Project Portfolio

Creative and Cultural Industries in Lapland – Situation Report 2025

In June 2025, Art Organisation Silence, together with Kokoamo Oy, Moniko Oy and Marjo Remes, delivered Lapland’s first comprehensive situation report on the region’s creative and cultural industries, commissioned by the Regional Council of Lapland. The report highlights the sector’s strengths, diversity and growth potential, while giving voice directly to local professionals. It forms part of the Lappi Brand 2.0 programme, aiming to strengthen creativity as a key driver of regional vitality and international appeal.

Mapping of Arts and Culture Actors in Lapland 2023-2024

From February 2023 to February 2024, Silence implemented a project mapping the skills and needs of arts and culture actors in Lapland, focusing on independent professionals outside large institutions. Coordinated by Art Organisation Silence (Taiteilijayhdistys Hiljaisuus ry) and funded by the Regional Council of Lapland (AKKE programme for sustainable growth and vitality), the project marked the first region-wide survey of the sector’s potential and challenges. It connected a diverse group of practitioners, identified expertise areas with potential for cross-sector collaboration, and laid the groundwork for a future regional cultural programme. Methods included a survey with 157 respondents, five workshops (online and in Tornio & Inari), and in-depth interviews. The results highlighted growth opportunities and created the basis for the Network of Independent Arts and Culture Actors in Lapland. The project was carried out in close collaboration with the City of Rovaniemi’s initiative Pohjoisen puhuri , funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, to strengthen municipal cultural activities in Lapland.

10X - Ten Circus Commissions

In 2022, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland awarded a special grant to the Silence Art Organization's "10X Circus Commission Project" to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was an ambitious pilot initiative aimed at testing the applicability of a commissioned work model within the circus arts sector.

The starting point for the project was the financial risk associated with creating new circus productions — a risk typically carried by the artist unless public or private funding is available to support the creation of a new work. Silence wanted to experiment with the commissioned work model, which is already well established in the field of music, if it works as a potential funding method for circus arts as well.

A commissioned work means that an entity — such as a festival, arts organization, municipality, or similar — commissions a work from an artist or group of artists and pays a commissioning fee. This arrangement does not create an employment relationship between the artist and the commissioning party, but the fee enables the artist to focus on creating a new work without taking on personal financial risk. If desired, the artist can also seek additional commissioners or apply for supplementary funding for the work.

During the project, 10 new circus works were created, four of which were multidisciplinary, combining music and circus. Of the works, five were solo pieces, and five were created by duos or teams of three artists. Among the employed artists, eleven were Finnish and five were international professional artists. The following artists were employed through the commissioned works: Ailu Valle, Aqqalu Berthelsen, Aleksi Niittyvuopio, Marcello Nunes, Nelli Kujansivu, Matias Salmenaho, Erika Ahola, Heini Koskinen, Hanna Pakkala, Mike McCallum, Antti Paalanen, Jenny Mansikkasalo, Carla Carnerero, Aino Savolainen, Maija Hynninen and Jani Nuutinen.

Northern Network for Performing Arts 2018-

The Northern Network for Performing Arts was initiated in 2018 in Tromsø by Art Organisation Silence (Taiteilijayhdistys Hiljaisuus ry) together with RadArt (NO), Cycle – Music and Art Festival (IS) and Nuuk Nordic Culture Festival (GL). Hiljaisuus ry played a key role in launching the network and has also served as its coordinator. The network brings together artists, organisations, festivals and communities from the Nordic High North to strengthen collaboration in performing arts, enhance international exchange, share knowledge and provide a platform for encounters.

Performance Portfolio

Performance Portfolio showcases both completed and upcoming commissioned works as well as future co-productions that Silence Organisation will continue to prioritize.

Silence Organisation has collaborated with over 600 artists, creating numerous premieres in both performing arts and music. The organisation has developed significant expertise and skills, particularly in the creation of site-specific works and perfomances combining different art forms together, which we aim to further cultivate in the context of commissioned works and co-productions.

Please if you’re keen to hear more about the performances contact info(at)hiljaisuusfestivaali.fi

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

COMMISSIONED BY THE SILENCE ORGANISATION