Open Office – jointly made possible by Zodiak, Cirko, and Dance House Helsinki – will open its doors five times this autumn. The August office session takes place on Wednesday, 19 August, from 13:00 to 17:00 at Zodiak’s office at the Cable Factory . The special theme for August is “Production work in an international environment”.

The purpose of Open Office is to provide the expertise of the organizing institutions’ staff free of charge for the freelance field, as well as to offer space and time for questions, listening, collaborative work, meeting colleagues, and community sharing.

The expert guest for the August session is Emmy Astbury. Astbury works as Senior Producer at Cullberg, one of Sweden’s leading contemporary dance companies, where she is responsible for international productions and touring. She has over 20 years of experience in the performing arts field, specializing in contemporary dance, artistic collaboration, production, and organizational development across Nordic and international art scenes.

Open Office offers an opportunity to book a one-on-one meeting with Astbury. Three 30-minute meeting slots are available. Please send your booking requests by email to Elina Ruoho-Kurola (firstname.lastname@zodiak.fi).

Astbury will also visit Helsinki to speak at the Big Stage Lab seminar series organized by Helsinki City Theatre (HKT) on Thursday, 20 August. The registration deadline for the HKT seminar is Sunday, 16 August. For further details, please visit the HKT website >>>.

What is the Open office?

The Open office can provide space, for example:

  • to work on a production budget or work text
  • to think together about which international organizations to approach and how
  • to ask about how associations or cultural cooperatives function
  • to get comments on your communications or marketing ideas
  • to write emails and meet colleagues in the process
  • have a cup of coffee

You are welcome to join us with topical issues of your own or just to work in good company. Feel free to show up spontaneously, or sign up in advance; that way you can also let us know if there is something particular you want to discuss or ask about.

You can also book a 20-minute one-to-one sparring session on these or other issues that are relevant to you. It is also possible to have a sparring session remotely. This possibility is reserved primarily for people outside the capital region. The one-on-one sparring sessions are booked via email from Elina Ruoho-Kurola.

Autumn 2026 Open offices

The Open office will take place five times during autumn 2026. Each occasion includes one keynote and/or conversation around a specific topic.

Autumn office days, themes, and locations:

  • Wed 19.8. from 13:00 to 17:00: To be a producer on the international scene, Zodiak’s office 
  • Thu 17.9. from 13:00 to 17:00: Grant Clinics 1 and 2, Cirko – Center for New Circus
  • Tue 20.10. from 13:00 to 17:00: Domestic tour booking, Zodiak’s office
  • Thu 19.11. from 13:00 to 17:00: Models of organizing one's own activities, Dance House Helsinki
  • Wed 16.12. from 14:30 to 17:00. Catching up, mulled wine and gingerbread, Zodiak Stage

We will provide more detailed information regarding the content and schedule for each day closer to the event dates across our various channels. Please keep an eye on our communications.

The Open office is free of charge and aimed at artists and producers in the dance and circus sectors. You can find more info about what the Open office is (and is not) on our website.

More info: 
Elina Ruoho-Kurola, elina-ruoho-kurola@zodiak.fi

Avoin toimisto – Open office is part of Loisto, a joint project by Zodiak, Cirko, and Dance House Helsinki. Loisto serves as a catalyst for the sustainable internationalization of dance and circus. The project is supported by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.