21.12.2011

A message for next year's Capitals of Culture 

A closing ceremony for the creators of the Capital of Culture year

Logomo filled with creative talent when the hundreds of artists, volunteers, officials and other participants who were responsible for making the Capital of Culture's events gathered to celebrate the past year.

– Above all, the success of this year belongs to you, not to state ministers. We also wish to give thanks to the people of Turku, who made this this year their own, said Aleksi Randell when opening the Capital of Culture year closing ceremony at Logomo.

The closing ceremony was organised as a thank you to the 15,000 people who created thousands of 2011 events and experiences from 163 projects in Turku and throughout Southwest Finland, as well as the Finnish archipelago and Satakunta.

Above: Tallinn 2011 Foundation Director Janus Multi and the Mayor of Turku Aleksi Randell officially hand over the mantle of Capital of Culture to representatives of next year's cities; Maribor in Slovenia and Guimarães in Portugal. 

Yllä: 1500 artists, volunteers and other Capital of Culture participants celebrated the past year in Logomo. 

Yllä: The Maahanmuuttajanuorten (Immigrant Youths) dance performance drew loud applause from the public

Above: Taking part in an entertaining game show style Capital of Culture year quiz were the closing ceremony’s host Tapio Liinoja, The Chair of the Board of the City of Turku Minna Arve and the Director of the Turku 2011 Foundation Cay Sevón.

Above: Reprising one of the year’s high points: the artists involved in the musical 1827 Infernal were once again seen on stage.

Above: The evening ended with fire and light as Turku again heard the signature song from the musical Middle Aged Hair.

Related topics: 

	Capital of Culture year's final weekend lit up the city
	Culture has been good for us
	The adventurous light installation Mater Marinum

The closing weekend of 2011 can be seen at:

• Turku 2011: Thank you

Pictures above: Arto Takala and Kari Vainio.