Helsinki City Theatre’s Stage for Contemporary Performance programme features works by artists and working groups from the independent performing arts scene in the Helsinki metropolitan area. These works respond to a changing world through both their content and form. The stage gives artists the space and time to develop their artistic thinking.
The Stage for Contemporary Performance is not tied to any single performing arts tradition. Instead, it embraces diversity and encourages dialogue between different art forms. Contemporary performances engage consciously with the history of the art form or forms they represent, exploring them from new perspectives.
How we curate our programme
We select artists and working groups whose aim is to create ambitious, forward-looking works for larger stages and audiences.
The Stage for Contemporary Performance follows a curated process built around encounters between artists, the curator and other Helsinki City Theatre professionals. The aim is to support each artist’s professional development. Curation provides an open interface from which artists can explore many different directions, even before entering the production process for a public performance.
We want to give more artists the opportunity to deepen their expertise. In addition to performances and open calls, we therefore organise monthly curatorial meetings, idea-sparring sessions, seminars and other training events.
I have an idea for a performance – how do I proceed?
First, please check that your idea fits within both the artistic and technical frameworks of our activities.
- Through the Stage for Contemporary Performance, we produce works for the 328-seat Studio Pasila.
- Our productions have a minimum of 10 performances.
- We do not programme guest performances.
- You can find the technical specifications for Studio Pasila here.
Curatorial meetings
Are you a new artist, or is your idea still at an early stage? Helsinki City Theatre organises monthly curatorial meetings for contemporary dance and contemporary performance artists. Artists can book one-to-one meetings with Valtteri Raekallio, Artistic Director of Helsinki Dance Company, or Riikka Thitz, curator of the Stage for Contemporary Performance.
A curatorial meeting may offer brief feedback on a project idea or potentially lead to longer-term one-to-one sparring to help develop a performance concept.
More information about curatorial meetings and how to book one can be found here.
Open call for the summer residency
Artists for the Stage for Contemporary Performance’s summer residencies are selected through an open call and live meetings. The selected working group is given access to Helsinki City Theatre’s Studio Pasila stage in June and July, followed by a performance run in August. The working group produces the performance itself. The summer residency gives independent artists the space and time to develop their artistic thinking while making use of the theatre’s existing facilities.
The annual open call for the summer residency consists of individual online meetings. It takes place in September–October, two years before the residency period.
Frequently asked questions about the summer residency and open call can be found here.
Performance productions
Do you have a well-developed project idea and previous experience of pre-production and working on larger stages or in professional theatres?
Helsinki City Theatre also produces contemporary performances as part of its main programme. The programme is curated through invitations and performance proposals. Ideas for contemporary performance works may be submitted outside open calls and meeting times by emailing the curator of the Stage for Contemporary Performance or one of Helsinki City Theatre’s dramaturgs.
