Kulttuurikeskus Ninho will offer a training program for professional workers in the children’s culture sector in 2026, thanks to the funding from the Pluralismisäätio Foundation.
The ‘Strength Capacity Building Training Program for a more democratic and inclusive Children’s Culture Sector’ will be an intensive program with three free workshops for professionals.
The goal is to create a more democratic and inclusive children’s culture sector, fostering intercultural dialogues and enhancing understanding through positive community engagement.
The workshops will offer knowledge and practical practices in cultural diversity, community engagement, intercultural dialogues, and non-discrimination strategies.
The sessions will be in English and in a hybrid format.
You can join online or join us for some fun networking at the Globe Art Point (GAP) facilities. Of course, we’ll have coffee and snacks 😊.
These three free workshops are designed for all types of cultural workers or people interested in diversity and children’s culture! That’s why Kulttuurikeskus Ninho will also offer these free trainings for KolibríFestivaali artists, so they can enhance their artistic proposals, for our volunteers and Ninho’s members.
So, whether you’re an artist, librarian, event producer, project manager, student, teacher, or parent, sign up now and don’t miss it!
Free training on Building Community Centered Actions
GAP, Malminkatu 5, 00100 Helsinki.
12.5.2026 – 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Topics we will cover in this workshop for professionals:
Would you like to learn how to design and implement more community‑centered cultural actions?
In this workshop, Kolibrí Festivaali will be used as a case study to explore practical approaches to building inclusive and participatory cultural initiatives.
We’ll go through both the vision and the behind‑the‑scenes processes of the festival to reflect together on how community‑centered cultural actions are developed and sustained.
- What does community‑centered cultural work look like in practice?
- How can concepts such as conviviality, participation, and belonging be translated into concrete cultural actions?
- What strategies help create inclusive and engaging cultural environments that respond to the diversity of communities?
By looking at real experiences and practical strategies, participants will gain insights into how to build participatory initiatives that respond to the needs and diversity of their communities.
Facilitators:
Eurídice Hernández Gomes is a Doctoral Researcher in Latin American Studies at the University of Helsinki dedicated to unravelling the intricate links between public spaces, migration dynamics, and identity development. Her research focuses on how urban social infrastructure shapes identity formation among children and youth with Latin American backgrounds living in the Helsinki Metropolitan Region, a topic directly connected to the activities of Ninho ry. She also serves on the board of the Arts, Culture and Migration (DIVCULT) Standing Committee of IMISCOE. Follow Euridíce on Linkedin.
Laura Gazzotti: co-founder and Artistic Director of Kolibrí Festivaali, as well as General Producer of Kulttuurikeskus Ninho. Expert in process-based cultural production development focused on diversity and the children’s culture sector. She creates intercultural, interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and multilingual spaces and events centered around children’s culture and diversity for children and their families, from various backgrounds and origins, as well as for professional audiences. Follow Laura on LinkedIn.
Free training From Communication to Belonging
26.5.2026 – 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Topics we will cover in this workshop for professionals:
Would you like to communicate in a more accessible and inclusive way?
If you are a cultural worker, artist creator, or communicator, welcome to this super practical workshop!
We’ll go through all the creative processes of a cultural activity, and event promotion, to reflect together on how to develop more inclusive and accessible proposals for all children and families.
- What is non-violent communication, or belonging?
- How can we develop more inclusive communication strategies?
- What practices can help us create more community‑engaging and accessible cultural spaces from a community‑centered perspective?
We’ll try to respond to all these questions and more!
Let’s develop more inclusive cultural proposals and messages for all communities!
Facilitator:
Marta Bermúdez: She served as Communications Coordinator for Kolibrí Festivaali and Kulttuurikeskus Ninho ry for three years. During the last 20 years, she has worked as a journalist, communicator, marketing lead, and mentor for entrepreneurs in Spain and Finland. She develops communication and marketing strategies from a DEI and accessible perspective. Follow Marta on LinkedIn.
Free training on Strategic Design of Collaborative Action
9.6.2025 – 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Topics we will cover in this workshop for professionals:
Collaboration is crucial for the survival of cultural organizations and initiatives, especially in times of economic recession and austerity. This is particularly important among immigrant‑led organizations committed to cultural diversity, community engagement, intercultural dialogue, non‑discrimination, hospitality, and accessibility.
In these contexts, collaboration is key to overcoming barriers to integration, democratic participation, and access to funding mechanisms.
With this background, this workshop translates research on collaboration into practical tools for the strategic design of collaborative actions aimed at the development of inclusive and participatory cultural initiatives.
- Why is collaboration essential for the sustainability of cultural organizations today?
- What challenges do immigrant‑led cultural initiatives face when it comes to integration, participation, and funding?
- How can collaborative practices help overcome structural and institutional barriers?
- What tools and strategies can support dialogue, trust‑building, and mutual empowerment in collaborative processes?
The workshop focuses especially on strengthening dialogue, building trust, and fostering mutual empowerment in collaborative efforts.
Facilitator:
Leonardo Custódio: PhD, is associate professor for Communication for Development at Malmö University, Sweden. He is also research coordinator at the consortium OBaMa (Overcoming Barriers to Democratic Participation), under the Strategic Research Council (SLT/SRC) in Finland. Follow Leornardo on LinkedIn.