Finnish Days 2016 in Narva
The Finnish Days being held in Narva from 7-11 December 2016 will provide a diverse programme of activities and events from education to recreation and from an investment conference to an Ingrian-Finn concert.
The idea to launch the Finnish Days emerged during Nordic Culture Week, which was held in Ida-Viru County in autumn. Why not showcase the culture of one Nordic country in particular in more depth once a year? Starting with Finland seemed the obvious first step, since the country celebrates its 100th birthday in 2017, and this will include a variety of events in Estonia. There are also historical ties between Finland and the Narva region, as evidenced today by its Ingrian-Finn community, the business connections spanning the gulf and the fact that Finnish Days have been held before in Narva (in the early 2000s). On top of all that, this year Finland is leading official cooperation between the Nordic countries.
Finland is well known around the world for the quality of its education. At 12:30 on 7 December, Narva College of the University of Tartu will be hosting a seminar entitled ‘Supporting the individual development of students with a project-based learning process’. The seminar will examine Finland’s experience of project-based learning - a widespread method throughout the Nordic countries which makes use of real-life situations in addition to theory. The seminar is designed for those working in the fields of education and youth work.
Looking at Finland from a different perspective will be a selection of new films. Over four days from 8-11 December, the Apollo Astri cinema will be showing four films shot in or connected to Finland. Antti Haase’s ‘Monsterman’ is a documentary about now legendary Eurovision winners Lordi. ‘The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki’, a film by Juho Kuosmanen which has already won a number of international awards and which has been nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize, will premiere in Narva at the same time as it premieres in Tallinn. Mika Kaurismäki’s ‘Homecoming’ is a humorous drama about returning home and rebuilding personal relationships and has already been a hit in Estonia. Directed by Margus Paju, ‘The Secret Society of Souptown’ is based on a story by Finnish writer Mika Keränen, who has lived in Estonia for years. It is a film the whole family will enjoy. All of the film screenings are free of charge.
One of the biggest events taking place as part of the Finnish Days is the Ida-Viru County investment conference being held at Narva College of the University of Tartu on 8 & 9 December. The Narva region has strong industrial traditions and the city is well placed on the border of the trade route between the European Union and Russia. The conference is being organised by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Narva College of the University of Tartu. There will be a showcase of Narva Business Park, Narva-Jõesuu Harbour and the Kreenholm industrial area for Finnish entrepreneurs and investors.
Opening their doors to anyone interested at 12:00 on 9 December will be companies that are either partly or fully Finnish-owned: the Fortaco factory, the Asko furniture store, the metal work company Hanza Mechanics Narva and the Prisma supermarket.
A chance to learn something new, useful and athletic will be on 9 December when professional instructors will be teaching the finer points of Nordic walking. This sport, which was developed in Finland, has spread all around the world and is suited to people of all ages and all levels of fitness. It is a simple and inexpensive hobby which can be used to turn ordinary walking into an effective sport. The start of the training is in the foyer of Narva College at 12:00.
An exhibition entitled ‘Marimekko - the Finnish Design Classic’ will be open at Narva Vocational Education Centre from 5-22 December. Adding to the display will be the personal collection of Marimekko dresses of Finnish Ambassador to Estonia Mrs Kirsti Narinen. The exhibition will be officially opened at 15:00 on 9 December.
The Narva region has historical ties with Finland and is home to a great many Ingrian Finns. Visitors can find out about their cuisine, music and dances at Narva Community Centre starting from 16:00 on 10 December.
The Finnish Days will be brought to a close at 15:00 on 11 December with a mass in Finnish at Alexander’s Cathedral in Narva, after which the attendees will be offered traditional church coffee.
The Finnish Days are being organised by the Narva branch of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia in association with the Embassy of Finland, the Honorary Consulate of Finland in Narva, the Finnish Institute, Ida-Viru County Government, Narva College of the University of Tartu, Fortaco OÜ Estonia, the Narva Association of Ingrian Finns and Vestifex OÜ.
For further information please contact: Jevgeni Timoštšuk, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +372 51 58 904