Community moments bring culture closer home

Culture Close to Home

The goal of these community moments is to bring culture to places where elderly people meet, close to their home. As functional ability declines, mobility becomes the biggest barrier to participating in cultural services for many people.

The City of Tampere has previously organized cultural activities for elderly at local community centers in the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa. These activities have now been expanded, and cultural programming is currently available not only at local community centers but also at the City of Tampere's meeting places and at venues maintained by organizations and parishes.

A Program Based on Participants’ Wishes

During the fall, community gatherings will be held at nearly 100 locations throughout the city. The content of cultural performances and workshops is planned based on clients’ wishes. Suggestions are collected directly from participants, and staff at the community centers listen closely to feedback.

Community events have been held at the Koivupirtti Foundation’s meeting place on the corner of Kaleva since the fall of 2025. Marja-Terttu, 73, who actively participates in cultural activities, considers these events important.

“It gives me a chance to get out of the house, see other people, and chat with them after the performances. I’m still able to attend other cultural events myself, but Kalevan Kulma is an important cultural venue for those who can’t get around to other places,” Marja-Terttu explains.

According to Coordinator Andrea Frondelius, the program aims to accommodate both traditional and unexpected requests.

“This fall, there was a particular demand for music and theater, and we’ve taken those requests into account. We’ve also organized slightly different kinds of events in the past, such as stand-up comedy shows and circus performances. We also want to offer stakeholders experiences they might not necessarily think to ask for themselves. The mentalist’s visit was a good example of this,” says Frondelius, who works in the Public Cultural Services of Tampere.

Well-being Through Collaboration

These community moments are part of a broader effort to develop meeting places, which the Tampere for All development programme is implementing in collaboration with organizations, The Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, and local parishes.

"Promoting well-being is a shared responsibility for all of us. Research shows that engaging in and experiencing culture and the arts increases well-being and reduces feelings of loneliness, for example. Meeting places provide a natural setting for both social interactions and shared cultural experiences,” says Project Manager Tiina Santala of the City of Tampere.

These community moments are being developed as part of the “Cultural Work with Older Adults: Seeking Functional Capacity and Inclusion” project. The project receives a state grant from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s health promotion budget.