The Stage of Diversity

Focusing on visual arts in 2025

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In 2025, the Stage of Diversity will focus on productions or projects that straddle the line between visual and performing arts. Why not turn the Vinttikamari stage into a gallery and create an installation? The work must be realised and performed during a period of at most eight weeks between April and August 2025.

The Stage of Diversity opens the Oulu Theatre Vinttikamari stage for independent professionals and professional groups through an open call once a year.

On the Stage of Diversity, the emphasis is on small-scale projects and productions in the field of performing arts seeking to renew the field in terms of the performers, content and medium. Therefore, the diversity of residency projects can refer to the authors, themes that are highlighted or the media, which can combine different art forms, for example.

Thank you to all applicants, the application period has ended!

Application instructions

When can I apply?

Apply by September 30, 2024. The selected production will be announced by early 2025.  For more information, please contact Head of Production Sari Tanner, tel. +358 44 703 7113 and sari.tanner@oulunteatteri.fi.

Who can apply?

All professionals working in the field of independent performing arts can apply to the Stage of Diversity: performers, groups of performers and organisations. For the 2025 open call, we particularly welcome proposals from professional visual artists. The selection will be made by a jury from the theatre under the management of the artistic director. The jury also includes an expert from outside the theatre. No financial targets have been set for the Stage of Diversity.

How to apply?

1) filling in the application form,
2) attaching a project plan, which must fit on one A4 page and
3) attaching the CVs of the applicants and basic information about the applicant group or organisation.

The project plan must clearly show how the project will diversify the field of performing arts in Finland. Be aware that the Vinttikamari Studio is a small stage with limited technical possibilities. Therefore, the projects should focus on content and people, not on technical implementation.

For those selected to the Stage of Diversity, Oulu Theatre offers the following

– the Vinttikamari Studio premises for eight weeks in May-June (until Midsummer) and in August. The dates will be agreed upon with the selected group in February 2025. Vinttikamari is the smallest stage of Oulu Theatre with a capacity of 70 spectators.
– Premiere of the performance/demo/event is on August 2025 in the Oulu Arts Night and other possible performances/events after that.
– Introduction to the theatre premises and the studio space by a stage worker on the first day of the residency.
– Introduction to the use of the studio space by a lighting and sound technician on one of the first days as well as one day of consultation.
– An overseer for the performances = 2–4 performances
– Two different options for the layout of the stage/auditorium plus the option of completely empty space.
– Cooperation for communication and a mention on the theatre website.
– Dressing room and a break room.
– Where possible, one apartment for the use of the team.

The theatre will not provide

– Salaries nor daily allowances during the residency period
– Travel
– Accommodation except for one theatre apartment (for 1–2 persons)

What kind of a space is Vinttikamari?

• Seating 70 people, Vinttikamari is the smallest stage at the Oulu Theatre. Given the modest technical equipment available in Vinttikamari, the projects should focus on content and people instead of the technical implementation method.
• Stage size: 5 x 7 m
• Overhead clearance: 4 m 60 cm
• Total ceiling height: 5 m 90 cm
• Maximum load on the roof truss: 150 kg/m2
• Additional information: The space has a wooden floor and a full-length mirror covering one wall, which can be covered with a curtain. The theatre can offer dance mats; there are no floor or wall fixtures in the space.

Since 2021

Launched by the Oulu Theatre in 2021, the Stage of Diversity is a concept where the Oulu Theatre Vinttikamari stage is opened for independent professionals and professional groups through an open call once a year. The diversity of residency projects can refer to the authors, highlighted themes or the media, which can combine different art forms, for example.

The outcome of the residency period of at most eight weeks must be something you can share with an audience, such as a complete performance, demo, process description, discussion session or event.

All professionals working in the field of independent performing arts can apply to the Stage of Diversity: performers, groups of performers and organisations. The selection will be made by a jury from the theatre under the management of the artistic director. No financial targets have been set for the Stage of Diversity, and no employment relationship will be formed between the Oulu Theatre and the Stage of Diversity performers. Vinttikamari is a small stage with limited technical possibilities. The projects should therefore focus on content and people instead of the technical implementation method.

Table with No Seating

The 2024 Stage of Diversity piece was Table with No Seating by Juho Sarno, Francis Maskens and Timo Filip Salonen.

Premiered in Vinttikamari in August, Table with No Seating was a multi-arts production for the whole family dealing with the everyday experiences of neurodivergent people and the challenges they face when trying to cope with the unwritten rules of various social situations. The bilingual (Finnish and English) piece explored the theme with humour and a warm touch through circus, dance and theatre, approaching the theme through the milieu of a dinner party.

“We were thrilled to be able to rehearse and perform this particular piece in Vinttikamari. The subject matter is close to our hearts, and we are flattered and grateful that the Oulu Theatre gave us this opportunity to bring the piece to the stage,” the trio stated.

The piece was based on background research consisting of a collection of literary sources and interviews with neurodivergent people. The background research was a particularly important part of the production, as it provided the basis on which to build a piece that truly sought to identify the different needs of the audience.

“Accessibility is an important value for us, and the above-mentioned needs were taken into account in both the content and the form of the piece. Two people in the working group are neurodivergent, and we believe this expertise by experience was an important resource in working with the topic,” the trio said.

Video games and performances