Organised in just over a month on 27–28 May in Suvilahti, Helsinki, World Village Festival has now released its full programme. In addition to music, talks and discussions, there will be plenty to see and do for the entire family and more than 200 exhibitors from CSOs to food vendors. This year’s theme is Force for Change!
Six more programme items have been added to the World Village Festival talks and discussions. A huge success last year, spoken word art will be there to enjoy again, as the stage will be taken by stage poets with an interdisciplinary approach to art Elsi Sloan, Iiris Laisi and Julian Owusu and their unique texts about utopia, inequality, resistance and survival.
President Tarja Halonen and activist Ida Korhonen will talk about hope amidst the ecological crisis and about a future worth striving for. Also sharing their views on societal influencing will be founder of Activist Grannies movement Eeva-Riitta Piispanen, Ukrainian activist Tonya Melnyk and vegan activist Benjamin Pitkänen. Other themes covered by the talks and discussions programme include impact investing, opportunities for change in crisis and conflict regions, and impacts of an accessible environment on participation by people with disabilities.
Workshops and performances
In addition to children’s music band Megasakki performing on the Music Stage, the Kids’ Corner will be full of fun things for the smaller members of the family to do. You can take part in workshops on musical instruments or multilingual children’s story sessions, have a go at Arabic calligraphy art or paint postcards with natural pigments. There will be young circus talents performing in the area and also a performance combining breakdancing and beatboxing. And you will also get to meet a ventriloquist.
Photo exhibition, street art and clubs
The festival will also showcase the work many other artists and activists. Wise and Sensitive is photographer Sami Mannerheimo’s photo exhibition of Kenyan orphaned elephants.The Street Art Area will host a range of amateur group acts from dance to music and other performances. There will be workshops where you can discuss actions that are brave and inspire hope and about responsible volunteering. Tulitauko Sound will big up the beats at the Garden Area party. The evenings will be dedicated to the Afterparties: on Saturday the place to be for dancing will be Fiesta Latina and on Sunday the Afro Sunday club.
Pre-festival events including discussions, film and music
The European Parliament will organise a discussion and film screening at Oodi Library on Monday 22 May. Before Carla Simón’s film Alcarràs, winner of multiple awards and nominations at film festivals around the world, there will be a pre-screening discussion focusing on the green transition and related justice issues. The Maailman Kuvalehti magazine will organise a World Class Club at Tenho Restobar on Wednesday 24 May. The club will feature a gig by singer Emilia Sisco and a discussion about the structures of the music business.
There will also be more than 200 exhibitors at World Village Festival, with their stands well worth visiting for ideas and insights, for information about action for sustainable development and for delicious food from around the world, crafts and other ethically produced items. The festival site map, schedules and list of stands and food can be found on the festival website. The entire programme is free of charge and without any age limits with the exception of the weekend’s evening clubs.
World Village Festival in Suvilahti, Helsinki, on Saturday 27 May from 11.00 to 21.00 and on Sunday 28 May from 11.00 to 19.00. Free admission and no age limits.
Other event sites
Film screening and discussion, Kino Regina, Oodi Library, 17.45–20.00 on Mon 22 May, film age guidance: 7, free admission
World Class Club, Tenho Restobar, 18.00–20.00 on Wed 24 May, free admission
Fiesta Latina – World Village Festival Afterparty, Café Koma, 21.00–04.00 on Sat 27 May, over-22s only, free admission
Afro Sunday – World Village Festival Afterparty, Baarikärpänen, 20.00–04.00 on Sun 28 May, over-18s only, admission €10
More information
Communications: Nelli Korpi, nelli.korpi@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6698
Programme: Johanna Eurakoski,johanna.eurakoski@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6696
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World Village Festival is Finland’s leading event for global action for the whole family, an admission free cultural festival-, and a trade fair for sustainable development. The event will be organised in the Suvilahti event venue, Helsinki, in 27–28 May 2023 with Force for Change! as the theme. The main organiser is Finnish Development NGOs Fingo. The main partners are the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Maailman Kuvalehti magazine.
