 
CULTURE IN PORIPori is famous for its culture. There are lots of different festivals and other cultural happenings. The number one thing is of course Pori Jazz Festivals which is possibly the biggest festival in Finland. We also have the first (and many say the best) Modern Art Museum in Finland. Finnish theatre started in Pori in 19th century and Pori Theatre is one of the best theatres in Finland. Also Rakastajat Theatre Company are well-known. ART (Museums and galleries and such) PORI ART MUSEUM If you ask artists (foreign or domestic) what will be the best place to have an exhibition the answer is not so often Kiasma in Helsinki. It's sometimes Pori Art Museum. Lots of artists love the Art Museum. One of the most famous exhibitions was Yoko Ono's exhibition back in 1992. The building itself is approx. 150 years old. Art Museum was formed into this beautiful building during the seventies and the foreman to this project was famous cultural person Mrs. Maire Gullichsen. There is no other cultural person in Finland who could match her. It was she who brought modern art to Finland... Address: Eteläranta. Phone +358-2-621 1080. Website PORIGINAL GALLERY Poriginal gallery was established in 1984. The building was built in 1885 and it is a former warehouse for salt. Together with Pori Art Museum and Satakunta Museum, Poriginal Gallery is an integral part of the cultural blocks on the Southern Riverbank. Address: Eteläranta 6. Phone +358-2-621 1093. Website SATAKUNTA MUSEUM Satakunta Museum is one of the biggest museums in Finland and it was established in 1888. There are approx. 80 000 items in the museum and collections contain almost everything from prehistoric to nowadays. Address: Hallituskatu 11. Phone +358-2-621 1063. Website ELISE GALLERIA (Art gallery Elise) Address: Karjapiha 2 (Karjaranta area). Website GALLERIA 3H+K (Art gallery 3H+K) The most underground type gallery in Pori. Lots of art school students works + professional art works. Address: Maaherrankatu 32. Phone +358-2-621 1063. Website GALLERIA ANGELO (Art gallery Angelo) Sirpa Koskinen's new private art gallery and framing company in a beautiful Jugend-house opposite the central church of Pori. Worthy to visit. Address: Yrjönkatu 3. Phone +358-2-5335 100. Website AULAGALLERIA Address: Antinkatu 6 B, third floor. MINIGALLERIA Address: Yrjönkatu 14 (Isokarhu shopping centre). PAJA JA GALLERIA Address: Valtakatu 22. PORIN TAITEILIJASEURA / PORI SOCIETY OF ARTISTS Taiteilijaseura is formed in 1947 and they have 79 artists included. Their main focus is to enhance art in Pori and its surroundings. Address: Valtakatu 22. Website ROSENLEW MUSEUM Rosenlew Museum locates at 1860 built building at Aittaluoto. Rosenlew family was well known all around Finland and their factories gave job to thousands of Porinians (1853-1987). Address: Kuninkaanlahdenkatu 14. Phone +358-2-621 1866. Website GENERAATTORIGALLERIA (ART GENERATION SPACE) Address: Cotton Factory (inner yard), Pohjoisranta. Phone +358-(0)40-551 3485. Website PORTAIT'S ART GALLERY Address: Sokos Department Store's 2nd floor MUSIC, THEATRE AND ART FESTIVALS PORI JAZZ FESTIVALS Pori Jazz Festivals is the main culture happening in Pori. It was formed in 1966 by a bunch of jazz fans and the first years were only two-day happenings in Kirjurinluoto with 600 jazz followers listening music. Festivals have grown since those days and the present festivals are usually 9-day happenings all over the town with lots of international stars performing. Pori Jazz are one of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe and the biggest festivals in Finland (ticket sale: approx. 70 000, over 100 concerts, over 100 bands, 150 000 spectators and over 230 hours of music). Also there are lots of free concerts in Jazzstreet. Stars like Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayall, Miles Davis, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Alicia Keys, B.B. King, Ringo Starr, Björk, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, Dizzy Gillespie, etc. etc. have performed in Pori. Ted Curson (who has played in every festival) has said that Pori Jazz are number one festival in the world. And Jamie Cullum (who played in Pori in summer 2005) has said Pori Jazz festival is a living legend in the world and that he has heard only good things about it. He also said that it's an honour to perform there... Website ICCOROCK -FESTIVAL In August. Website LAINSUOJATTOMAT (=OUTLAWS) THEATRE FESTIVALS This biggest independentent theatre festival in Finland was founded by Rakastajat theatre company. Lots of independent theatre companies around the Finland (+ some from abroad). Website KARHUROCK -FESTIVAL Musicians from Pori have formed this rock festival. They also put up a Karhurock Club concerts at Club 19 where every now and then perform different kind of bands. Website KARMAROCK Karmarock concert venue is staged in Harjavalta (approx. 