIMA Finland’s incomes consist of grants, membership fees, ticket sales and magazine subscriptions. In 2018 - 2019 the membership fees were 30 €, 15 € (student) and 120 € (company). UNIMA Finland has received Support of the state, which is vital, project fundings and several grants. 

TRADE UNION WORK

In 2009, a Puppetry Guild was established within the Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland. Since then, UNIMA Finland has supported annual guild gatherings for discussing the present state of puppeteers’ working conditions and salaries. In 2018 – 2019 the focus was on unified employment contract, wage rates, job descriptions and other issues within the trade.

Contact information:
UNIMA Finland, Tikkurilantie 36, 01300 VantaaFINLAND
Tel.  +358 46 811 4024


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UNIMA FINLAND          REPORT 2016-2017  
  
OFFICE AND STAFF
The office of UNIMA Finland is in the Cultural Centre Vernissa in the city of Vantaa, 30 minutes’ drive from the capital city Helsinki. The part-time secretary’s temporary agreement has been regularised. 

MEMBERS
Unima Finland has about 200 members, individuals, students and companies

EVENTS
Finnish Puppetry Day
UNIMA Finland celebrates the Finnish Puppetry Day on the 11th of February. According to a tradition, the Declaration of National Puppetry Day is written and announced by a person or a group, having remarkably developed Finnish puppetry and having thus received the Finnish UNIMA’s annual Puppetry Award. In 2017, the award was given to Satuteatteri Punahilkka (Theatre Little Red Riding Hood) for its 35 years high-level work on the field of amateur puppetry.
Finland 100 Years: Showcase of Finnish Puppetry 2017
Among about 5000 projects, the Finnish UNIMA’s festival Showcase of Finnish Puppetry received the status of being a part of the official Finland 100 Years jubilee programme. The projects and their events created the widest jubilee programme ever built in Finland on six continents and in over a hundred countries.
The Showcase festival was held in the Cultural Centre Vernissa (Vantaa). Its 12th edition on the 6th-7th October 2017 consisted of 10 Finnish puppet shows performed. In addition, the programme included a puppet exhibition, a workshop on puppet making, a presentation of a Finland 100 Years community puppet art project, animated films and street performances.  The festival also facilitated an event in which a theatre director Kirsi Siren and a puppet theatre artist Leila Peltonen were honoured by UNIMA Asia-Pacific Commission for their long-lasting work in the art of puppetry.
Katsos! Charleville-Mézières
As part of its Finland 100 Years project, UNIMA Finland supported the realisation of KATSOS! – the showcase of Finnish puppetry in Charleville-Mézières, France. The showcase, consisting of eight Finnish shows and 26 performances, was included in the main program of the festival.
Power of Object Expression – seminar
UNIMA Finland participated in organising a seminar for discussing object theatre, focusing on both artistic and applied contexts of object expression for adults.   The seminar was held in 2017 and the main organiser was the Art Promotion Centre Finland.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
UNIMA Finland publishes a magazine Nukketeatteri (Puppet Theatre) twice a year. Nukketeatteri is a member of The Association for Cultural, Scientific and Advocacy Magazines and is financially supported by Ministry of Education and Culture. For the members of Finnish UNIMA, the magazine is included in the membership fee. Moreover, complimentary copies are regularly posted to decision-makers in the field of culture and to the stakeholders of UNIMA Finland.  Since 2016, the issues of Nukketeatteri include articles not only in Finnish but also in English and are available for al in the internet: http://unima.biz/publications.html
UNIMA Finland on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNIMAfinland
Web pages www.unima.fi.

EDUCATION
The 4-year degree of puppet theatre at Arts Academy Turku /University of Applied Sciences was closed in 2015. Students of theatre can still include courses on puppetry in their curriculum. It’s also possible to accomplish vocational examination in either puppetry education or puppet building. To complete this competence-based qualification, candidates must demonstrate certain skills and competence required in the profession. These skills are outlined in the Requirements of Competence-based Qualifications defined by the Finnish National Board of Education.
In 2017, UNIMA Finland organised two short courses focusing on puppet building.  On its web pages, UNIMA Finland admins a record of artists and companies that organise courses in puppetry.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
In its general assembly 2015, UNIMA Finland appointed three councillors for the term 2016-2020. The councillors are Ms Johanna Salo from Lapland, Ms Katriina Andrianov from Western Finland and Mr Aapo Repo from Eastern Finland.
UNIMA Finland is a member of NEECPA - The Northern and Eastern European Centre for Puppet Arts, a cooperation network of Northern and Eastern European puppet theatres and organizations (founded in 2011).
In 2016-17, UNIMA Finland created a directory of Nordic puppeteers and a net portal www.nordpu.net for collecting information on both actors and activities in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland. The objective of this project is to create a Nordic network for collaboration and for developing the professional puppeteers’ visibility and employment.

FINANCES
UNIMA Finland’s incomes consist of grants, membership fees, ticket sales and magazine subscriptions. In 2016-2017 the membership fees were 30 €, 15 € (student) and 120 € (company). Support of the state is vital. 

TRADE UNION WORK
In 2009, a Puppetry guild was established within the Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland. Since then, UNIMA Finland have organized annual guild gatherings for discussing the present state of puppeteers’ working conditions and salaries. In 2017, the focus was on creating a unified employment contract. 

Contact information:
UNIMA Finland, Tikkurilantie 36, 01300 Vantaa, FINLAND
Tel.  +358 46 811 4024