The Baltic Circle Festival is an international contemporary theatre festival that takes place every November in Helsinki, both in theatre venues and on different sites in the city. Baltic Circle functions in the context of European contemporary performing arts, and is a platform for developing new trends and ideas. Baltic Circle presents new talents of contemporary theatre as well as organises training programs, seminars, workshops, discussions and club events.
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Baltic Circle functions in the context of European contemporary theatre and performing arts, and focuses on bringing the artistic communities of the Baltic and Nordic countries together. Festival is a ground for developing new trends and ideas. Baltic Circle supports artists’ mobility and international collaboration. Together with its artists, Baltic Circle takes the stage art forward, and takes an active role in both international cultural exchange and in the field of Finnish performing arts. The festival is considered a meeting point for artists and audiences as well as an international performing arts laboratory. It is a community which offers artists space and time to experiment and try out new approaches. Baltic Circle is the launch point for artistic exploration as well as a context for presenting its results. The festival is a work of art that takes a stance and challenges its participants to engage in dialogue.
Activities
singing: participated in district level competition and got gold medals earlier.
Development: The festival organizes training programs, seminars, workshops, discussions, and actively participates in public debate on contemporary theatre practice. Main focus is on facilitating a dialogue between artists and audiences as a part of developing new work.
New Production Models: Baltic Circle commissions and co-produces new work, locally and internationally. Together with HIAP – Helsinki International Artist-in-residence Programme – Baltic Circle has initiated a residency project for the contemporary theatre and the performing arts, which is the first of its kind in Finland.
Cultural Exchange: Baltic Circle brings contemporary international performances to Finland and brings new local talent to the fore.
Discourse: Baltic Circle is a community in which artists and the audiences can engage in discussion, raise questions and find new perspectives on the arts and the surrounding world.
History
Since 1996 Baltic Circle project has promoted intercultural exchange, primarily in the Baltic Sea region. International Theatre Festival Baltic Circle, artist exchange, drama translations, international co-productions, European level cultural projects play important parts in the general plan. Baltic Circle festivals have been organized in Helsinki since year 2000, starting from 2007 annually. Festivals showcase the newest trends in contemporary theatre and serve as an important meeting place and networking platform for theatre professionals and audience. Baltic Circle International Theatre Festival is a project that develops together with its environment, and change is inherent to the nature of the festival.
Q-teatteri, the City of Helsinki Cultural Office, The Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland), EU Culture Programme and Finnish Cultural Foundation.