Every year we thank those who help us realise the festival, especially those who grant us access to the sites we use. This year we acknowledge the immense generosity of those who are literally opening their homes to the festival and inviting artists to create projects in their own living space. We can look forward to the unique prospect of entering these private worlds and experiencing projects in these quite everyday, but nonetheless extraordinary circumstances. To those who afford us this possibility in allowing artists and audiences into your home, we offer our most sincere thanks.

The meeting of public and private space feels very much to be at the heart of ANTI which for seven years has investigated how contemporary art might react to and shape the spaces we live in. This year is no exception with projects taking place across the city, on its streets, squares, offices and bridges. Stories will be collected and filmed in Kuopio’s own Story Café, your problems will be solved by the Problem Guy, a pop song will be written and performed for Kuopio, giving the town its own temporary anthem, among many inspiring projects from some of the world’s most inspiring artists.

In this Olympic year, ANTI stages its own games, of sorts. Motorists will be alerted to the end of a race they had no knowledge of competing in, laps of honour will be run in the name of local causes as ANTI visits the Väinölänniemi stadium and the entire town, every man, woman and child is challenged to a marathon game of ping-pong.

It’s ANTI festival again. Let the games commence!

Gregg & Johanna