April 2026 – Helsinki Poetry Connection

Konepaja Spoken Word #4: PROTAGONISTS

15. 04. 202615. 04. 2026

Konepaja Spoken Word is a new English-language open stage and international community for spoken word, poetry, and performance.

Organized by Helsinki Poetry Connection ry in collaboration with Kino Konepaja and Catalysti Association of Transcultural Artists, and produced by Vinski Valos.

This open stage welcomes poets, performers, storytellers, and experimental voices working with text, voice, movement, sound, and presence. Whether your work leans toward poetry, performance art, short fiction, monologue, or something in between and beyond, this is a space to try out material, share ongoing processes, and meet others working with language and performance in Helsinki.

Save the dates and sign up below!
May 9 (Theme: ”PROTAGONISTS”)
June 6 (Theme: TBA)

Sign up to perform via this link or at the event (list may fill up): https://forms.gle/UZKCwAzUTmxdcAzE7
No signup required for audience only

You don’t strictly have to follow the theme, it’s to provide a prompt for those who choose.

The evenings are open to both first-time performers and experienced artists. Come perform or just listen, and be part of a new community. The focus is on sharing, experimentation, risk-taking, and live encounters. We would love to hear your words, no matter how brief or spontaneous, so please contact us to reserve a spot and bring your creative piece to life.

The events are held in English, but all languages are welcome on stage.

5 minutes per performance
Free admission

Sign-up 7 PM
Start 7:30 PM
Afterparty 10 PM to midnight

Location: Kino Konepaja
Konepajanpasaasi
Vallila, 00510 Helsinki

Everyone is welcome.

Events

Ruusu Open Mic #70

05. 04. 2026

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry, storytelling, performance and other types of word art at Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on Sunday, April 26 at 5-8 PM. As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant warm up performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

November’s warm up act is: Petra Vallila!

You can sign up for the open mic during the first break after the performance. You’re welcome to perform your text, song or other performance in any language you wish. Instruments and devices can be hooked up to the sound system, if that’s what your performance needs and you have your copyright sorted (/free). Each slot is limited to 4 minutes so everyone has a chance—please respect the time.

At the end of the evening, glorious flowers from flower shop Lutukka as well as some drink vouchers from Sörkan Ruusu will be drawn at random among all the night’s open mic’ers. So, it’s worth staying till the end to see if you’re one of the lucky ones!

We thank our long time venue Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu as well as the city of Helsinki!

Ruusu Open Mic is free from discrimination. We don’t accept racist or hateful content or behavior. Please also note that we advise performers to state content warnings regarding their poems if needed.
Our event follows the Safer Space Guidelines at here

The main entrance of Sörkan Ruusu has a ~20cm step and 81cm-wide door. A ramp can be set up on request. The venue also has an induction loop, as well as one accessible restroom and three gender-neutral restrooms.

Graphic design by Matias Ahtinen.

Events

POETRY JAM: LANDSCAPE/SELF-PORTRAIT @ Ateneum Late

01. 04. 2026

Helsinki Poetry Connection brings featured cross-disciplinary performers onto stage to explore the exhibitions’ themes. At the Poetry Jam clubs, spoken word poetry merges with performance, music, and art. Through the curated open mic, anyone can apply to step onto the stage. Come and experience the poetry of today in the Ateneum Hall!

The guest performers of the event are Lempi Elo and Ville Vuorenmaa. During the evening performers selected through an open call will also be heard.

Do you have a poem, song, speech or performance that fits the theme LANDSCAPE/SELF-PORTRAIT – or paints it in a completely different light? The open mic call is now live! Apply by 17 April to hpc.openmic@gmail.com. In your message, briefly describe yourself and the content and length of your performance. Four performers will be selected for 5-10 minutes on stage.

The event will be hosted by Vinski Valos and Sonja Kaisanlahti from Helsinki Poetry Connection, produced in collaboration with Nuoren Voiman Liitto. The event is supported by the City of Helsinki.

Poetry Jam follows the principles of a safer space, which you can find in the bio and at https://www.helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/en/about-us/safer-space-guidelines-of-hpc/

Free admission with a student card and for under-25-year-olds. Admission for others is included in the price of a museum ticket, with a Museum Card, or with a Friends of the Ateneum membership card.

24.4.26 18:00 and 19:00, The Ateneum Hall

Picture – Eero Nelimarkka: Ateljeesta (1940). Kansallisgallerian kokoelma / Ateneumin taidemuseo, kokoelma Ahlström. Kuva: Kansallisgalleria / Hannu Pakarinen.

Graphics: Vinski Valos

Events

Poetry Club for Freedom @ World village festival

01. 04. 2026

What does opinionated poetry sound like today, and how can we promote freedom through poetry?

Helsinki Poetry Connection is bringing one of the UK’s most impressive spoken word artists to the World village festival, Speaker’s stage, Bio Rex on Sat 16.5. 20.10-21.00.

Award-winning poet and author Joelle Taylor has written four poetry collections and one novel, and is known for her powerful and opinionated texts.

Taylor’s collection C+NTO & Othered Poems won the T.S. Eliot Prize in 2021 and the Polari Book Prize in 2022. Both The Spectator and The Guardian named her novel The Night Alphabet (2024) Book of the Year.

In addition to Taylor, the poetry club will feature readings by two performers selected through an open call. Would you like to be one of them? If you have a poem or piece of writing on the theme of freedom that you’d like to perform, this is your chance to shine!

HPC encourages poets from all backgrounds to apply to perform at this spectacular evening. The maximum duration of each performance is 5 minutes. Please submit a brief introduction about yourself and your performance, along with a sample of your work, by April 21 to hpc.openmic@gmail.com. The text may be in any language.

The programme will be hosted in Finnish and English. You can follow the programme at the festival’s Speaker’s Stage at Bio Rex or via livestream on the festival’s website. https://maailmakylassa.fi/en/event/helsinki-poetry-connection-poetry-club-for-freedom/

Free entry!

Picture: Tanja Ryhänen