Culture changes everything Saimaa is a place and a state of mind. On its shores we have found our own way of doing things, living, and thinking. We have found creativity in both beautiful and harsh conditions. That’s why our culture is unique − and worth discovering. We are the droplets that set in motion the power to change culture. When we hit the surface of the water together, we cause a vibration that resonates throughout the world. Culture doesn’t just change the story. It changes everything. The easternmost point of the continental EU is located in the municipality Facts 173 Vekara-Varkaus of Ilomantsi. 127,298 museums Children’s Summer FINL (19 state subsidy) summer cottages/ Festival week AN villas/second homes 26,000 Art Centre D 50 visitors Salmela steamships (Saimaa, ca. 280 in Europe) 6,000 45,000 km of shoreline St. Michel visitors in Savonlinna Trotting Race 116 23,000 Ilosaarirock libraries visitors 64,000 671,586 visitors residents 35,000 bed-places in Kuopio accommodation Dance Festival companies 53 municipalities 37,000 138,596 visitors seasonal residents Savonlinna Imatranajo Opera Festival (The Imatra road race) 40,000 65,000 124 visitors visitors theatres Lappeenranta (8 state subsidy) Sandcastle 600 150,000 km of border visitors Examples shared with North Savo (19 municipalities) Russia of events North Karelia Kuopio (13 municipalities) Municipalities with additional funding: Enonkoski, Heinävesi, Hirvensalmi, Iisalmi, Imatra, Joroinen, Kitee, Kiuruvesi, Kontiolahti, Lemi, Liperi, Luumäki, Mäntyharju, Joensuu Nurmes, Outokumpu, Parikkala, Pertunmaa, Puumala, Rantasalmi, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, Rääkkylä, Savitaipale, Sulkava, Taipalsaari, Tohmajärvi, Varkaus Savonlinna South Savo TABLE OF CONTENTS Mikkeli (12 municipalities) Introduction ..............................................2 Outreach .................................................76 Contribution to long-term strategy ..........4 Management ...........................................82 Lappeenranta Cultural and artistic content ...................12 Capacity to deliver ..................................98 South Karelia (9 municipalities) European dimension ...............................70 Additional information ......................... 100 1 Saimaa Phenomenon 2026 will serve as a catalyst to bring about real change, through which Savonlinna and the whole of eastern Finland can identify themselves as a European cultural city and a well- PROGRAMME defined cultural region. Our voice and competence will be strongly visible and audible. From the very CONCEPT beginning we have stressed openness and cross- border activities: Savonlinna is the candidate for After the pandemic is over, the world will yearn European Capital of Culture (ECoC) 2026 among for peace, clarity and sustainability. These factors the regions of eastern Finland (North and South constitute the very essence of life for the people who Savo, North and South Karelia), and their respective live in eastern Finland. We have developed a special capital cities: Kuopio, Mikkeli, Joensuu, and way of living and a unique set of skills that we wish Lappeenranta. All 53 municipalities and close to to share with the world. It’s high time we reveal 700,000 residents in the area have joined us in our Introduction everything about our secret haven and the source of collective endeavour. our creativity for all of Europe to see. We can do this by Saimaa Phenomenon 2026 has shown the value letting arts and culture lead the way - by acting as our of big cities standing together in support of a smaller lingua franca they can be a catalytic force which drives city. Sharing common goals can bring about miracles. the power for change. Only by acting together are we able to muster enough Water is the conduit that connects the people who courage and know-how to broadcast a sufficiently loud live in our region. Our forests and lakes have always voice. The future of eastern Finland will demonstrate provided inspiration, a refuge for relaxation, and a genuine transformation; lifting itself from a “fading livelihood for people living in the area. Throughout the back in the woods” attitude into a vibrant, diverse, and centuries, Saimaa has been the gateway to Europe; attractive place to live. its beautiful and somewhat rugged environment has Our common views concerning a sustainable future moulded our arts and culture into something truly have become stronger and more solidified in our unique. At its roots, our national landscape has served Saimaa Phenomenon 2026 Goes Bauhaus workshops, as the cradle of Finnish culture. which were organised during the second phase of the Another feature that has had a special effect candidacy. We believe it is important to safeguard a on our everyday