Oulu theater received a grant of half a million from the Jane and Aatos Erko foundation

Oulu the theater has received a project grant of 497,000 euros from the Jane and Aatos Erko foundation. The grant is intended for the Oulu Theater’s three-year project, where more diverse productions are developed for the big stage.

CEO of Oulu Theater Anu-Maarit Moilanen says the grant comes at a significant time.

This year, the Oulu theater’s budget has about 5.4 million euros allocated for operations, half of which comes from the state and the other half from the city of Oulu.

Next year, the state contribution will be cut, the exact amount of which is not yet known, but Moilanen estimates that state funding will decrease by around 200,000 euros per year.

“There have been few opportunities for development,” he says.

Resources is also needed for the preparation of the upcoming capital of culture year. Oulu is the European capital of culture in 2026

“The grant is partly also risk financing. The purpose is to make productions on the big stage that are aimed at audiences from other cultures,” says Moilanen.

The diversity project also includes a production whose target group is young people aged 13–18.

“Young people are an audience group that is difficult for the theater to reach and has a lower ability to pay.” Moilanen says.

With the grant now awarded, a total of six productions will be produced on the big stage of the Oulu Theater over the course of three years. In addition to diverse contents, the productions develop international production, cooperation, sales and marketing skills.