M-Cult invites you and your friends to join us at Maunulan Maja on September 21st from 12:00 to 16:30 to celebrate Helsinki’s Central Park (Keskuspuisto) and the launch of the helsinginkeskuspuisto.fi website, published by M-Cult.
The event is free and open to everyone, starting with a communal lunch and a presentation of the new helsinginkeskuspuisto.fi platform. Afterwards, artists and activists will share their perspectives on the history and present of Helsinki’s Central Park. Get your autumn started with inspiring talks, immersive sound performance and senses opening poetry walk in Helsinki Central Park!
Helsinki’s Central Park, beloved by many, has existed as a communal space for over a century, hosting people, animals, plants, and other diverse life forms. M-Cult, a producer of media art, has been active in the park for years, combining science, art, and community in its media art projects.
The newly launched helsinginkeskuspuisto.fi website allows you to explore projects realised over the years and the activities that have taken place in the area, all in one platform. The site serves as a home and archive for media art and research projects exploring the social and environmental history of the Central Park and its transformations. For example, do you know how the bark beetle impacts the trees of this forest? Or how the former shooting range in the park still influences Central Park today? And how does the community archive on the new platform compile the history and future of Helsinki’s Central Park?
The Keskuspuisto Archives on the website explore community archiving implemented in collaboration with different Maunula communities bringing insights to these questions. The site brings together a variety of collections, offering insights into M-Cult’s projects and the artist residencies hosted at the site. Additionally, website’s timeline guides you through the rich history of Helsinki Central Park.
M-Cult has also created an audio storytelling trail in Keskuspuisto, starting near Maunulan Maja. This trail allows visitors to immerse themselves in the park's stories of nature, history, and activism, accessible through Google Maps and QR codes.
The website not only serves as an archive for historical information but also as a repository for future events and research.
The archives include materials from the Keskuspuiston puolesta group, the Helsinki City Museum, the National Archives, and various newspaper publishers. The project and website are supported by the City of Helsinki.
See you on Saturday, September 21st at Maunulan Maja!
Beginning of the autumn & the launch of helsinginkeskuspuisto.fi platform
Maunulan Maja, Metsäläntie 9, Helsinki, Finland
September 21st, 12:00-16:30
The event is open for all and free of cost. Languages of the event are Finnish and English.
Event Schedule
12:00 Vegan soup lunch
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12:30-13:45 Keskuspuisto and us: M-Cult and Civil Activism (In Finnish)
- Mia Mäkelä presents the helsinginkeskuspuisto.fi website
- Susanna Pitkänen presents the activities of the Keskuspuiston puolesta group
- Vappu Turunen talks about invasive species and Keskuspuisto
- Panel Discussion: Mia Mäkelä, Susanna Pitkänen, Vappu Turunen
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13:45-14:00 Break, coffee served
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14:00-14:15 Poetry Performance: Mari Haaksipuu – Forest Poems, performed outside of Maunulan Maja (In Finnish)
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14:15-15:00 Keskuspuisto, Archives, Art, and Technologies (In English)
- Susanna Ånäs discusses the Keskuspuisto Archive project, co-created with Ali Akbar Mehta, and the information it archives.
- Sheung Yiu presents his work "Between Two Trees, There Are Many Worlds," which explores technologies mapping the impact of bark beetles on trees.
- Panel Discussion: Susanna Ånäs, Sheung Yiu, Jussi Koitela
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15:00-15:15 Break, coffee served
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15:15-15:45 Sound Performance: Jaime Culebro & Ana Gutiezsca – Brutal Wild
A step into a world of surreal forests and mythical beings, driven by intense beats and the forest’s urgent call for restoration amidst human-induced chaos.
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15:45-16:15 Poetry Walk: Mari Haaksipuu – Forest Poems on the Maunula nature trail's storytelling path (In Finnish).
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Maunulan Maja Info
Maunulan Maja is an oasis for outdoor enthusiast. maintained by Helsingin Latu ja Polku, nestled in the heart of Central Park. From the Maja’s yard, you can access the park’s trails, totaling about 100 km, some of which are ski trails in winter and others are cleared paths for walking. The Maja also features a café.
Accessibility:
The walk from the parking area to Maunulan Maja is approximately 50 meters along a gravel path. The threshold at the entrance is about 10 cm high, but there is a ramp available to assist with crossing it. Maunulan Maja has restroom facilities, but unfortunately, there is no accessible toilet.
Our team is here for you. Do not hesitate to contact us in advance for personal assistance or for further information: info(at)m-cult.org