Nanna Hänninen (FI)

Nanna Hänninen, who moved to Kuopio from Rovaniemi, is a member of the Helsinki School and an internationally successful Finnish photographic artist. Hänninen graduated from the Department of Photography at the University of Art and Design (Helsinki, Finland) in 2002. Her works are exhibited at Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, the Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA), the Finnish Museum of Photography, as well as in private collections in Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and France.

Jyrki Heikkinen (FI)

Jyrki Heikkinen, who has become famous as a comics artist and writer, is also renowned for his collections of poems and illustrated poems. Heikkinen lives in Kuopio and is an active member in various associations such as Kuopion kuvataiteilijat (the Kuopio Artists). He has taken part in both Finnish and international comic anthologies. In 2011 he realized two series of paintings in acrylic to the main lobby of the Martti Ahtisaari School in Kuopio, commissioned by City of Kuopio. Heikkinen’s work has also been exhibited extensively overseas.

Simon Whitehead (UK)

Simon Whitehead, a Welsh artist whose art is based on physical movement, likes to approach his immediate surroundings in his art and is particularly interested in communicating with local communities. Whitehead has collaborated closely with Melbourne-based sound artist Barnaby Oliver for 16 years, and is a founding member of the Welsh artist group Ointment. He has also published the celebrated book Walking to Work.

Tomi Kosonen (FI)

Tomi Kosonen plays the keyboards in the band Aavikko, which has gained cult status. The band, which performs electronic music, was set up in Siilinjärvi, near Kuopio, and received an arts award from the Savo Arts Council in 2006. Kosonen also received a grant to further his artistic career in 2013.