Record number of programmes for Night of the Arts

This year, the city event loved by Vaasa residents has a record number of acts and the programme content produced by them.

A total of 24 local bands and artists can be seen on the Market Square stage, the Ritz stage and the Volume stage at Culture House Fanny. The ballroom of the City Hall is filled with performances by many different dance groups. Theatre is performed at the Draama Hall of the main library. For families with children, there will be performances by Soiva Sammakko and the Ukrainian Kalamburi shadow theatre group, among others. The Intopiukeet improvisation theatre will also be seen on stage.

– It’s really great to see that different types of artists in Vaasa have enthusiastically come together to create the Night of the Arts, says producer Geir Byrkjeland.

Vaasa museums have free admission on the Night of the Arts. Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, the Ostrobothnian Museum and Tikanoja Art Museum are open from 15:00–21:00. Vaasa’s main library has a programme for all ages, such as various workshops, music performances and theatre. You can watch open rehearsals at Vaasa City Theatre (Vaasan kaupunginteatteri) and Wasa Teater. The Vaasa City Orchestra will be performing at the Rewell shopping centre from 18:00 –18:45.

A dance procession moving around the city

This year, the Night of the Arts programme also includes the traditional procession that will move around the city for everyone to see. The procession leaves at 19:00 from Vaasa City Hall and proceeds from Senaatinkatu along the Hovioikeudenpuistikko pedestrian street and ends at the market square. Seven different dancing groups have signed up, such as Samba Energia, Peurat Ajovaloiina, Tanssieruhleuseura Rolling, Vaasan Nepali ry, Wasa Flamenco, Kansallispakutulettajat – Folkdräktsvädrare and Folkmusiksällskapet. The theme of the procession this year is peace.

Talk to a stranger

During the Night of the Arts, the City of Vaasa’s new “Talk to a stranger” campaign will also be launched, where you are encouraged to meet people from Vaasa you don’t know, with Vaasa bingo and a friendship book.

– One of the goals of the campaign is to facilitate meeting and discussion among the residents of Vaasa, especially between different population groups and generations, says welfare services coordinator Senni Korhonen.

Encountering others and dispelling prejudices is also related to the promotion of peace, which is the theme of the Night of the Arts this year.

Cheaper by bus

In the spirit of the Night of the Arts, the city’s public transport Lifti offers a 10% discount on regular-priced seasonal products in the Waltti online store during the discount week (8–16 August, 2024). The discount applies to all zones and customer groups. The discount can only be redeemed in the online store with the discount code TYKN24.

-During the Night of the Arts, leave the car at home and hop on a cheap bus, Byrkjeland encourages all Night of the Arts participants.

Check out the program for the Night of the Arts here!