The Ministry of Culture and Education has granted 140 000 euros for organizing Performing HEL, a showcase of Finnish circus, dance and theatre in 2021. The event, which gathers together the different fields of performing arts, was first held in 2018 and the next edition is planned to take place in Helsinki at the end of August 2021. The exact dates will be announced later.
The biennial Performing HEL showcase is aimed at both Finnish and foreign programmers of theatres, festivals and other culture venues. The Ministry of Culture and Education’s discretionary government transfer for cultural exports will be used for the showcase’s production costs and sustainable development of the event. In addition to the showcase itself we will arrange a series of workshops focusing on international work. These workshops will be open to all performing arts professionals.
The 2019 edition of Performing HEL was organized by CircusInfo Finland and Dance Info Finland in cooperation with Helsinki Festival, The Finnish National Theatre, The Swedish Theatre, Espoo City Theatre and Theatre Info Finland. The Performing HEL programme consisted of 12 pitches, 10 demos and 5 full-length performances.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture and Education granted a discretionary government transfer for cultural exports of 45 000 euros to Pragma Helsinki, to be used for the development of their brand and the international export of their clients. Pragma Helsinki was founded in 2019 by CircusInfo Finland and Dance Info Finland as a part of their joint development project.
Pragma Helsinki (link opens on another website)