Gloria Cultural Arena

Updated on Jan 06, 2024

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Established January 18th, 1999 Website www.nk.hel.fi/gloria		Director Pekka Mönttinen

Location Pieni Roobertinkatu 12-14, Helsinki, Finland Visitors over 700 000 in 15 years

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Gloria is a cultural arena which has been operating regularly since 1999 and is located in Helsinki at Pieni Roobertinkatu 12-14. The events that have been organized have mostly been focused on music events; however, there have been other events as well such as theater, dance, film, art exhibitions, and outdoor events. From the very beginning, the principle of Gloria has been to create new cultural productions by producing leisure activities together with youth’s own operational and cultural groups. Most of the visitors are 15–25 years old. In 15 years Gloria has become a unique arena thanks to all the thousands of performers and events. There have been over 50 000 performers, over 3000 events, and well over 700 000 visitors.

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Production

Gloria is a cultural arena of Helsinki city's youth center, where around 200 events are organized yearly. Gloria's production ranges from opera to rock, performance to art exhibitions, and theater to installations. Additionally, Gloria rents its spaces for meetings, seminars, courses, and ceremonies. Gloria's production is based on co-operation with young people as well as with all residents of Helsinki, companies, communities, and bands.

Premises

Gloria's transformable spaces and technology make it possible to have, for example, a play and a rock concert on the same day. The spaces, technology and restaurant services are always modified according to the event. In addition to the stage and transformable spaces, there are light and audio equipment as well as three bar counters. Furthermore, Gloria offers video recording and restaurant services during events. Nousu Oy Company is in charge of Gloria's restaurant services. The main stage is 65m² and the audience capacity is 600 persons in the hall. Depending on the arrangements, altogether 300-400 seats fit on both floors. Gloria has two entrances: the main entrance at Pieni Roobertinkatu meant for the audience and at Yrjönkatu which leads directly to the dressing rooms.

Youth Employment

An essential part of Gloria's youth employment activity is employing and finding schools for young people. Gloria employs youth through wage-subsidized work and internships to work as ushers, lightning, video, and audio technicians, as well as producer assistants. In 15 years, Gloria has helped to employ hundreds of youth to become lighting and audio technicians and to work in different event productions. Additionally, Gloria offers a variety of courses that are needed in the working life, such as work safety, fire work, and electrical work courses.