Fire | Turku 2011

Teatterisilta bridge

The last weekend of Turku 2011 was created with light and fire

About 15,000 artists, workers, and volunteers have taken part in implementing the Turku Capital of Culture year. All the people who have participated in the events of the year have also for their part been involved in the building of the successful year. It has been time for acknowledgements and thanks.

All Turku residents were invited to celebrate the Capital of Culture year Thank you weekend 17 - 18 December, which was organised on the banks of the River Aura, which have become the pulsating heart of our city and its culture. The acknowledgement weekend consisted of suitable for Yuletide, heart warming pieces of atmosphere.

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The meeting of the Elements at River Aura tonight

The Elements will feature daring drops, swirling movement and athletic skills to go along with amazing coordination and dexterity, and will combine music, aerial acrobatics, fire art and a light show. On and on top of the River Aura. Unlike anything seen before in Turku.

Circus acrobats that fly into the dark night, wildly whirling torches and music will create a unique experience. The Versus Circus group from the Helsinki Circus Professionals Association will present Finnish contemporary theatre in its full glory.

Among others, the performance will feature Antti Suniala, one of the most prestigious fire artists in the world. The idea behind the performance comes from circus artists Mia Lindholm, Mia Silvennoinen and Kaisa Pesonen.

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Ancient Bonfires are lit for the Baltic Sea also in the centre of Turku

Turku, the European Capital of Culture encourages the inhabitants of the Baltic region to take care of the well-being of our common sea. The co-ordinator of the Capital of Culture year, Turku 2011 Foundation, challenges the inhabitants of the coastline to light the ancient bonfires on the last Saturday of August, and at the bonfires, make a pledge to protect the Baltic Sea.

Turku 2011 Foundation hopes that the bonfires and pledges will be published on the internet site www.ancientlightsnight.fi, so that the bonfires can be seen as a chain connecting the people around the Baltic Sea and the pledges will inspires others to act, as well.

The Ancient Bonfires will be lit on 27 August at 9:30 pm Finnish time. In Turku, the bonfire will be lit on the River Aura next to the Theatre Bridge. The building of the chain of bonfires can be seen on the Internet in advance.

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Summer of culture conludes with the last weekend of August

Turku’s extremely active Capital of Culture summer season concludes at the last August weekend, i.e., on 25–28 August. The River Aura is set to witness yet another massive public event – much like the highly popular opening night.

In August, The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta will pay homage to the Capital of Culture year and bring grand sailing ships to Turku. Following the actual Tall Ships Races sailing event, the cultural regatta is the first thematic Tall Ships Race ever organised in Finland.

The dozens of ships arriving at the River Aura in August include the Russian four-masted barques Sedov and Kruzenshtern, two of the largest sailing ships in the world. Access to the sailing ships is free of charge.

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Logomo – the heart of the Capital of Culture was opened

Logomo’s exhibition and event centre was officially opened on Friday. During the year 50 performances will be presented in the premises, and Logomo’s six exhibitions will be open on every day of the year. The premises will be open for everyone from Sunday.

“The Capital of Culture is an investment in the future, of which the new beanies given to newborns as the first Capital of Culture event is an excellent testimony,” described Minna Arve, the chairperson on the City of Turku board.

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1827 Infernal Musical

Turku Heats Up to a Red Hot Metal Soundtrack

Come early 2011, Logomo will be set ablaze with the 1827 Infernal Musical by the Turun Nuori Teatteri theatre group. Inspired by the Great Fire of Turku, the heavy metal musical will be directed by actor Juha-Pekka Mikkola.

Turku’s shingled roofs were ablaze and the storm fanned the flames when the city burned to ash in 1827. The musical takes a closer look at the events during the fire, using heavy metal classics from the likes of Iron Maiden and Helloween to support the narration.

”If you are into heavy metal, this will make you die for more. If you are not a fan, yet, this show will make you one,” promises director Juha-Pekka Mikkola.

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Infinity Bridge

Flames and Love Above the River Aura

The Capital of Culture opening weekend showstopper, an outdoor aerial performance on Saturday evening, will be the largest individual event during the Capital of Culture year. Combining spectacular pyrotechnics and daring aerial acrobatics, the performance will take place along and above the River Aura.

The Capital of Culture opening evening on Saturday 15 January 2011 will culminate in a major outdoor performance near Forum Marinum and the Wärtsilä shipyard. The event will be broadcast on live TV. Zero hour will be at 6 pm, and the audience will be guided to the venue by children’s lantern parades via the Martinsilta Bridge.

Walk the Plank, a British outdoor theatre group, will perform the opening show. When the group visited Turku in September, director Mark Murphy took the time during his busy stay in the city to sit down and evaluate the venue.

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The Fire! Fire! exhibition at Logomo allows children to take the role of a junior fire fighter. A fire engine from the 1950s shows how fire was fought back in the days when grandma was young.

Fighting Fire – Playfully and for Real

The Fire! Fire! exhibition will play with fire – safely.

The interactive exhibition for the entire family can be accessed through the Gate of Fire, and visitors will both light their own fires using a flint and take the role of a fire fighter. The exhibition utilises a playful educational approach, without being too serious.

“The audience can try and test things out for themselves. A hands-on approach provides knowledge and promotes learning, and it is also a fun pastime,” explains Project Coordinator Maarit Koistinen.

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Fire