Norpas ry

Norpas ry (Registered Association) is a cultural association on Kimito island which organises the international, multi-arts Festival Norpas every August. The association also maintains an artist residency and works to produce public art in Taalintehdas and its surroundings. Norpas ry is active in multiple international networks to support cultural exchange among artists, producers and cultural collaboratives.The festival is organised by a group of artists and activists who are driven by their collective excitement and intuition.

Festival Norpas has its roots in Catalonia, in the small coastal and border town of Portbou where the predecessor of Norpas, Festival Surpas, was held between 2008 -2011. Norpas was held for the first time in 2012.

Creating a festival, in the manner in which we do it, can be compared to an artistic process. Intuition leads us towards our destination and we check our course frequently. This is freedom of a kind which we wish to retain. When culture or art becomes a trademark it loses its deeper meaning as well as its significance.

As a criterion we often consider whether something feels like Norpas or does not. In some ways this is comical as each of us has our own impression of what it means to feel like Norpas or at least a clear impression of what Norpas is not. There is no single guiding rule. In fact, it’s often the case that as a result of a particular development or occurrence something will become clear and we’ll be able to say that “yes, this definitely feels like Norpas.” When we then come to arrange our next event we have one more realization to aim for.

 

Toiminnanjohtaja, tuottaja: Siiri Matinpuro

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Matias Kauppi

CURATOR: Ritva Kovalainen

Kotisivun ulkoasu: Jimmy Träskelin

RESIDENCE & ARTPARK COORDINATOR: Ville Laitinen