FOCUS AREA

Equality & diversity

We embrace social diversity and non-discrimination

In 2018 the Institute focuses on on questions of work, livelihood and possibilities of international movement in Europe. Together with RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), we explore the possibilities of creating more equal societies through basic income and creative economies. We combine social science, art and discussion to gain a fresh and diverse perspective to work and livelihood – issues that people struggle with on a daily basis. Promoting gender equality is an important aspect of our work. We are part of the international Women of the World (WOW) network, founded by the Southbank Centre in London in 2011. WOW celebrates women and girls and looks at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their full potential. In 2017 the Finnish Institute took part in spreading the movement by organising the WOW Finland festival in Tampere in collaboration with Tampere Hall and the feminist think tank Hattu. In addition, we have actively contribute to the programme of WOW London festival by organising talks, panels, shows and other activities. The institute actively works for a society free of racism and discrimination both through cultural and artistic projects and research. Together with Tiketti Gallery we have brought Syd Shelton‘s influential photo exhibition Rock Against Racism to several cities around Finland. In 2016, we published a report on how Belgian, Finnish and British newspapers write about the “refugee crisis”. The report titled Refugees and asylum seekers in press coverage was created together with the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux. Read more and download the full report here (pdf). Please find more information on our current projects below. Theme photo from WOW Finland 2017: Kyuu Eturautti   

What’s On
HIGHLIGHTS
Equality & diversity Ireland’s first Feminist Swearing Night comes to Dublin The Feminist Swearing Night is an open-mic event that offers an opportunity to sound off about patriarchy, politics, inequality and injustice. Read the article >
Equality & diversity Comedian James Lorien MacDonald at Brighton Fringe: “Super queer but not difficult” Stand up comedian James Lorien MacDonald describes himself as a half-Finnish–Scottish–Canadian queer gender nuisance. Read the article >