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SYYSKUU / SEPTEMBER 2024
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Greetings!
The changing season has brought exciting developments at Finlandia Foundation National.
On a recent visit to Washington, DC, FFN connected to the Finnish-American community in many meaningful and some unexpected ways. One of the more unexpected visits was to the Library of Congress. In fact, we owed them a visit after one of their reference librarians with Finnish-American connections visited our Historical Archive last summer. He was on a mission to scan through duplicate and out-of-scope material in Hancock and bring it back to Washington to be reviewed for accessioning into their collections at the Library of Congress. This is a fantastic story with many developing and important aspects to it. Stay tuned as the story unfolds!
We had the pleasure of greeting one of Washington’s newest top diplomats to the United States, Ambassador of Finland, Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, at a special reception held
at the Embassy. The event was part of series of events in New York City and Washington, DC called Touching Magic, a collaboration between the Sibelius Academy and The Juilliard School, celebrating connections through both Finnish and American
songs. The project was aptly named and the evening was indeed magical as we listened to sounds of Jean Sibelius and John Musto.
Additionally, we are thrilled to introduce our new Communications Director Minea Lindqvist Herwitz, as we say a heartfelt farewell to Kath Usitalo. With our growing team, we are more excited than ever to share the stories of Finland and Finnish Americans with you and a broader audience. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn!
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Executive Director Thomas Flanagan on an in-depth tour of the Library of Congress in Washington DC, where some material from the Finnish American Heritage Center will be reviewed and housed. | |
Just this week, we hosted our first Finnposium of the fall, which was among the most well-attended to date! The topic was near and dear to our hearts focused on migration
and research. It included our very own Archivist, Joanna Chopp. Together, we gained deeper insights into researching Finnish heritage and histories in both Finland and
North America.
Through all of this, it is clear to me Finlandia Foundation moves gracefully between preservation and transformation—both archiving history as well as creating it. And we couldn't do it with you.
All the best,
Tommy Flanagan
Executive Director
thomas.flanagan@
finlandiafoundation.org
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TOUCHING MAGIC: Bridging Music and Culture in a Symphony of Collaboration
Finlandia Foundation was honored to sponsor an unforgettable series of events as we presented Touching Magic—a remarkable transatlantic music project that brought together the brilliance of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and The Juilliard School in New York. The audience was treated to a captivating blend of both classical Finnish and American music, all
performed in English and Swedish, performed by gifted young vocalists and pianists from both prestigious institutions.
"Magic was truly in the air during the final of three major engagements in this extraordinary collaboration," said Finlandia Foundation's Executive Director Thomas Flanagan, reflecting on our recent event at the Finnish Embassy in Washington, D.C. on September 16, 2024. The evening not only featured a moving performance but also marked the official welcome of Finland’s new Ambassador, Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, to her post.
The events featured insightful presentations by Brian Zeger (Artistic Director, Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, The Juilliard School) and Markus Lehtinen (Professor of Opera and Vocal Music, University of the Arts Helsinki Sibelius Academy), followed by a performance by the students: Francesco Barfoed, Jack Hicks, Kiia Nordlund, Gabriel Kivivuori Sereno, Adelia Spångberg, and Abla Benzemroun.
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Finlandia Foundation team stands with Ambassador Leena-Kaisa Mikkola (center), Finnish Embassy staff, and Sibelius Academy performers and musical directors. | |
Catch them while you can! Artist, Performer, and Lecturer of the Year | |
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LECTURER OF THE YEAR
Catch Author Hanna Pylväinen in:
🇫🇮 Washington, DC: Live! At The Library: A Celebration of Nordic Writers, Sept. 26th, click here.
🇫🇮 Sonoma, CA: Saturday, Oct. 19th at the Finnish American Home Association (FAHA), link below.
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ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Catch artist Eric Aho in:
🇫🇮 New York City, NY: "Eric Aho: Wild Meadow" gallery exhibit opens Oct. 4th, click here.
🇫🇮 Join us for a special reception to celebrate his latest exhibition, "Eric Aho: Wild Meadow" at DC Moore Gallery, 535 West 22nd Street, New York on Thursday, Oct. 17th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM.
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, wine, and beer as we gather to honor Eric and his stunning work. Please RSVP below to ensure your spot at this exclusive event. We look forward to seeing you there!
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PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Catch multitalented actor, comedian, musician and filmmaker Miska Kajanus (if you can!) in:
🇫🇮 Minot, ND: Norsk Høstfest from Sept. 25th - Sept. 28th, click here.
🇫🇮 New York City, NY: Finlandia Foundation New York Metropolitan Chapter's 70th anniversary on Oct. 4th, click here.
🇫🇮 Philadelphia, PA: American Swedish Historical Museum at Sauna is Life on Oct. 17th, click here.
🇫🇮 Troy, NH: FinnFunn Weekend from Oct. 26th and 27th, click here.
🇫🇮 Bellingham, WA: Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter's 24th Annual Nordic Festival in on Nov. 16th, click here.
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You're Invited! Nordic Business Networking Event
Are you interested and ready to connect with individuals and companies in the Twin Cities' Nordic community? Join the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Minnesota at the American Swedish Institute for an evening of networking and collaboration. This program is also supported by FFN and Global Minnesota.
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2nd ANNUAL
NATIONAL SAUNA WEEK POSTER ART CONTEST
DEADLINE EXTENDED to Nov 1, 2024
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OPEN APPLICATIONS!
October 1: Friends of Finland Call for Art; click here
October 1: Lindfors Law Scholarship application deadline; click here
November 1: National Sauna Week Poster Art Contest deadline; click here
4th National Sauna Week: February 16-22, 2025
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Seeking Young Leaders
Young Leaders Board (YLB) is comprised of motivated volunteers between the ages of 23 and 35 who have an interest in Finnish America and Finland.
Our goal is to tap the talent pool of this generation of Finns, Finnish-Americans and others in the U.S. who are intrigued by Finnish heritage and contemporary Finland, and are looking for a way to pursue and advance those interests. We strive to create community, networking opportunities and interesting programs.
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A view into Finland as the season changes. Happy Equinox, everyone! | | | | |
