Kuopio250 call for proposals

Öinen tapahtuma-alue Kuopion satamasta. Valoja ja puistomaista kaupunkinäkymää.

Kuopio will celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2025

Kuopio will commemorate its anniversary starting in November 2024, inviting all city residents, diverse actors and businesses to take part in the festivities. Our objective is to develop a diverse program for the anniversary year with a special focus on children and young people, while also offering something for all audiences to enjoy. The program will be produced in collaboration between the city organisation and various actors.

The call for proposals for the Kuopio250 anniversary year is now open!

The call for proposals for the Kuopio250 anniversary year is now open, offering a chance to be included in the anniversary year program. In the first phase, we are looking for productions that require a longer preparation and implementation period, as well as events scheduled for the end of 2024.

The programme content does not need to be fully finalised at this point, but the goal is to gain an insight into the type of content that will be featured during the anniversary year. In addition, the purpose of this first step of the application process is to determine the need for financial support and to provide guidance to applicants on submitting a funding request and collaborating with other parties planning similar content.

First stage of applications February–March 2024

The programme proposal form is used for submitting long-term productions, such as publications and activities involving several stages. We are also accepting proposals for events and activities scheduled to take place before the end of 2024. Kuopio250 anniversary year will commence during the Kuopio Week in November 2024.

At this stage, we also accept programmes scheduled for 2025 and requiring a rapid co-financing decision, for example, for the purposes of project funding.
The programme proposal form for the first phase was opened on 29 January 2024 and the application period will end on 31 March 2024.

Second stage of applications April–December 2024

The programme proposal form is used for submitting programmes/productions scheduled for 2025, which is the actual anniversary year. The second stage of the application process will end on 31 December 2024.

Third stage

In January 2025, the third stage will be launched, and further information will be provided later.

“We now have a great opportunity to make our mark in the history of Kuopio! In addition to events and activities, the goal of the anniversary year is to leave behind something lasting and tangible for future generations.”

Nina Venäläinen, Project Manager of the Kuopio250 anniversary year

Objectives, values and priorities of the anniversary year

The main objective of the anniversary year project is to create as diverse a program as possible in collaboration between a variety of actors. The anniversary year program will be developed together with the actors through networking. The goal is also to create new operating methods and cooperation models that will persist beyond the anniversary year.

We also aim to promote a sense of inclusion and community among Kuopio residents. Planning of the program is a collaborative effort that involves the participation of residents, who are also encouraged to contribute their own ideas for the anniversary year program.

The anniversary year facilitates and fosters the evolution of Kuopio as a city of events through a range of experiments. The goal is to develop and reinforce the operating models of the event and tourism sector. We strive to support professional activities.

Main target groups for the anniversary year are children and young people. We hope that the program and activities will resonate with all our target groups. Our goal is to create opportunities for experiences throughout the entire Kuopio region, including rural areas.

The anniversary year program is expected to incorporate the following perspectives and values:

Sustainability, responsibility
Diversity, equality
Sense of community, inclusion
Well-being impacts
The city’s attractiveness and ability to retain residents
Compliance with the city strategy

Program selection criteria

When selecting programs, the following criteria are taken into consideration:

The production has been assigned a primary responsible party, who can be either an individual or organisation.
The applicant has a viable plan that can be executed independently with potential co-financing.
The cost structure of the program is realistic. At the application stage, it has been noted that the city’s funding comprises co-financing, implying the involvement of other funding providers.
The production has regional impact and it contributes to overall well-being and provides one-of-a-kind experiences. The ability to generate permanent changes and new operating models regionally is considered an advantage.
Targeting our primary audience of children and young people is considered a plus.
The production is innovative and aligned with the themes and values of the anniversary year, while complementing and building upon the applicant’s potential core activities.
The production takes into consideration equality, diversity and non-discrimination. The program must be open to everyone.
The production has been designed with sustainable development in mind, ensuring its longevity.

The fulfilment of these criteria does not guarantee automatic selection for the anniversary year program. The selection process also takes into consideration how well the production fits the program as a whole.

Information on the call for proposals

Description of the application process for the Kuopio250 anniversary year program and grants:

Learn more about the application process in the webinars

As the Kuopio250 anniversary approaches, online webinars have already been held since the start of the year and they will continue on a regular basis throughout the year.

Schedules and additional information on other events related to the call for proposals are updated on this website.

More information on funding

Read more about funding for the programs of Kuopio250 anniversary year on the production grants page.

Our Kuopio production grant is awarded for covering the costs of organizing events in Kuopio during Our Kuopio Festival. The grant can be used to cover, for example, material and marketing expenses and fees.

Read more about the production grants for Our Kuopio Festival here.

Questions and answers

Anyone can participate in the call for proposals for the anniversary year starting in spring 2024. Individuals, working groups, independent producers, artists, organisations, associations and companies are all welcome to participate. When the applicant is an unregistered working group, the application is made in the name of a representative of the working group. Other members of the group should be named in the application, and they are jointly responsible for the production.
In the first phase of the call for proposals, we are looking for productions that require a longer preparation and implementation period, as well as events scheduled for the end of 2024. In addition, we are looking for productions scheduled for the opening week of November 2024 and thereafter.
The operator fills in the program proposal form. Working group evaluates the application and opens up a dialogue with the operator. Working group will contact the applicant within two weeks of submitting the form. After this, the content of the program and potential need for funding will be discussed together. In addition, potential collaborations with other parties planning a similar program will be addressed. A dialogue may not be needed if the operator already has a well-functioning and comprehensive production plan.

After this, the operator will receive an email on acceptance to the program, including instructions for communication and reporting during the anniversary year. If necessary, the operator will be directed to the funding application process. The production can be featured in the anniversary program even without a positive funding decision.
You can propose events and productions that already exist for the anniversary year program. However, we recommend that the production be approached from a fresh angle, perhaps incorporating a theme related to the anniversary year. Funding is not provided for operators’ established core activities.
To be included in the anniversary year program, applicants must complete and submit the program proposal form and adhere to the values and criteria of the anniversary year.
No, it will not. Applications received through the call for proposals are processed confidentially. Once completed, the program information will be released by the applicants themselves. Instructions related to the anniversary year calendar will be published later.
Yes, it is. Operators can participate in the anniversary year program with several productions. It should be noted that not all programs approved for the anniversary year will be automatically funded.