Finland's first city, Turku, will be 800 years old in four years. The birth year of Turku is based on a letter, written by Pope Gregory IX in January 1229, which transferred the episcopal seat from Nousiainen to Koroinen. Planning for the festive year 2029 will start at the end of January together with the people of Turku.
The city of Turku invites all Turku residents and also visitors to Turku to Art House Turku (Taiteen talo) on the weekend of the 25th and 26th. January to contribute to the planning of the jubilee year. The event is open to everyone and is open on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m.
Turku's jubilee year is brainstormed together from, for example, the following perspectives:
- How can medieval history be reflected in Turku's urban culture and identity in the 2030s?
- How can unused spaces and areas of the city be renewed for use in honor of the anniversary?
- How can we strengthen the diversity of Turku's urban nature in honor of the anniversary?
- What does it mean to live in Turku in the next decade?
- What is the relationship of 800-year-old Turku with the rest of Finland and the world?
- What kind of gifts would you like Turku and the people of Turku to receive and give?
The different perspectives of the jubilee year are discussed in the different rooms of the Art House in a tour that takes place on three floors. Participants are given tasks along the way and are asked questions, from which they can choose the ones they like, or answer them all. Answers can be given in Finnish, Swedish or English. You can take the tour at your own pace, the whole tour takes about 1–1.5 hours.
The event also has a special workshop section for children and young people, where participants can design a treasure map of the city of the future and build their own miniature models. The tour ends with coffee being served in the Turku 800 lounge, where the participants can answer a few clarifying questions to support the preparations for the anniversary. In the lounge you can also listen to jazz music played by Jussi Fredrikson.
The city of Turku hopes that as many citizens as possible will join to plan the year of celebration.
– The ideas collected at the public event in January and in future workshops serve as the basis for the concept of the jubilee year, which will be completed during the spring, defining, among other things, the goals and content themes of the jubilee year, says Turku 800 project manager Suvi Innilä.
The planning of the jubilee year continues the next week with a series of workshops intended for operators in various fields, where the themes of the jubilee year will be focused on in-depth discussions. More workshops will also be organized in February and March.
