Audience Outreach Team Updates
31.7.2025
At FiBO, the role of outreach has been strengthened since last spring. But what exactly is outreach? Could it offer something new for you? Read below for our latest outreach updates.
Greetings from FiBO’s Outreach Team!
With Meri Wallenius back from parental leave and Aino Kovanen joining FiBO as a second outreach coordinator, our outreach team now has two people. It’s a joy to work together as FiBO’s outreach team! In short, our goal is to bring FiBO closer to people — to create space for encounters, new experiences and new audiences.
Highlights from early this year
Together with Red Nose Company and with the support of the City of Helsinki, the Huudeilla project (2025–2027) has enabled diverse outreach work in Kaarela for more than six months now. The project offers free cultural events in Kaarela and, above all, creates opportunities for art and people to meet in everyday settings.
This spring and summer, the first events have brought many unforgettable moments. FiBO’s musicians have played in care homes, shopping centres, libraries, cafés, flea markets and churches — and even as part of exercise classes, food rescue events and book clubs. In a blooming orchard, audiences enjoyed a picnic under the apple trees as the music began. At a “Six O’Clock Tea” event, Red Nose Company’s clowns picked up their bows, adding a comic twist to the music. People stayed, got curious, asked questions and returned for the next event. This is outreach at its best: when art becomes part of life, pauses the everyday and creates connection.
In spring, our outreach also expanded beyond Helsinki. The Lähelle project (2024–2026) with the Helsinki Chamber Choir brought highlights from an Italian madrigal concert not only to Helsinki but also to Forssa, Nurmes, Raseborg and Mäntyharju.
Laura Kajander performs at Prisma Kaari, Kaarela, as part of Huudeilla.
A look ahead
This autumn, nature is our guiding theme. We kick things off on 14 August with performances all around Kaarela for Helsinki’s Night of the Arts. On Baltic Sea Day, 29 August, we’ll release a Baltic Sea relaxation video combining FiBO’s Baltic-themed music with Jarmo and Mirjami Heikkinen’s gentle narration and beautiful video. On Finnish Nature Day, 30 August, our musicians will appear in various spots across Helsinki, and on 31 August our whole-family Baroque Picnic will bring people together at the Asukastalo Reng house in Malminkartano with music, stories and baroque dance.
This autumn will also feature art exercise sessions, book club concerts and more “Six O’Clock Tea” evenings. For the first time, Kaarela will host an open Sävellsverstas composition workshop in September, inspired by FiBO’s upcoming concert of Haydn’s The Seasons (5 October at the Helsinki Music Centre). On 14–16 November, the Huudeilla area festival will crown our outreach autumn — maybe we’ll even hear some local “Seasons” performed!
Finally, a warm thank you to our previous outreach coordinator, Anni-Kaisa Haukka, who worked at FiBO during Meri’s parental leave until May 2025. It has been easy to continue the excellent work she did!
We hope to meet you this autumn — maybe at a library, in an orchard or right in the middle of the city, surrounded by music. Feel free to reach out to us by email with any questions, ideas or thoughts!
You can find all outreach events (in Finnish) on the Più outreach page: fibo.fi/piu
Warmest regards,
FiBO’s Outreach Team:
Meri Wallenius (meri.wallenius (at) fibo.fi)
Aino Kovanen (aino.kovanen (at) fibo.fi)