The Central Library is a place for city residents, which will be completed at Töölönlahti Bay in 2017. What kind of urban space and culture would you like to see in the heart of Helsinki? Come and take part in the development! Leave your mark, dream your dream and have your say in the various workshops held by professional artists representing a number of fields. There is no point waiting around for inspiration during the library weekend. Simply interact with people through data, text, image, words and motion, and bring out your creativity for others to enjoy – just like in the upcoming Central Library where the role of the customer will expand from a passive recipient to an active participant.
It is our desire to enable the realisation of good ideas and dreams by bringing instructors, neighbours, decision-makers, enthusiasts and friends together under the same roof. The Pavilion pop-up library will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. Come and share your own dream – it may well come true.
ACTIVITIES ON SATURDAY 16 JUNE
11 am–2 pm Cartoon workshop
Held by cartoonist Joonas Lehtimäki
Imagine your first visit to the brand new Central Library. What do you see? What is going on at the library? Are you met by Charlie Chaplin tipping his hat at you, or perhaps by some literary figure with no hat at all? What kind of discoveries are you making? Come and draw a cartoon of the Central Library of your dreams. The Central Library will provide the colours and materials but you can also bring your favourite ones with you. See below for information on signing up for the workshop!
2 pm–4 pm Illustration workshop
Held by writer and illustrator Markus Majaluoma
Design a mascot for the Central Library! We are looking for a new character who will personify the feel of the new library along with inspiring and entertaining city residents. You can also create a story for your mascot; what sort of role does the library play in his or her life? In addition, the workshop will enable you to illustrate your dreams for the library, or why not a dream described by someone else. You will have free access to all dreams shared by city residents thus far. This workshop is all about the line – the intuition within you. You do not need to know how to draw. Just let the pen guide you. The Central Library will provide the colours and materials but you can also bring your favourite ones with you. See below for information on signing up for the workshop!
4 pm–6 pm Newspaper poetry workshop
Held by newspaper poet Mari Koistinen and HS.fi producer Maija Aalto
To create newspaper poetry, all you need is a felt-tip pen and creativity – how liberating! In the workshop, participants will be introduced to the method of newspaper poetry, share stories related to the texts and create ideas based on them. How can the methods of newspaper poetry be used to approach the new Central Library? What do newspaper poems created from fragments of text tell us? Here you will not be alone with your words. The Central Library will provide the equipment and materials. See below for information on signing up for the workshop!
6 pm–9 pm Dance and DJ Kirjastotäti
The library will invite its friends to a Saturday night dance on 16 June beginning at 6 pm, so throw on you snazziest dress and boogie! The evening at the Pavilion features fresh interpretations of nostalgic sounds. The playlist will include waltz, tango, humppa, polka, jazz, swing, disco and foxtrot… What song from the library’s collection would you like to hear? Vote for your own favourite on the Central Library’s Facebook page a week before the event.
ACTIVITIES ON SUNDAY 17 JUNE
11 am–1 pm Moving picture of dreams workshop
Held by photographer Nico Bäckström and choreographer Hanna Brotherus
Dreams can come true. Wishes can become reality. Would you like to take a snapshot of your thoughts? Would you like to share a fleeting moment? What kind of lights and images do you see your library dancing in? The workshop will explore how motion and photography can be used to approach dreams and aspirations for the library. The Central Library will provide the equipment and materials. See below for information on signing up for the workshop!
1 pm–5 pm Film workshop with Kaija Juurikkala’s MyFilm method
Held by community educator Helinä Juurinen
Pitch in with your wild ideas on the Central Library at the MyFilm workshop! At the workshop, you can experience the evolution of a small film from the idea creation phase to the premiere within the span of a few hours. We will begin with creative story hunting followed by filming the stories and hosting a premiere. Join us and find feeling and fiction in the Central Library! The Central Library will provide the equipment and materials. See below for information on signing up for the workshop!
4 pm–6 pm Word and motion workshop
Held by dance artist and choreographer Hanna Brotherus
What kind of dream did you have? What word is at the tip of your tongue? Where do your feet lead you? What are you dreaming about? What would the library of your dreams be like? The organisers of the workshop and the library welcome people of all ages to the workshop to breathe, lose their breath and catch it again. Loose clothing and a flexible mind are preferred. The workshop will push the limits of motion and by doing so explore the possibilities of the library of the future. The Central Library will provide the equipment and materials. See below for information on signing up for the workshop!
Sign up for the workshops
The workshops are open to all and free-of-charge. No prior experience, knowledge or skill is required. The first 25 to sign up will be admitted to each respective workshop. To take part, send an e-mail to the address virve.miettinen@hel.fi . Include your name, contact information (telephone number and e-mail address) and the name of your desired workshop in the sign-up message. You can take your creations with you after the workshop. The Central Library reserves the right to use all creative works in its own communications.
Read more!
The Pavilion is located at the address Ullanlinnankatu 2–4. See the map and Journey Planner!
Photos: World Design Capital/Pavilion Janne Salovaara