Attention Cultural Event Organisers in North Ostrobothnia!
Are you eager to enhance your event’s reach and accessibility to attract new audiences? Look no further! Join us on a journey of research and discovery to make your events more accessible!
We invite North Ostrobothnian cultural events to send in an application to participate in the Saavuta project, led by the Oulu Culture Events Association and funded by the European Social Fund (ESR+).
Our Goals
Our primary aim is to develop strategies for making cultural events more accessible, thereby creating new ideas and practices for event organisers to reach wider audiences. The Saavuta project aims to make it easier for the audience to attend cultural events despite various challenges they might face — such as by bringing events into homes through online hosting or streaming.
Gathering Information
In this initial phase, the chosen participating cultural events are invited to take part in an accessibility survey or review. Following this, each event will receive a written report detailing its current accessibility status, along with suggestions and tips for implementing more accessible practices. Participation in the survey is free; however, we expect event organisers to be actively involved in meetings and working with our accessibility experts. Organisers should also be prepared to conduct independent surveys, gather additional information, and complete a checklist on accessibility. At the end of the survey stage, you will share your findings, survey results, and new ideas during a webinar. This first stage will last from December 2024 to June 2025, and will involve collaboration with 8-10 events across North Ostrobothnia.
The Pilot Phase
After the survey stage, we will invite approximately five events to the pilot phase, where we will continue our journey toward enhancing accessibility. This phase will focus on specific accessibility challenges, which we will address together through practical means. We will also invite diverse audiences to engage in discussions about communication, event content, multilingual approaches, and both digital and physical accessibility through real-life trials, experimentation, and feedback.
Digital Opportunities and Art Pilots
In the Saavuta project we are also developing new digital opportunities for audience attendance and participation. Artists interested in enhancing accessibility in their field are encouraged to reach out to us via a separate application in 2025. Event organisers are invited to collaborate with artists and digital content developers to enrich their events and explore online participation options.
Benefits of Participating
By participating in the Saavuta project, event organisers will enhance their expertise in accessibility and reachability. An event that is accessible and inviting will attract a more diverse audience. Reflecting on your event’s accessibility during the project can provide invaluable insights, such as new opportunities, collaborations, artistic and digital content, translations, and support for communication design. Surveys and reviews are designed to offer clear, customised recommendations for enhancing accessibility and identifying your event’s strengths.
Costs and Expenses
The Oulu Culture Events Association will cover all costs associated with hiring accessibility experts and implementing accessibility measures during the pilot phase. These measures may include translation fees, accessible online services, and various purchases to improve accessibility.
Event Organisers: Apply Now!
Contact the Saavuta project coordinator, Minea Taivalaho (minea@nulloulunjuhlaviikot.fi), by December 8th, 2024, with a free-form written application, video greeting, or voice memo. Please include the following information:
- Introduce your event.
- When and where is the event held?
- What is the expected number of visitors?
- Describe your typical audience.
- Which new audiences would you like to reach?
- What accessibility challenges have you encountered?
- Have you implemented any accessible practices? If so, please tell us more!
- Which areas of accessibility are you particularly interested in exploring?
- What do you hope to achieve by participating in the Saavuta project?
- Have you received feedback about your event? Please provide an example.
- How is your event organiser group prepared to participate in the Saavuta project?
- Provide the name and contact details of the person responsible for communications.
You can assess your event’s current accessibility status using the materials available on the Culture for All service website.
We are eager to hear from all local cultural events and welcome applications from all genres of art and culture!
Questions?
For any inquiries, please contact Minea Taivalaho, the Saavuta project coordinator, at minea@nulloulunjuhlaviikot.fi or by phone at 044 970 3334.
More Information
The Saavuta project is funded by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of North Ostrobothnia through the European Social Fund (ESR+), along with the municipalities of Oulu, Ii, Kuusamo, and Raahe. The project is part of the Oulu2026 Delta Life project by the Oulu Culture Events Association.
