Diversity bridgers

The Culture for All Service is proud to announce that 44 diversity bridgers have graduated from the Diversity Bridger course held from February to November 2024. Diversity bridgers are ready to share how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging (DEIA&B) practices can be implemented into your communities.

The Culture for All Service with the support of The Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM) brought the Diversity Bridger course to participants across Finland. This course was offered as part of the project ‘Diversity as a starting point for municipalities' art and culture activities in 2025’. 

The Diversity Bridger course was designed and delivered by diversity expert Arlene Tucker. For more information about the Diversity Bridger course, please contact Arlene Tucker (arlene.dearyou@gmail.com) or Rita Paqvalén, Executive Director of Culture for All (rita.paqvalen@cultureforall.fi). You can also be in direct contact with the diversity bridgers for more information.

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Diversity Bridgers are

Markku Alpimaa

Marta Bermúdez

I am Communications Coordinator at Kulttuurikeskus Ninho ry, a multicultural association that works to develop a more multicultural and plurilingual society in Finland, through children's culture. I build communication strategies that help our projects reach more communities, achieve inclusion through children's culture, and provide representation to all the cultures that form contemporary Finnish society. Marta's LinkedIn profile. Kulttuurikeskus Ninho

Sanna Bondas

I work for the City of Vaasa as Director of Culture and Libraries. I have chosen the cultural sector because I am interested in culture as a source of well-being, cultural dialogue in society and the desire to influence the citizens through cultural services. I find my work meaningful as I get to build bridges between different communities, individuals and city administrations, carrying the message of culture. Sanna's LinkedIn profile. Vaasa City Culture Services 

Hanna Brotkin, Senior Coordinator, Art Testers / Association of Children’s Culture in Finland

Hanna started her career in fashion and later spent over a decade teaching in Jamk University of Applied Sciences in business administration. For the past eight years, she has worked as a coordinator for the Art Testers program. Hanna can provide information and insights on the importance of arts and cultural education, the impact of arts experiences on young people, or good practices for integrating arts in education. Art Testers webpage.

Laura Buckman

Aleksandra Dunaeva

As someone with a background in socially engaged art, theatre research, migration experience and currently a MA student of theatre pedagogy at the University of the Arts Helsinki, I believe in collaborative work and the ability to mediate between people, institutions and communities through art. I would be happy to collaborate with those who share these ideas, as well as those who would like to see a theatre educator in their project. Aleksandra's LinkedIn profile. 

Sanna Hernelahti, Service Manager, Turku City Library

My unit, Outreach Services, takes care of children, young people and people with special needs. Our aim is to bring library and cultural services to those who cannot or do not know how to access them on their own. We are here for everyone, yet we are especially on the side of the person whose voice is least heard. Sanna's contact info. Turku library. 

Sara Huhtala

I am Sara and I work as a cultural director in the cultural services of the city of Suonenjoki. In my work I enable local culture and its accessibility to the city's art gallery, museums, events and networking. As a diversity bridger, I think it is important to promote equal and diverse access to culture and arts between different groups. Sara's LinkedIn profile. Suonenjoki's culture services

Maria Junno

I work as a cultural producer at Kanneltalo in the City of Helsinki Cultural Services. In addition to ticketed events, we also focus on offering free events where everyone feels welcome. In my work, I strive to promote diverse programming, provide interesting art, cultural events and meeting places for people from different backgrounds. We are always looking for partners to deliver meaningful events and performances in our culture center. Cultural Centre Kaneltalo.

Henna Kettunen, exhibition manager, Kainuu Museum, Kajaani

I work with the museum's exhibitions and public relations. I develop museum activities to make them more inclusive and accessible. I want museums to be more active in promoting cultural well-being and to be places where people can meet each other. Kainuu Museum's staff.

Adel Kim

Alex Kollerová 

Alex works at the intersection of arts, culture, and advocacy, striving to create more inclusive and equitable cultural spaces in Finland. Through their role at Globe Art Point and leadership in the Helsinki International Artists’ Association, Alex actively challenges systemic barriers, amplifies underrepresented voices, and fosters cross-cultural collaboration. Alexandra Kollerová | LinkedIn, or Instagram 

Milla Kuikka

Tiina Laitinen

I am the Communications and Culture Coordinator of the Municipality of Rautalampi. It is important to me to provide cultural services for all in a safe environment, with equality, respect while listening to others. This is so that people, associations and other groups can find each other and we can interact together, e.g. to organise diverse events. Rautalampi municipality. 

Pauliina Lappi

Susanna Louneva

Sini Lundgrén

I work in the City of Salo as a cultural producer, responsible for children's culture. Accessibility, equality and respectful encounters are particularly important to me. As a diversity bridger, I strive to promote these issues both in the services we provide and in my work with various working groups and partners. I am also committed to increasing the inclusiveness and child-friendliness of our services. Salo's children culture. 

