Let’s think bigger! The cultural coordinator has started her work 

The cultural scene in Forssa has received a long-awaited additional resource with Tiina Sandberg starting as the new cultural coordinator for the city. Her task is to clarify the communication of cultural events and to bring the creators and the audience closer together.  

 Much culture is being created in Forssa, but its visibility does not always match the quantity of offerings. The new role of the cultural coordinator has been established precisely for this need.

At the core of Tiina Sandberg's work is the coordination of cultural events and clarifying communication so that both organizers and the audience can find events more easily.

– I think we need to think bigger. We need to see what we have, not what we lack.

Sandberg has extensive experience in communication and culture. She has worked as a journalist for Forssan Lehti and studied photography at the Design Institute.

In recent years, Sandberg has worked as a teacher of classroom and visual arts, but sudden hearing loss in one ear changed her professional image.

Common calendar and encounters

One of Sandberg's first practical actions is cultural coffee meetings, which are held four times a year. In these meetings, cultural actors gather to discuss current themes and share information about upcoming events.

The goal is to share information about events already in the preparatory phase. This way, it’s possible to find partners for one's own event and avoid unintentional overlaps.

For this purpose, the city’s website has a bulletin board and a Padlet wall where new opportunities can be planned and sought.
 
 – The city cannot know about events if they are not reported to us. That’s why a significant part of my job is also to guide organizers on how and where to announce events, Sandberg explains.

Culture belongs to everyone
 
 One of Sandberg's ideas is the cultural buddy concept. Its purpose is to lower the threshold for participating in cultural events.
 
 For many, going to events alone is not easy. A cultural buddy can accompany someone, for example, at exhibitions, concerts, or other events.

– There can be various barriers to experiencing culture, such as challenges with mobility or hearing. The goal is for culture to be truly accessible to everyone, Sandberg says.

Culture has already been brought to, for example, nursing homes, allowing those who find it difficult to attend events to experience it as well.

The culture page includes, among other things, contact information, an event planning wall, and a bulletin board.