Events – Helsinki Poetry Connection

AMOS REX OPEN MIC

21. 05. 202521. 05. 2025

Youth Open Mic, Helsinki Poetry Connection and Amos Rex invite you to an enchanting poetry night in June where you can be the star.

We are organising a wonderful, challenging and diverse evening of poetry at Amos Rex, where you are invited to join us on Tuesday evening 17 June at 18:00.

There will be intriguing poetry performances and an open mic, for which you will find the registration link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTXOLh2vouuU983vabKj6pIFx5SifTP-2JgI4hKs1arU32Yw/viewform

The poet guests for this evening will be spoken word legend Elsa Tölli from Helsinki, charismatic young poet Kuisma from Turku and Sámi writer, dramaturg and curator Aarni Pieski.

We will meet in the museum shop upstairs at Amos Rex, overlooking the hustle and bustle of the city centre. The space is accessible. For detailed accessibility information check Amos Rex’s website.

In the open mic you can perform a wide variety of text: poetry, rap, lyrics, poetry performance, spoken word, topical speeches… as long as the text is your own. We encourage everyone who comes to the microphone, whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned poetry performer. Time at the open mic will be considered on a pre-registration basis, but you can expect a maximum of 10 minutes.

The event will follow the museum’s Safer Space Policy. A Youth Open Mic harassment liaison person will also be present. The event is free of charge, and we will do our best to make you feel welcome and encouraged. The event is also alcohol-free.

You are welcome to come to the event just to vibe, listen and cheer others on. Open mic is respectful of each other, wild, spontaneous and without barriers. Come witness – and be part of – the most beautiful poetry night!

Ruusu Open Mic #64

02. 05. 2025

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry and other forms of literary art to Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on 25.5. at 17-20. As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant guest performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

The evening will be warmed up by our performer Stina Saari!

You can sign up for the open mic after the performance during the first break. You’re welcome to perform your text, song or other performance in any language you wish. It’s possible to connect your instrument or phone etc in the sound system, if that’s what your performance needs and you have your copyright sorted (/free). Time limit for every open mic performance is 4 minutes, so everyone has a chance to perform. Please, make sure you don’t exceed this time limit out of respect towards your fellow poets.

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 open mixers that performed that night. So, it’s worth staying till the end to see if you´re one of the lucky ones!

The event is produced and hosted by Sonja Kaisanlahti. The event’s graphic design is created by Vinski Valos.

We thank our long lasting partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and city of Helsinki!

Ruusu Open Mic is free from any discrimination. We don’t accept any racist or hateful content or behaviour. Please also note that we advise performers to state content warnings regarding their poems if needed.

Our event adheres to Safer Space Guidelines as found on HPC’s website here

The main entrance of Sörkan Ruusu has a ~ 20cm step and door 81cm wide. There is a ramp that can be installed when asked to. There’s also an induction loop available at the venue, one accessible and three gender neutral toilets.

Free entry!

Poetry Jam – Arrangement

27. 04. 2025

Arranging threads, plans in time,
fitting a movement into meaning,
a poem into the swell of sound:
words arranged
to meet the moment and its music.

Helsinki Poetry Connection warmly invites you to Bar Tÿpo in Tekstin Talo on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Poetry Jam: Arrangement is a poetry club that brings together spoken word, rap and music.

From 6 PM, we’ll be arranging ourselves into the space. The program starts at 7 PM.

The evening’s performers are: stage poet Juho Kuusi, spoken word duo Harmio & Saarinen, singer-songwriter and lyricist Emilia Tuovila, and our open mic poets. The evening will be hosted by Anni Katajapuu and Vinski Valos.

Do you have a poem, song, performance or rap piece that fits—or could be fitted—to the evening’s theme? After the featured performers, the microphone will open to 4–5 selected open mic’ers. Each performer will have 5–10 minutes on stage. Apply by emailing hpc.openmic@gmail.com by May 9, 2025. In your message, tell us about yourself, your performance, and its length.

Helsinki Poetry Connection’s events follow safer space principles, which you can read about on our website here.

Accessibility information for Tekstin Talo is available on their website.

This event is produced by Helsinki Poetry Connection and Nuoren Voiman Liitto, and supported by the city of Helsinki.

Graphic design: Emma Johansson

Ruusu Open Mic #63

10. 04. 2025

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry and other forms of literary and performance art to Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on April 27 at 5-8 PM. As usual, the evening kicks off with a guest performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

The stage will be warmed up by our performer Minttu-Maaria Makkonen!

April’s Ruusu Open Mic is produced and hosted by Vinski Valos, who is also behind the event’s graphic design.

We thank our long lasting partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and our lovely supporter (and home) – the City of Helsinki!