Nina Martikainen

I am a costume designer and the costume manager of the Community and Inclusion Department at the Finnish National Theatre. I am currently working on a proseminar thesis in adult education, where I am researching community theatre practitioners from a previous production. I am open and curious to collaborate with all kinds of people, especially minorities, and to promote diversity in our society.

Elena Nestorova

I am a visual artist and I work as an activity coordinator for Vaasa Artists' Association at the Vaasa Art Hall. For me, equality, justice and equity are the cornerstones of a prosperous society. They do not exist by themselves, but must be worked for constantly - in the workplace and in private life. Everyone benefits from this and by nurturing these issues and their progress we build a better world. Vaasa Artist Guild.

Mirja Nevalainen

I work in several places at the moment (as a guide and customer service worker at the Museum of Architecture and Design, Alvar Aalto Museum, Helsinki City Museum through Seure Oy as a guide and at Kunsthalle Helsinki). I try to promote diversity by highlighting, for example, inequalities I see in my workplace.

Anna-Maria Niinikoski

I work at Turku city museum in Southwest Finland and the scope of my work entails the entire museum field within the region. In my work, I have the opportunity to support museums give attention to the ways they present and examine different historical events and whether they replicate current prejudices or stereotypes. Turku City.

Katariina Pasuri

I work as a communications specialist at the Tampere Music Festivals. As a diversity bridger, I develop accessibility and sustainability communication for the festivals we organise and highlight diversity, anti-racism and equality issues in all our community activities. Tampere Biennale, Tampere Jazz Happening, Tampere Vocal Music Festival. 

Anni Pelkonen

I am Anni, Museum Director from Helsinki. In my work at the Hotel and Restaurant Museum I meet all kinds of people. Equality is an important value guiding my work. More information about the Hotel and Restaurant Museum. 

Ilja Peltonen

I am a full-time actor at the National Theatre. In my work I try to seek out productions that promote diversity both within the National Theatre and in general. I also work as the National Theatre's Diversity Officer, whose role is to promote diversity in the National Theatre's staff and to support, for example, interns who may be facing challenges in their work life.

Jaana-Hannele Potkonen

Essi Pullinen, museum director, Finnish Museum of Horology and jewellery

Producing cultural well-being is one of our important tasks as a museum. In a safe space, we develop, meet, connect, experience, discuss, and train regardless of background. Kruunu is a museum for everyone. Every two to three years, the 'My World' exhibition concept showcases minorities through jewellery and stories. The Finnish Museum of Horology and Jewellery Kruunu.

Nanne Raivio (she/her)

I work as a curator in the education and customer services team at EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art. My work involves developing inclusion, accessibility, and equality from the perspective of public engagement. I work on exhibition projects and public art initiatives. I find it important to develop museums to better meet the needs and aspirations of people from diverse backgrounds. Nanne's contact information at EMMA.

Anna Rantakoski, event producer at Kuopio City Theatre

I want to make our theatre more accessible, open to everyone. I produce a wide variety of events to provide inclusive experiences for everyone. I also want to stimulate debate, offer opportunities to make a difference and give people the chance to get to know each other. Kuopio city theatre.

Johanna Rojola

Kirsi Rouvali, Librarian, Salo Main Library

My work includes youth library work, cooperation with secondary schools and post-secondary educational institutions, and guidance of adult and immigrant students. For me, it is important to encourage and promote reading and to develop services that are accessible and barrier-free for all. Salo municipality.

Jeroen Sebrechts

I am a creative producer and audience development professional working for the Finnish National Theatre's Communities & Involvement department located in Helsinki. My work is to help bring theatre closer to different (marginalised) communities and to give weight to their voices. Jeroen's LinkedIn profile. Communities and Engagement Department at Finnish National Theatre.

Rozabela Singh

I currently work as Culture Interpreter and Intercultural Communication Coach at Edusampo in Lappeenranta supporting international students during their onboarding process and in the workplace. I am also a freelance DEI consultant, delivering structured workshops and training programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a focus on cultural dynamics in business, cultural intelligence, and cross-cultural communication, utilizing interactive methodologies such as role play and team-building exercises. Rozabela's LinkedIn profile.

Sami Sivonen, theatre-acting instructor, Luumäki, South Karelia

I work as a freelancer in several amateur theatre groups in South Karelia, South Savo and Kymenlaakso. From time to time I also perform myself and I am an active youth theatre club member. As a director, I feel it is important that everyone is welcome to participate. The principles of a safer space have created a good atmosphere in the hobby groups. I am happy to share these practices with others. Saimaa's youth clubs. Sami's LinkedIn profile.

Heidi Syrjäkari-Membir

Heidi is an actor and theatre teacher. Kajaani City Theatre. Kajaani theatre.

Virpi Tahvanainen

I work at the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra as a communications specialist. In my work, I focus on developing more data-driven and more equal cultural and artistic structures. Virpi's LinkedIn profile. Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rania Taina