Sjoerd Bootsma lekker bezig, nu in Vantaa Finland – What struck me most wasn’t a problem, but potential

(tekst: Linkedin)

Sjoerd Bootsma • 2de
Artistic director, curator & strategic advisor

Earlier this week I spoke at the very first Culture Forum of Vantaa, in Finland.

What struck me most wasn’t a problem, but potential.

With 250,000 inhabitants, Vantaa sits at the heart of the Helsinki metropolitan area as a transport hub shaped by migration and rapid urbanisation. This history has made it one of the youngest and most international cities in Finland, while its dispersed districts continue to challenge social cohesion and a shared sense of belonging.

In my keynote, I shared experiences from Leeuwarden and Friesland:
how ambition can be an antidote to a minority complex, and how international cultural titles can create a shared mission and real cross-sector collaboration.

Vantaa feels like a sleeping giant.
Or, if you prefer: a sleeping beauty.

Not a city that needs fixing, but a city that needs focus. Its potential has been there for years, quietly present beneath the surface, waiting to be kissed awake.

Sometimes a city doesn’t need another plan.
It needs the nerve to wake itself up!

Thank you Sami Ylisaari for inviting me.
Thanks Teemu Hokkanen and Pia for taking good care of me.