Culture did good – also on Turku Day

The Capital of Culture year’s Turku Day was celebrated on Sunday 18 September 2011. Culture took over the city’s marketplaces, river banks, the new Myllysilta Bridge and many other places for the day.

The doors of City Hall were open from noon to 3 pm on Turku Day with the theme ‘Culture does good’.

The Hair musical, part of the Turku 2011 programme, gave rise to the a cappella group Asema, which performed in the City Hall lobby at noon and guided the audience to the city council hall, where there were speeches and presentations on how culture does good.

The speakers included Sakari Suominen from Turku University, Jaana Rastas from the KUVA – Culture for Elderly People project and Tarja Koffert from the Many Stories of Being project. After the event in the city council hall, the policewomen’s choir Turun Naispoliisilaulajat performed.

Several Capital of Culture year projects and development projects by the City of Turku were presented in the City Hall lobby. In addition, the public had the opportunity to receive, free of charge, the extensive Turku 2011 programme book, which is not only a good source of information but also an impressive memento of this eventful year.

Concerts in Vähätori Square and on Myllysilta Bridge

Those interested in music could first head to Vähätori Square and later to Myllysilta Bridge.The Vähätori concert featured acts like children’s favourite Ötökkäorkesteri and several other Turku-based musicians and bands, such as Honeysuckers and Dr. Dave & All Scars Blues Band. The concert was hosted by Markku Heikkilä, the Föri ferry man.

Before its actual inauguration, the new Myllysilta Bridge became a concert stage. The free Turku Day concert featured performers like Katri Helena, Negative and Tommi Läntinen. The performers entertained the audience from 3 pm until the start of the fireworks display on Myllysilta Bridge at 9 pm. The concert was hosted by Heta Hyttinen and Juha Kortelainen.

The day’s programme included also many other interesting events, such as the Aura Street Market design event and guided tours into the world of visual arts or the romantic ‘Turku through the Eyes of Auervaara’, Turku’s own Casanova.

Turku Cathedral Square was taken over by artist Kaisa Salmi’s Gerbera Labyrinth, which consists of thousands of gerbera flowers in different colours.

The Museum Centre’s museums were open at half price on Turku Day, and other museums provided also discounts or special programmes.