Ruusu Open Mic is free from any discrimination. We don’t accept any racist or hateful content or behavior. Please also note that we advise performers to state content warnings regarding their poems if needed.

Our event adheres to Safer Space Guidelines as found here

Free entry!

POETRY HANG OUT

19. 03. 2025

Join us for a relaxed evening of culture, creativity and community at HPC’s Poetry Hang Out on April 4th, starting at 5 PM!

We’re cozying up in Tekstin talo’s shared living room, Bar Tÿpo for laid-back socializing, easy programming, and inspiring chats about literature and spoken word. The bar will be serving up drinks, and you’re welcome to bring a poem or a piece you’d love to share with your table.

Expect to connect with fellow HPC folks and board members and creatives from the worlds of literature, arts, event production, and performance. It’s the perfect moment to spark new ideas and help shape Helsinki’s cultural scene.

Bonus: 20% off at the bar until 7 PM!

To support HPC, you can join as a member during the evening or join us here

Your host for the night: HPC’s very own chair of the board, Vinski Valos.

Tekstin talo, Bar Tÿpo, Lintulahdenkatu 3

Ruusu Open Mic #62

24. 02. 2025

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry and other forms of literary art to Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on 30.3. at 17-20. As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant guest performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

The evening will be warmed up by our performer Regina von Totenschmürz aka Aleksi Moine!

The event is produced and hosted by Aika Huusko. The event’s graphic design is created by Vinski Valos.

We thank our long lasting partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and city of Helsinki!

Our event adheres to Safer Space Guidelines as found on https://www.helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/en/about-us/safer-space-guidelines-of-hpc/

Free entry!

Ruusu Open Mic #61

11. 02. 202511. 02. 2025

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry and other forms of literary art to Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on 23.2. at 17-20!

As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant guest performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

The evening will be warmed up by our performer Toni Lahtinen & Matti Salo!

The event is hosted by Jamie Simone and Timo Nikkilä. The event’s graphic design is created by Vinski Valos.

We thank our long lasting partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and city of Helsinki!

Our event adheres to Safer Space Guidelines as found on HPC’s website: https://www.helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/en/about-us/safer-space-guidelines-of-hpc/

Free entry!

Ruusu Open Mic spring 2025

28. 01. 2025

It´s time for Ruusu Open Mic! We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry and other forms of literary art on the last sunday of each month to Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu at 17-20. As per usual, the evening starts with a brilliant guest performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

You can sign up for the open mic after Eugenie´s performance during the first break. You’re welcome to perform your text, song or other performance in any language you wish. It’s possible to connect your instrument or phone etc in the sound system, if that’s what your performance needs and you have your copyright sorted (/free). Time limit for every open mic performance is 4 minutes, so everyone has a chance to perform. Please, make sure you don’t exceed this time limit out of respect towards your fellow poets.

The event’s graphic design is created by Vinski Valos.

We thank our long lasting partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and city of Helsinki!

Our event adheres to Safer Space Guidelines as found on HPC’s website: helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/…/safer-space…/

Free entry!

Poet’s reception at Tekstin talo!

12. 01. 2025

Poet’s reception 23.1.2025 5-7 p.m. at Bar Tÿpo Tekstin talo!

Helsinki Poetry Connection’s Vinski Valos is a typewriting on-the-spot bespoke poet and listener. He receives people at his table and writes a personal takeout poem based on each encounter. Sit down and experience the process. Do you have a topic, question, passion, or experience in mind you would like to see verbalized? The finished piece, typed, signed, and recited, is yours to keep.

Valos has been gigging with his typewriter since 2016 at various events, festivals and happenings in Berlin, Helsinki and beyond, as well as put together a book of poetry from his encounters.

https://www.instagram.com/sidewalkscribe/

https://www.vinskivalos.com/

Ruusu Open Mic #60

03. 12. 2024

Ruusu Open Mic #60 is coming! We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry and other forms of literary art to Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on 15.12., at 17-20. Please note that this time Ruusu is not on the last Sunday of the month!

The incredible warm-up poet for the evening is Vishnu Vardhani Rajan!

After the performance the stage is yours: once again it’s time for open mic!

You can sign up for the open mic after the performances. You’re welcome to perform your text, song or other performance in any language you wish. It’s possible to connect your instrument or phone etc in the sound system, if that’s what your performance needs. Time limit for every open mic performance is 4 minutes, so everyone has a chance to perform.

This event is produced by Helsinki Poetry Connection. Event is hosted by Vinski Valos. Poster is designed by Vinski Valos.

We thank our long lasting partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu with joy!

Our event adheres to Safer Space Guidelines as found here

Free entry!