30 km from Pori towards Helsinki). Website PORI FOLK -FESTIVAL Annual Pori Folk is focusing on, well, folk music. Website PORI ORGAN -FESTIVAL Annual Pori Organ festival is focusing on organ and such music. Website PORISPERE -FESTIVAL Pori's reaction for moving Sonisphere to Helsinki. Website TULVA-FEST 2-day happening in August with domestic and foreign bands. Concert place varies (Club 19, Annis or some other venue). Website MAI-FEST MaiFest concentrates to art and music. Main events at Cafe Jazz and at Bar Kino. Held annually in May. PERF07 PERFORMANCE FESTIVALS This is a festival that will operate with Mai-Fest. Focused on art and music. Website Rock concerts in Pori Here's one link to see what rock concerts there are in Pori. Website THEATRES PORI THEATRE Pori Theatre are performing their acts inside the most beautiful theatre building in Finland (see more at sightseeing). National Theatre of Finland was formed in Pori in 1872 and theatre has been very important for people of Pori since then. Website RAKASTAJAT THEATRE COMPANY Rakastajat Theatre Company was founded in 1991 by four theatre professionals. This company also produces The International Theatre Festival Lainsuojattomat (=outlaws) For Professional Independent Theatre Companies annually every autumn. Excellent theatre who also organise various art happenings in Pori. Website CONT'AKTI THEATRE COMPANY Another theatre company in Pori. Locates at Antinkatu 15 (inner yard). This theatre company has been founded in 1988 by Harry Viita. Very interesting productions indeed... Website HOKKUS POKKUS TEATTERI KIRJURINLUODON KESÄTEATTERI Kirjurinluoto Park's summer theatre. Website LEIKKITEATTERI-YHDISTYS Theatre for kids. Website LPKT "VANHA KAAPPI" PAJURANNAN KESÄTEATTERI Summer theatre. PORIN TEATTERINUORET (THEATRE YOUTHS OF PORI) HQ at Annankatu 6. Teatterinuoret produce different kind of plays. The biggest amateur theatre group in Finland. Website PORIN YLIOPPILASTEATTERI University Consortium's Theatre project. Website ROSVOTEATTERI (BANDIT THEATRE COMPANY) HQ at Annankatu 6. Quality youth theatre. Website TEATTERI MONIKASVOT -- TEATTERI RATA-KOPLA Pohjoisranta 11, F-building. TEATTERI UUSIKUU Phone +358-2-650 6919. Winding theatre company. Website VIHREÄ TEATTERI Isomäki forest. Summer theatre. Website MISCELLAENOUS CULTURE CULTURE HOUSE ANNANKATU 6 (a.k.a. ANNIS) You can find many culture styles inside this graffiti covered building: Bands, theatre groups, video art, other kind of arts. Don't judge the book by the cover when you first see this unbelievable place. Address: Annankatu 6. Phone +358-2-633 2374. Website KULTTUURITEHDAS KEHRÄÄMÖ (Culture Factory Kehräämö) This is the newest place where to enjoy cultural happenings. Address: Puuvillatehdas, Pohjoisranta 11. Website PORI DANCE COMPANY Excellent dance company. Famous around the world. Lots of world known visitors. Latest achievement was to have two dancers in the final of Eurovision Young Dancers Competition in Warsaw in the spring 2005 (messrs. Riku Lehtopolku and Mikko Lampinen). Address: Pohjoisranta 11. Phone +358-2-633 4161. Website KINOKELLARI Every Saturday different kind of movies from around the globe, even from Afghanistan. Address: Yrjönkatu 17 (Promenadikeskus). Website PORI SINFONIETTA Local symphony orchestra that performs their concerts mainly in Promenade concert hall but also around Finland and Europe. HQ Address: Yrjönkatu 15 A. Website PORI PHILHARMONIC CHOIR Pori Philharmonic Choir was founded in 1995 and they have currently 76 singers. Co-operations f.e. with Pori Sinfonietta. Website PROMENADI-SALI (PROMENADE CONCERT HALL) Modern and high standard concert hall. Approx. 700 seats. Also for seminars etc. Pori Sinfonietta performs here. It is said that it's the best under 1000 seat concert hall in Finland. Address: Yrjönkatu 17 (Promenadikeskus). Pori Marketin Office website Lippupalvelu website (tickets) Lippupiste website (tickets) T.E.H.D.A.S RY Their main focus is to bring art and culture near to ordinary citizens. HQ locates at Kankaanpää Town (approx. 40 km towards Jyväskylä) HQ Address: Keskuskatu 20, Kankaanpää. Website LIISA NOJONEN DANCE SCHOOL This dance school has operated since 1979 and is one of the best dance schools in Finland. They also have lots of visiting teachers from all around the world. Pohjoisranta 11, phone +358-2-632 7203. Website BAILE FLAMENCO DANCE SCHOOL This flamenco school started in 1996 and it's focused on flamenco dancing. Everybody's welcomed from kids to pensioners. Pohjoisranta 11, phone +358-40-503 3074. Website |