GRASSROOTS
Green Art / Art and Ecology  

„ ART HAS THE POTENTIAL to awaken our feelings and move us. A love of nature and intelligent ideas can make people call for change and take action to protect our natural environment. Change requires giving up old ways, which can be painful.“ Tuula Nikulainen, 2006

GRASSROOTS is a 2-day conference, a public forum for discovering and debating the wide field art and ecology today with renowed and specialist speakers leading the way. You don’t need to be a specialist, just come with an open and enquiry mind.

GRASSROOTS is a meeting place for people who will still seek motivation, inspiration, critical discussion and creative interaction (workshops). Audience are exploring on the edge cooperation, regional development through arts and ecology. We are looking into Creative Partnerships: Unleashing Collaborative Power.

Some folks, though, are working towards a different aesthetic. Artistic practice aims to offer interpretations and models of thinking about the natural world, suggests an ecological and ethical perspective that help to promote a sustainable future. Furthermore people in different disciplines are seeking ways to make what's good for our communities and ecosystems work better and resonate more effectively.

GRASSROOTS takes us beyond passive care and into the realm of creative
Action.

Booking essential  through Raija Kallioinen <Raija.Kallioinen@msl.fi>
Booking Form download soon at <http://www.halikonlahti.net>

Participation fees:
- 20 € for whole conference / 10 €  for one day / students –50 %
- Groups from universities: special price for groups
- Lunch not included to the fee

Before and after the GRASSROOTS conference: there is an ambitious exhibition triology on Art and Ecology „Green Art Halikonlahti“, which has started taking place in the Salo Region of Finland in 2006.

Sept, 12 – Oct 26, 2008 you are invited to visit Green Art Halikonlahti’s second edition „WATERWAYS“.  More on <http://www.halikonlahti.net>

Text: Georg Dietzler


Kiasma is pleased to be hosting this GRASSROOTS conference in partnership with the Green Art Halikonlahti team (Tuula Nikulainen,  Anu Suosalo, Georg Dietzler supported by the Environmental Department of Salo City and Laura  Luostarinen/Salo Contemporary Art Museum), MSL(The Union for Rural Culture and Education) and Taide Art Magazine. The conference recieves support by various European Cultural Institutions.

Among GRASSROOTS speakers are: Osmo Rauhala (artist and organic farmer/FIN), Ritva Kovalainen/Sanni Seppo (artists/FIN), Arja Elovirta (Taide Art Magazine/FIN), Jan van Boeckel ((NL) educator, artist and filmmaker/University of Art and Design, Helsinki), Alan Boldon (educator, artist and founder of MA Arts and Ecology at Dartington College, Totnes/UK), Hildegard Kurt (Writer and Co-Founder of „und. Institut for Art, Culture and Sustainable Future“/GER), George Steinmann (artist and musician/CH), Andres Bosshard (artist/CH), Free Soil Projects/Nis Rømer/DK, Tuula Nikulainen/FIN and Georg Dietzler/GER both from the Green Art Halikonlahti Team, other speakers are not confirmed yet.

The final GRASSROOTS programme introducing speakers and themes is on display by Feb 2008 at latest, including booking form. For details please visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.halikonlahti.net" http://www.halikonlahti.net





FILMS AT KIASMA

Wednesday 9.4. + Friday 11.4.2008 (evenings)

GRASSROOTS
Pre-Conference Screenings

A series of films on ART AND ECOLOGY
By artists, filmmakers, scientists giving voice to local people, enriching lives and encouraging vibrant community spirit.

Programme under construction till Feb 2008

More on www.halikonlahti.net