Capital of Culture’s attractiveness put to the test over the summer

European Capital of Culture Turku is fully prepared for this summer’s high season. In addition to the magnificent summer city atmosphere, Turku visitors will be pampered with special programme themes on water and the archipelago. The expectations for the summer season are high; the season’s results will largely indicate the entire year’s success.

Great results from the first part of 2011 and the recent national survey conducted by Taloustutkimus market research company indicate a rising trend in visitor numbers. According to the survey, some 1.3 million Finns state that they plan to participate in Turku 2011 programme during this year.

"Compared to the previous survey, awareness and thereby interest toward the Capital of Culture has significantly increased,” states Jukka Saukolin, Research and Development Manager for the Turku 2011 Foundation.

Turku hotels have achieved good results for the early part of 2011 and the number of hotel visitors predicts an active summer season.

“In terms of hotel visits, the beginning of 2011 shows a clear rising trend, higher than elsewhere in Finland. This trend will continue and pick up speed as the year goes on," evaluates Anne-Marget Niemi, Director of Tourism, Turku Touring. In addition to hotel visitors, the total numbers are supplemented with all other visitors, people spending just one day and those lodging at friends or family, Niemi explains.

The beginning of 2011 has met all expectations set for the Capital of Culture year so far. During January–May, a total of 318,000 visitors have participated in various events. Of these numbers, Logomo Exhibition Centre visits amount to 74,000 and Logomo performances and concerts have been seen by 44,000 people. The total count doesn't yet include all those, who have participated at the open events in the city.

River Aura, the sea and the archipelago – Turku is all about water

In summer, Capital of Culture events will spread outdoors, along and about the banks of the River Aura and the Turku archipelago. The international environmental art entity Flux Aura will introduce new artworks along the river banks. The artworks can be explored on foot with the help of a route map, for example. Another artistic route is peppered with the works of the Expedition to the Baltic Sea project from Koroinen all the way to Ruissalo. The Turku archipelago will provide a unique setting for discovering contemporary art with the international Contemporary Art Archipelago exhibition.

Archipelago events also include the Lights Concert series, which showcases jazz and classical music on lighthouse islands and churches. The concerts are organised in extensive cooperation with various music festivals from the coastal area. In July, the Lights concert series will introduce The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra from New York to Logomo. Popular music will be available at the Samppalinna open-air swimming pool with the two-day Musical Sea of Inner Rhythms festival, featuring artists such as the Finnish European Song Contest representative Paradise Oskar, Jonna Tervomaa and Anna Puu. This feel-good festival will provide programme for the entire family, ranging from early-morning water exercises to late-night dance parties.

Naturally, the Finnish sauna culture is part of the Turku programme. Four artistic designer saunas are available for private rental or through public sauna sessions open for all. The SaunaLab project is complemented with an exhibition with a water theme at the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art.

Summer is the high season for culture

The Capital of Culture year will also introduce a splash of new colour to traditional Turku sights. Turku Castle will host two operas; in August, the castle courtyard is taken over by Opera d´Alvilda in Abo and the Henrik and the Hammer of Witches folk opera. In addition, Turku's own international celebrity Karita Mattila will perform in her Viva la Diva! concerts set in the castle’s park area.

Giving special attention to Turku visitors and tourists over the summer, July will be packed with programmes. The impressive Spiegeltent, erected in Mannerheim Park, will host the international Cirque Dracula variety performance that will run throughout July. Culture will be at home at Logomo throughout the entire summer. The exhibition centre will be open every day, seven days a week, without exceptions.

The summer season will culminate in the last weekend of August. Once again, grand sailing ships will arrive to the River Aura, creating one of the largest public events during the entire year. The very same weekend will cater jazz music with the MILjazz event next to the Swan of Finland ship. In August, the exceptional and unforgettable The Elements fire and aerial acrobatics performance will energise the surroundings of the River Aura.