Culture in the North

Kemi, a Northern Finnish town, was the cultural capital of Lapland in 1997-1998. This really makes sense when you think of how much Kemi can offer for those who thirst for culture. The cultural centre is the heart of the cultural life. Under the same roof there are the art museum, the main library, the theatre, 2 auditoriums, 2 schools, a movie theatre, a restaurant and a café.

The exhibitions of the Art Museum offer a wide variety of modern art movements and older art from Finland and around the world. You can find here also exotic and shamanistic aspects of northern art.

Kemi is very famous for its international comic festivals. They are being held every year in the spring and are meant for the whole family. Many famous comic artists, like Robert Crumb, have visited the festivals. The Kemi theatre is one of the most northern professional theatres in the world. The theatre presents plays that are made from the legends of Lapland but you can see also the famous classics and modern plays from around the world.

There are a lot of old and historically important buildings around the city. For instance in the middle of the Kemi you can see many beautiful houses by the sea and around the main park. There you can look how the local craftsmen have created their masterworks.

If you are interested in deepening your knowledge of the culture and history of Kemi you can visit the small but very interesting local museums. The main historical museum has a permanent exhibition about the culture and sources of livelihood in Kemi during the past centuries. There are also smaller museums for the history of workers, hairdressers and painters.