Finnish Conference on Cultural Policy Research 2026
Theme: What Will Remain?
Time: 9–10 April 2026
Place: Oulu City Hall, Cultural Centre Valve and Lääninhallituksen talo (Provincial Government Building)
Thursday, 9 April 2026
9:00– Registration opens (City Hall)
9:30–11:00
Oulu2026 Academy in collaboration with the Finnish Conference on Cultural Policy Research: parallel panel discussions open to all and free of charge (both panels in Finnish)
Reforming peer review in the arts (organized by KUVI and Cupore) (City Hall: Valtuustosali)
New pathways to sustainable cultural tourism in the North (organized by the ACCENT project) (City Hall: Juhlasali)
11:00–12:00 Lunch (not provided)
12:00–12:15 Opening words (Juhlasali)
Sanna Karimäki-Nuutinen, The Society for Cultural Policy Research
Miikka Pyykkönen, University of Jyväskylä
Mika Vierimaa, Oulu Culture Foundation
12:15–13:30 Keynote (Juhlasali)
History, Society and the Arts of the Sámi: The Giellagas Institute at the Intersection of Research and Cultural Policy
Docent Sigga-Marja Magga, University of Oulu
Chair: Miikka Pyykkönen, University of Jyväskylä
(The keynote will be in Finnish. Simultaneous interpretation will be available upon request.)
13:45–15:15 Parallel sessions 1 (Session available also in English)
15:30–17:00 10 Years of the Cultural Policy Research Yearbook: Impacts and Future Directions
Panel discussion (in Finnish). Afternoon coffee will be served. (Cultural Centre Valve)
17:00–18:45 Independent exploration of the Oulu2026 programme. Possibility to visit the exhibitions at the City Hall.
19:00–20:30 Reception hosted by the City of Oulu, including the presentation of the Cultural Policy Master’s Thesis Award. Buffet dinner will be served.
Friday, 10 April 2026
9:00– Registration opens (Lääninhallituksen talo)
9:30–11:00 Keynote (Lääninhallituksen talo, Valkoinen sali)
Exogenous and Endogenous Factors Affecting the Social Impact of Cultural Projects
Professor Lluís Bonet, University of Barcelona (Spain)
Chair: Mervi Luonila, Cupore and The Society for Cultural Policy Research
11:15–12:45 Parallel sessions 2 (Session available also in English)
12:45–13:45 Lunch (not provided)
13:45–15:15 Parallel sessions 3 (Session available also in English)
15:15–15:30 Closing of the conference: performance and closing remarks (Valkoinen sali)