Finnish Craft & Design: Finland 100 years – working together and supporting Finnish work

Europe’s largest handicrafts and applied arts event will bring people to Tampere from 17 to 19 November for the 22nd time to enjoy the light and colours. The joyful shopping paradise will offer experiences as well as unique products, materials and ideas. The event programme dives into themes inspired by the centenary of Finland’s independence, ranging from Finnish materials to doing things together. The Dolls’ House Fair and XXXV Railway Modelling event will be held in the same venue at the same time.

This year the programme of the Finnish Craft & Design Fair will highlight, in particular, domestic production, small-scale entrepreneurship, doing things together and the centenary of Finland’s independence. Visitors will have a chance to explore Finnish products and, as always, skilful individuals and entities will be rewarded on 17 November when the recipients of the Artisan of the Year, New Product of the Year and Taito-Finlandia awards are announced. This year the Taito-Finlandia Award is sponsored by the Finnish tea company Forsman Tea.

Collaboration at workshops, forest sounds at design exhibition, new skills and materials

The exhibition halls will be filled with diverse activities. Sound artist Kirsi Ihalainen will bring to the design exhibition, for example, a huggable and sound-producing tree with unique soundscapes collected from different parts of Finland. Molla Mills, who has also been travelling all over the world, will make a long-awaited visit to the fair. Finnish materials will be represented, for example, by sheep wool and birch bark. The fair will feature an exhibition and yarn laboratory based on Sanna Vatanen’s book BÄÄ! Neulo & virkkaa suomenlampaan villasta and at the 4H stand visitors will learn how to make rings using birch bark. Collaborative activities will be represented, among others, by the Taito magazine’s knit along Metsä kukkii, Novita’s knitting school, Sinelli’s workshops, the Finnish flag exhibition consisting of works by fair visitors and the Marthas’ sewing circles open to all visitors.

“The Martha organisation’s gift to the 100-year-old Finland is the sharing of skills to the next generation,” says Marianne Heikkilä, Executive Director of the Martha Association.
Read more: Marthas at the fair: history of women’s equality and independence

National costumes have a central role – Finland’s centenary boosting the atmosphere

National costumes will have an important role at this year’s fair. The National Costumes Roadshow, which is part of the official Finland 100 programme, will showcase over 100 Finnish costumes and Soja Murto, a well-known maker of national costumes and Artisan of the Year 2017, will set up a national costume exhibition in Hall E. The organisers also want to encourage visitors to wear their national costumes or parts thereof.
Read more: National costumes are alive – change your views at the fair

Dolls’ House Fair and Railway Modelling event at the same time

Hall D will feature the Dolls’ House Fair throughout the weekend and the XXXV Railway Modelling Event on Saturday and Sunday. Both of these events will bring enthusiasts to the venue to buy supplies and ready-made parts, find ideas and of course meet like-minded people.
Read more: Dolls’ House Fair held at the same time – a shared passion brings people together
Read more: At the same time: XXXV Railway Modelling Event

Event info (opening hours, ticket prices, directions): www.kadentaidot.fi/en (Fair Info)
Accreditate to the fair in advance HERE

The Finnish Craft & Design Fair is the largest handicrafts and applied arts fair in Europe with over 600 exhibitors and over 40,000 visitors every year. The Finnish Craft & Design Fair is organised by Tampere Trade Fairs and Taito Pirkanmaa. Tampere Trade Fairs is responsible for organising the Dolls’ House Fair together with the Finnish Doll’s House Association and the Railway Modelling Event together with Pirake (Pirkanmaa Railway Enthusiasts’ Club).

Read the press release (5.10.) HERE