Time to Shine – Art for the Elderly
Activities for people aged 65 and over will continue under the name Aika loistaa. The programme brings participatory arts into the everyday lives of older Helsinki residents, creating a variety of opportunities to connect through art. It includes cultural events, touring performances and training for university students who will work with older people in the future.
Join the Taidetta ikääntyneille mailing list. You will receive project updates and information about upcoming events by email twice a year.
In autumn 2026, we will continue the highly popular Tarinasta teatteriksi activities. We will also begin developing a new touring production with the working title Rakkaat radikaalit. Our collaboration with Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu’s Degree Programme in Elderly Care will continue.
All our activities are free of charge for participants. Events take place in the Helsinki area.
A very warm welcome!
Tarinasta teatteriksi activities
The Tarinasta teatteriksi activities use playback theatre to bring people together. Playback theatre is a form of improvisational theatre in which participants’ experiences and stories are brought to the stage as short performances.
A performing group of retired theatre enthusiasts has been meeting weekly at a senior centre and rehearsing since autumn 2023. Under the guidance of professionals, the participants perform as playback theatre actors. In autumn 2026, the group will continue to deepen its exploration of playback theatre and give guest performances across Helsinki.
The activities are led by project team members Laura Ikonen and Reetta Kankare. Heli Lyytikäinen is the group’s playback theatre musician.
Rakkaat radikaalit
We are developing a touring theatre production for older audiences under the working title “Rakkaat radikaalit”. The production is scheduled to premiere in spring 2028. The creative process will begin with workshops that will generate material for the upcoming production. The workshops will explore radicalism, courage and breaking boundaries. They will be led by Laura Ikonen and Reetta Kankare.
What have you done in your life that has been radical or broken boundaries? By responding to our survey, you can help shape the script of the upcoming production. Take part here.
Collaboration with higher education institutions
Our long-running collaboration with higher education institutions will also continue during the 2026–2027 season. We will work with Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu’s Degree Programme in Elderly Care in various ways throughout the autumn and spring seasons. For more than five years, our activities for older people have provided training for students in fields including elderly care, social services, early childhood music education and drama instruction. Students have also had opportunities to lead activities themselves and engage directly with older people. Training is provided by Reetta Kankare and Hanna Nuorala.
Valo piirtää kasvojesi uurteet virtual exhibition
The exhibition presents nine stories about older Helsinki residents living in their own homes. It opened at Shopping Centre Redi in spring 2022 and subsequently toured a wide variety of venues across Helsinki. The exhibition ultimately attracted more than 10,000 visitors. Its four-year tour ended last spring, but the virtual exhibition will remain available until the end of the year. In the virtual exhibition, the stories of the older people featured are read by Helsinki City Theatre actors. View a recording of the photography exhibition here. The exhibition is also ideal for viewing together with groups such as senior centre clients.
The Aika loistaa programme is part of Helsinki City Theatre’s audience engagement activities. The project is funded by the City of Helsinki and delivered in collaboration with an extensive network of partners.
For more information about the project:
Reetta Kankare
Project Coordinator
reetta.kankare@hkt.fi
