A new festival will be held this year on 22-23 September in the historic centre and cultural buildings of Helsinki. The “Era of Autonomy” festival is one of the main events of the “Helsinki 200 Years as Capital” anniversary year this autumn.

The festival will present, for example, theatre and poetry in the spirit of the international cultural and social life of tsarist Finland, as well as 19th century music that will be performed for the very first time in Finland. Senate Square will be transformed into a horse market, with ceremonies hosted by Finnish actor Ville Virtanen. Hietalahdentori will also hold a market in the spirit of the 19th century.

Senate Square. Lithograph by F. Tengström, 1837. Helsinki City Art Museum.

The festival programme has been designed by the pianist and artistic director Marja Rumpunen. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the City of Helsinki, and it is being produced in co-operation with the City of Helsinki Event Office.

Further information:
Marja Rumpunen, tel. +358 (0)50 911 3849, marja.rumpunen@kolumbus.fi
Further information about “Helsinki 200 Years as Capital” anniversary year:
Hilkka Hytönen, City of Helsinki, tel. +358 (0)40 334 7911, hilkka.hytonen@hel.fi