life is the proximity of the border. common ecosystem where everyone has equal rights Since World War II, we have lived in amicable and to a secure environment and equal opportunities. peaceful coexistence. Along the border zone special Equally important issues include working together, cultural expertise has been created which is strongly involving everyone, and maintaining a compelling evident in the relationship between eastern Finland dialogue. From the very beginning, our programme has and Russia. We consider it important to share our emphasised broad participation by a varied group of mutual experience with the rest of Europe. The cities stakeholders. Due to the recent change in the nature of Saimaa have cooperated and wish to continue the of our meetings going online has made it possible cross-border cooperation between the EU and Russia. for participants to take part in our workshops and The people living here in eastern Finland have the seminars, when otherwise the physical distance would knowledge, experience and skill to do this. have precluded their attendance. 2 INTRODUCTION While our cooperation with Russia is strong, we need to work on developing partnerships with other international contacts as well. We are currently building new types of networks to connect and develop good working relationships with other areas of Europe. At the same time, we are building a stronger European identity and getting rid of our exaggerated modesty. The COVID19 pandemic put a stop to the notion of doing “business as usual”. It halted event production, closed theatres, museums, and many cafés. At the same time it opened up new opportunities, offered some surprises, and presented avenues for the creation of a new phenomenon. Summer 2020 was anything but quiet in the Saimaa region – the markets and summer cottages were packed with multilocals and travellers Power of Water from all over Finland. We experienced a summer of miracles in Savonlinna: the town was filled with events organised by artists and small cultural activists. What Connecting Bridges we learned from this was that everything we needed was actually right here in existence already. This is a phenomenon we want to share with Europe. What if something small is actually something big? Eastern Joy The three main themes presented in our first bid book: The POWER OF WATER, CONNECTING BRIDGES and EASTERN JOY have been developed and expanded Enjoy the soundscapes of Saimaa: into concise programmes thanks to the commitment of a large group of people who have joined forces. Together soundsofsaimaa.fi we have identified and acknowledged our strengths, and pinpointed those themes that require additional content. Special emphasis has been placed on keeping our eyes and ears open so we don’t miss out on any silent signals of future development opportunities. Our European partners have opened our eyes, making us aware of the unique rapport we share with nature. Our discussions have directed Saimaa Phenomenon 2026 to focus on the opportunities afforded us by virtue of our unique relationship with nature and silence, and have helped us visualise how these elements might play an important role in the development of our future with respect to the fields of art, culture and well-being. 3 region and its readiness for action towards culmination in 2026, Savonlinna’s European Capital of Culture year. The culture programmes compiled for the Cultural Dream Years of Saimaa will communicate with each CULTURAL other, taking know-how forward. Saimaa Phenomenon 2026 regions and cities apply STRATEGY good practices and have experience in effortless cooperation. However, during these challenging The Savonlinna-led Saimaa Phenomenon 2026 has times new structures are required to facilitate strategy transformed into a very concrete, common goal for interaction; updated models for building contacts, all of the regions and cities in eastern Finland. It will and encouragement to think on a more international initiate a long-standing process of development and level. The idea is to incorporate our ECoC programme promote change within the Saimaa region, utilising the content into pilot projects to fulfil these objectives. unique cultural resources available in the area. While implementing and developing these we will to long-term Contribution During the first stage of our candidacy, the regional put into action the good practices for enhancing councils and stakeholders of the cities in the area cooperation among participants at all levels. We will joined together and compiled a cultural strategy for the now sow the seeds of change and build a common area, extending up to the year 2030. The Phenomenal ecosystem for all. Culture City, the Cultural Strategy of Savonlinna, and the Cultural Strategy of Cooperation in