DiDa - Disability Day Art & Action 2023

Illustration by Väinö Heinonen from Kynnys ry / The Threshold Association.

This year the theme of the festival is nature.

DiDa - Disability Day Art & Action festival takes a backup start and invites you to celebrate the annual UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December). Free admission for all.

Surrounding by the coming winter weather, nature comes alive in the interpretations of disabled and sign language artists. Come and experience an international festival experience. Come and listen to or watch a musical spectrum, fierce poetry, tickling humour, silent but loud performance and feel the rhythms of dance.

Pre-event: EMMA Talks on Nov 22nd

Maarit Hedman, Anu Haapanen and Sini Mononen discuss art and equality as well as darkness and light on Wednesday 22.11.2023.

More information: EMMA Talks: Appreciating Equality and Art

Main event on Dec 1st, Helsinki

Time: Friday 1.12. from 16 to 20

Location: Oodi Central Library, Maija Hall (1st floor), Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki.

In honour of the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), the DiDa - Disability Day Art & Action festival invites everyone to join the celebrations in Maijansali, where we get a jump start on the celebrations on 1 December.

There will be emotional performances, international art, and exciting award ceremonies, both in the arts and in accessibility! You'll see rare fringe art and a culture that speaks to everyone.

Nature comes alive in the performers' interpretations:

Kaiunsäde with folk, jazz and entertainment music,

Sanni Purhonen and Stephen Kuusisto (US) in Finnish and English, with fierce poetry,

Siiri Tiilikka's Birdsong and Blue Flamencon Megafon with the dance rhythms,

Tribute to Terttu and Growth by sign language performers with visual performances,

Fri Nilas Lindell with Nunatak, moving poem in Finnish and Swedish, and

Hannele Cantell, the writer's stories about relationships with nature.

Plus Finland's blindest comedian, our host, Tommi Vänni with his tickling humour!

For a more detailed PROGRAMME: www.disabilityday.net/en!

You are welcome to join in as yourself. Free admission!

Next to the entrance to the Kansalaistori there is a presentation area where you can find out more about DiDa's partners.

Accessibility

The Maijansali is a fully accessible venue.

Accessible toilets are located on floor -1 and floors 2 and 3. There are 3 lifts in the Oodi.

During the whole event there will be: speech-to-text interpretation, audio description and sign language interpretation into Finnish sign language.

Live stream

You can also follow the event live online. The link will be updated later on DiDA's social media and website.

Organisers

DiDa is organised by The Threshold Association, Tukilinja foundation, Culture for All Service and Cultural Association Finland's EUCREA. Producers are Taru Perälä and Satu Kankaanpää.