ASSITEJ Finland
Assitej Finland promotes the appreciation and visibility of performing arts for children and young people and strengthens a sustainable, diverse, and international field of performing arts for children and young people.
The organization works to develop and research the field, improve artistic standards, and promote arts education. As an expert organization, the association openly shares information and expertise with its members, the field of performing arts for children and young people, and stakeholders in the field. Suomen Assitej is part of ASSITEJ International, an international network for children's and young people's theater with members in over 100 countries. As part of the international ASSITEJ organization, Suomen Assitej promotes the international networking of Finnish performing arts professionals.
Suomen Assitej also organizes the international Bravo! festival, which takes over the capital region every other year.
Children's and Youth Theater Award
Every other year, Suomen Assitej gives out the Children's and Youth Theater Award. The award is given to a deserving performing arts work, organization, or person that's aimed at kids and young people. The award is a recognition award that was first presented in 2008. Until 2023, the award was presented in collaboration with the Finnish Theatres Association. The award will next be presented in 2027.
Award winners 2008-2025:
2025 National Theater play For Girls Who Think They Are Alone 2023 National Young Stage concept 2021 "Kaboom and the Power of Imagination
," Oulu Theater and “Chevalier,” Race Horse Company 2019 “Today After School,” Vaara Collective and Kajaani City Theater 2017 “Vesta Linnea and the Mystery of the Ghost Child,” Theater Siperia and TTT 2015 Kirsi Siren and Theater Hevosenkenkä 2013 Kemi Taxi Service and Metsä Group – Kemi factories 2012 Oulu Children’s and Youth Theater Festival 2011 Ilimari Jauhiaanen’s Steel Back Belt, Hämeenlinna City Theater 2010 Kati Kaartinen’s play Aina and its premiere at the Helsinki City Theater 2008 Ahaa Theater
Office
office email: info@assitej.fi
The office is located at Hämeentie 13 A, 1st floor, 00530 Helsinki, entrance from the courtyard or Hämeentie. Assitej's office is accessible from Hämeentie, please contact us if you would like to visit our office.
Managing Director
Festival Director
Tanja Turpeinen
tanja.turpeinen@assitej.fi
+358 44 086 6355
Project Manager
Assitej & Bravo!
Pisko Aunola
pisko.aunola@assitej.fi
+358 40 725 1001
Board
The members of the board and the chairperson are elected at the association's regular autumn meeting. Board election takes place every two years, with three members standing down each year. The chairperson is elected for one term at a time. The board is responsible for the association's activities and the curation of the Bravo! festival, together with the general manager and the project manager.
The Board of Assitej Finland in 2026
Iivo Baric, Chair
Elina Terho, Vice Chair
Pauliina Aladin
Juulia Björn
Heini Granberg
Riikka Siirala
Marianne Turtio
Assitej's strategy for 2026–2028
Mission:
Assitej Finland promotes the appreciation and visibility of performing arts aimed at children and young people, and strengthens the sustainability, diversity, and internationality of the field.
Vision:
Domestic performing arts aimed at children and young people are highly regarded, internationally networked, and diverse. The activities of Assitej Finland and professionals in the field are secure.
Core values:
Global community
Our roots are in internationality. We are part of ASSITEJ International, the world's largest network for performing arts for children and young people. Through our international networks, we are a bigger player than we would be on our own. We strengthen the international recognition, visibility, and networking of Finnish artists. We promote the international exchange of ideas and expertise.
Expertise
We are an expert organization for performing arts aimed at children and young people. We work to promote continuous development and research in the field and openly share information and expertise with our members, professionals in the field, and stakeholders.
Sustainability and humanity
Assitej Finland's long-term work contributes to building a sustainable field of performing arts for children and young people, with humane working conditions and a stronger belief in the future. We recognize the current challenging situation, which has jeopardized the operating conditions of the entire field.
Diversity and accessibility
Our activities support and promote a diverse, accessible, and inclusive children's culture and arts education. Every child and young person has an equal right to art, both as creators and as participants. The field of professional art is diverse and multi-voiced, and we are committed to nurturing and strengthening it.
Value proposition
ASSITEJ Finland is an expert and network builder that strengthens the vitality and appreciation of the performing arts field aimed at children and young people. ASSITEJ Finland brings creators together, opens doors to international cooperation, and supports a diverse future for the field.
Strategic objectives of ASSITEJ Finland for 2026–2028
1. Ensuring the continuity of performing arts for children and young people
Securing the operating conditions of Assitej Finland is one of our key strategic priorities. This is essential in order for us to promote the status of performing arts for children and young people in cooperation with our members and other organizations in the field. Our activities as an expert, cooperation, and communications organization benefit the entire field of performing arts for children and young people.
2. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
We are an active creator of connections in the field of performing arts for children and young people, both domestically and internationally. We enable Finnish artists to internationalize and network.
3. ASSITEJ FOR MEMBERS
Assitej offers expert assistance, networking opportunities, a communication channel, and training. We develop our activities in cooperation with our members.
4. A SUSTAINABLE AND DIVERSE FIELD OF PERFORMING ARTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Long-term international cooperation is essential for building a sustainable future. We are committed to taking ecological, economic, climatic, and cultural sustainability as well as social diversity into account in our activities, both as an event organizer and as an umbrella organization. We cherish a diverse field of performing arts aimed at children and young people.