Welcome letter
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you all to be part of the opening festival, seminar and meetings in the
new CIRKO Center - a dream you have heard me talking about for so long time. The process has taken over three
years and now it is about to be in the end, and as we can realize, at the same time, in the very beginning.
CIRKO will form a home base for the Finnish contemporary circus art: a rehearsal, residency and performing space
for professionals. Also, we offer office premises to companies Circo Aereo and Taikateatteri 13, the Finnish Youth
Circus Association, and on the top floor, to the info centre of the Finnish Circus Information Centre.
CIRKO´s doors will be open to many international projects and networks. That is why we are happy to welcome to
CIRKO´s opening the partners of Circostrada Network, New Nordic Circus Network, Jeunes talents cirque Europe,
Territoires du cirque and ONDA - together with our new friends from Canada and elsewhere.
As some of you know, the new director of the Finnish Circus Information Centre has now been selected. I´m happy to
inform you that Sari Lakso is now about to begin her important work. You will have many opportunities to meet Sari
during your stay.
On the behalf of the Finnish circus society I wish you all nice and warm days in Helsinki during the opening days and
nights of CIRKO Center.
Tomi Purovaara
Director
Welcome letter
Dear friends and colleagues,
We are very happy and proud to welcome you to the first ever Circostrada meeting and the historical inauguration of
the CirkoCenter in Helsinki!
During the next four days you have the possibility to meet colleagues, get to know nordic circus artists, experience
the CirkoCenter, it¹s facilities and the modern and dynamic finnish circus. And of course enjoy Helsinki itself and
the lovely springtime!
Cirko Festival offers contemporary circus from Finland, Sweden, UK and New Zealand and Nordic Circus Meeting Day
brings all the nordic partners to the meeting point. Possibility to meet Nordic Arts Councils officers highlights
possible future cooperation.
Finnish Circus is making history when Cirko-Center, a venue dedicated to circus opens on May 4th. This would not be
possible without people who love circus. The audience¹s increasingly positive attitude towards circus and the
improved status of the circus art has made it possible.
We take the opportunity here to thank our supporters, Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and the Nordic
Councils of Ministers, for making the Nordic Circus Year 2011 a success and all the people along the way for making
the dream come true.
We wish you a pleasant stay and welcome you to the miracle of Finnish circus!
Warm regards,
Sari Lakso and Lotta Vaulo
Managing director Head of international affairs
tel. +358 50 303 8339 tel. +358 50 386 6971
Finnish Circus Information Centre provides services and advice, gathers and documents information about Finnish
professional circus, makes reports to support political decisions in the field, arranges meetings and seminars and
pblic events featuring circus, and provides information about circus related events. The centre was established in
2006 to promote the artistic development as well as the cultural and social status of circus in Finland, and to create
and maintain international contacts.
