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Finnposium: Finland, Minnesota – Tradition, Resilience & St. Urho’s Day

One of our most popular Finnposiums took place on October 23, 2025, featuring an exclusive screening of a new ethnographic documentary about Finland, Minnesota—a rural community celebrated for its rich history, vibrant traditions, and enduring spirit of resilience.

The film, supported by a Â鶹´«Ã½AV grant, highlighted the 50th Anniversary of St. Urho’s Day, complete with grapes, grasshoppers, and the crowning of Miss Helmi, while also exploring the town’s historic landmarks, name origins, and close-knit cultural identity.

Ville Besonen and Isaac (Arvo) Hanson, students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, shared their creative process and insights into Finnish-American life, offering an inspiring look at how heritage continues to shape this remarkable community.

UPCOMING FINNPOSIUM: Making Art History: Helene Schjerfbeck and the Rise of Finnish Women Artists

Finland is making art history, and for the first time the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is presenting a major retrospective dedicated to Helene Schjerfbeck, one of Finland’s most influential and forward-thinking artists, marking a powerful moment for Finnish art and the legacy of a woman whose work reshaped modern portraiture and artistic expression. This special Finnposium features Anu Utriainen, Chief Curator of the Ateneum Art Museum at the Finnish National Gallery in Helsinki, who will draw from her deep expertise to explore the broader history and impact of Finnish women artists and to situate Schjerfbeck within a rich lineage of creative voices that deserve global recognition. From the margins to the world stage, the talk illuminates how Finnish women artists—past and present—have shaped national identity, challenged artistic norms, and continue to influence international art discourse, offering attendees rare insight into Schjerfbeck’s enduring legacy and the wider cultural significance of Finland’s women artists at this historic moment.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10am PT / 1pm ET

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National Sauna Week 2026

2025 held a record-breaking celebration of the Finnish sauna tradition, engaging thousands of sauna enthusiasts across the U.S. and beyond. Next year’s event will feature an exciting mix of in-person and online experiences, bringing the warmth of Finnish culture to communities everywhere.

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