Kulttuurikeskus Ninho ry & Kolibrí Festivaali have been awarded the 2025 Risteys-palkinto (Intersection Award).
With “Eläköön Folk!” as its motto, the Intersection Award is a traditional and annual prize given by Maailman musiikin keskus – Global Music Centre. It recognizes the work done by a person, group, community, or body to advance encounters between cultures and their rights to their own music.
This recognition is especially meaningful as it marks the closing of a unique year in which we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Kolibrí Festivaali—a decade of building bridges between cultures through art, childhood, and community. It also arrives just a few months before Kulttuurikeskus Ninho celebrates its own 10th birthday.
The Award Ceremony took place at Malmitalo on 9.11.2025, during Children’s Etnosoi Festival. The cultural center that has been Kolibrí Festivaali’s stage so many times, was the perfect place to receive this award, among music from all over the world.
This award is added to the list of other recognitions to Kolibrí Festivaali and Kulttuurikeskus Ninho ry, like the MAYA Award as Best Moniheli Association 2023, or the prize “Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Mérito Civil” given by the Embassy of Spain to Kolibrí Artistic Director, Laura Gazzotti, in 2020.
An award that recognizes 10 years of work in the children’s culture sector
The award ceremony took place at Malmitalo (Helsinki) on 9.11.2025, during the Children’s Etnosoi Festival. The cultural center, which has hosted Kolibrí Festivaali many times, was the perfect place to receive this award, surrounded by music from all over the world.
Executive Director of the Global Music Centre, Jaana-Maria Jukkara, and Chairperson Marouf Majidi, presented the award to part of the Kulttuurikeskus Ninho team: Chairperson Andrea Botero, Vocal Martha Vera, General Producer Laura Gazzotti, Project Manager Núria Rovira, and Concerts and Performances Assistant João Luís.
Jukkara and Majidi highlighted Ninho’s mission, values, and a decade of work organizing Kolibrí Festivaali as the reasons for granting the award.
The entire Ninho community is deeply honored to receive this important recognition, which encourages us to continue working toward a more multicultural and plurilingual children’s culture in Finland.
Thank you to all the people who have given their time, work, and love to make this award possible!