UBC Commission on Culture intends to

1. enrich cultural life of the citizens living in the area of the Baltic Sea by fostering co-operation and mutual understanding
2. provide and disseminate information on cultural activity in the region

Everyone is encouraged to contact the commission and join its activities.
The commission has been established to promote cooperation between the UBC member cities. It is up to you to utilize this opportunity.

Catalogue of Cultural Institutions in the Baltic Sea region and in East Africa

The Commission on Culture was established in 1994 with Szczecin (Poland) and Visby (Sweden) as leading cities. In the years 1994-2003 the chairmanship and the secretariat was led by the city of Szczecin. In the years 2004-2007 the Commission has been chaired by the city of Vaasa (Finland) and Visby (Sweden).

Chairmen of the Commission:
Mr Slawomir Szafranski (Szczecin, Poland) 1993-2005
Ms Tarja Hautamäki (Vaasa, Finland) 2005-2011.
Ms Lone Leth Larsen (Kolding, Denmark) 2012-2016

Vice-chairmen of the Commission:
Ms Riitta Hurme (Espoo, Finland) 2000-2003
Ms Tarja Hautamäki (Vaasa, Finland) 2004-2005
Mr Olov Gibson (Visby, Sweden) 2005-2007
Ms Agrita Ozola (Tukums, Latvia) 2008-2011
Ms Jaana Simula (Pori, Finland) 2012-2016

ACTION PLAN

The Commission on Culture works according to the action plan prepared every two years and adopted by the UBC General Conference.

ANNUAL WORKING SESSIONS

Every year the Commission on Culture organizes a working session at which various culture-related issues are discussed. Since 1995 the following cities have been hosts of the Annual Working Session on a specific theme:

PUBLICATIONS

Role and Value of Museums in Modern World. Materials of the international conference held in St. Petersburg in the frame of 8th Annual Session were published in 2006.

Mare Articum - a Baltic contemporary art magazine was launched in 1997 and it was published until 2002 twice a year with each edition centering on a particular topic. (http://marearticum.szczecin.art.pl )

UBC CULTURAL PRIZE

The commissions newest tradition is an annual UBC Cultural Prize. While allocating the prize the commission takes into consideration various priorities in accordance with topical cultural tendencies. The cultural prize will be given to a cultural organization that has proved to be especially successful or interesting in the Baltic Sea Region. Since 2006 the prize has been given to Cesis City Council (Latvia) 2006, Umeå/Libray 2007 -project (Sweden) 2007, Jyväskylä 2008, Gdańsk 2009.

Cultural Prize 2010 ( 101.5 KB )

Cultural Prize 2009 ( 60.29 KB )

Jyvaskyla - winner of the Cultural Prize 2008 ( 55 KB )

THE FESTIVAL OF THE BALTIC CITIES

will be organized every second year in St. Petersburg and the years between in some other member city of the UBC. The festival has been held in St. Petersburg in 2006 and 2008. Kaunas was the hosting city in 2007 and Daugavpils hosted the festival in 2009. In 2010 the host was St. Petersburg on 11-13 June. For more information, please contact the general director Mr. Sergei Shub, e-mail: fc@baltichouse.spb.ru

Turku is the host on 13-18 May 2011.

Friday 13 May
19.00 Carte Blanche –the Norvegian National Company of Contemporary Dance  (world premiere)

Saturday 14 May
13-15 Idea Café at the theatre, Theme: European Capitals of Culture   
16.00 The Gardeners, St. Petersburg (Sopukka)

Sunday 15 May
12.00-15.00 Visit to Tuli on irti –exhibition in Logomo

Monday 16 May
19.00 Hiljaisuus, Finland (Sopukka) 

Tuesday 17. May
19.30 Sad songs from the Heart of Europe,  Vilnius (Pikkolo)                     

Wednesday 18 May
16.00 Sad Songs from the Heart of Europe, Vilnius (Pikkolo)
18.00 MIMGoes Sustainabl, Tallinn
21.00 Mormors svarta ögon, Stockholm (Sopukka) 

All the theatre performances will take place at Turku City Theatre. 

For more information:  http://www.ubc.net/news,2,918.html

UBC ART & CULTURE FESTIVAL

INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL

was held in 2000 under the auspices of the president of UBC and the mayor of the city of Szczecin.

INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS

The Biennial of Contemporary Art is organized annually by the National Museum in Szczecin.