The Hamina Cultural Prize 2025 was awarded at the Independence Day Civic Celebration on December 6.12th.
The City of Hamina has been awarding a cultural award since 2011. The annual cultural award, awarded by the Vitality and Well-being Committee, is prepared in collaboration with the residents of the municipality. In the autumn, residents can propose candidates they think are suitable for the award.
The Cultural Award can be awarded to either the cultural actor of the year, the cultural event of the year or the cultural work of the year. In all cases, the recipient of the award can be either an individual, a free group, a registered association or another organization, but also a company. The Cultural Award aims to raise discussion about significant cultural works and creators in Hamina. It encourages and annually shows special thanks and appreciation to cultural actors and activities that are considered to promote the city's cultural life. The selection criterion can also be that an entity has done something innovative and new for the city's cultural life during the year.
This year, the proposals submitted by the local residents emphasized the desire to reward long-term life work. In addition, two cultural acts related to dancing as a community activity emerged from the proposals.
Recipient of the Culture Award (1000 euros) for active and exceptional cultural life work suitcasei Jorma “Patu” Patanen, a multi-faceted figure and cultural activist from Tervasaari. Patanen, who has amassed a historical collection covering seafaring and port culture as well as Hamina's cultural history that deviates from the mainstream, as his life's work, and who has diligently organized exhibitions and events in and around Tullimakasiin, received 12,9% of all proposals submitted by local residents.
Justifications extracted from the proposals:
“Patu's Tullikamari is a special and unique place that makes people from other places look at it with wide eyes. I often hear the words “places like this don't even exist anymore.” In addition, the music events organized by Patu are significant for Hamina's cultural life. While others focus on big-name gigs, Patu does small and special things, without which Hamina would be a much duller place with a poorer cultural life.”
The justifications for the proposals emphasize the desire to thank Patanen for his unique work, characterized by strong uncompromisingness and internal motivation, for the benefit of Tervasaari and the people of Hamina. Patanen has contributed to creating an operating environment that is perceived as open to everyone and enabling a variety of activities, and with him, Hamina associations, in addition to the city's cultural services, have been able to create numerous memorable cultural events in the milieu of Tullimakasiini and SS Hyöky.
It was decided to award the Cultural Prize (500 euros) for the cultural work of 2025 Tango Room for Aladin Association (Jouni Heino and Iina-Leena Kiri). Tango Room Aladin received 12,9% of the municipal proposals, equaling the number of votes received by Patu Patanen.
Justifications extracted from the proposals:
“Jouni and Iina have brought dance enthusiasts together through the magic of dance as organizers of various dance courses. The summer park dances were great, with a low threshold for free, you could try out different dance styles. Other local associations were also able to showcase their own associations at the park dances. Iina and Jouni's positive attitude and bringing people together through dance is wonderful. They know how to inspire.”
“The free park dances, which are open to everyone, have made it possible to try, learn and practice weekly dance at a low threshold, regardless of financial situation. The event, which is open to everyone, has brought together visitors from outside Hamina every week, created a sense of community and inspired people to take up the hobby. At the same time, the association has also made it possible to introduce the activities of other actors and associations, showing visitors different hobby opportunities. Jouni and Iina from Tango Room Aladin Oy are the warmest people and warmly welcome everyone who comes. Their goal is to increase people's movement and create a community where everyone is welcome as themselves.”
Tango Room Aladin was founded in Hamina this year, and has very quickly and actively started to weave networks and many new collaborations among local dance communities and individual enthusiasts of all ages. The operator has also opened its hopes for development cooperation towards the city of Hamina.
The second Cultural Award for the year 2025 for a significant cultural work (500 euros) was decided to be awarded To the Hamina Youth Council. In August, the Youth Council successfully organized the first stage dances for young people on the Turkish stage in Pyhällö. Youth Stage Dances/Hamina Nuva received 10,7% of the votes from the municipal proposals. The event organized by the young people was praised for how it successfully introduced stage dance culture to young people and created a safe and joyful meeting place for people of different ages.
Justifications extracted from the proposals:
“The Youth Council organized the first stage dances on the Turkish stage in August 2025. Despite the remote location, the advertising was successful and more than 250 dancers or people enjoying the dance atmosphere found their place. The young people did a great job and performed each of their tasks perfectly. “
Both of the above-mentioned cultural initiatives have increased the opportunity for everyone to come together and enjoy being together, both in the city center and outside the city center, open to all, without thresholds. Dance culture, which supports community, is an intangible cultural heritage that could be seen as one of the cornerstones of Hamina's cultural life and an emerging trend. The development work carried out at the Tullimakasiin in Tervasaari by Patanen also fits seamlessly into the same thematic framework.
Cultural Prize recipients 2011 – 2024:
2024, Musician, music educator and cultural multi-actor Tomi Pekkola and Kuorsalo Society, KIFF – Kuorsalo Island Film Festival event and Pitäjänsaari Residents' Association, Pitäjänsaari Day. Honorary Certificate Dualtech Oy/Meyer Hamina
2023, Director, screenwriter, presenter and musician Jalle Niemelä
2022, Dance artist Heli Kärki
2021, Theatre Expression Director Päivi Hyle
2020, Poet Maiju Pohjola (cultural act), and jointly with writer Tuukka Sandström and visual artist Varpu Eronen
2019, Kannusjärvi-Kitula Village Committee (cultural event)
2018, Village Theatre Marmut from Mäntlahti
2017, Rock Criminals
2016, Kristiina Terva-Heinonen and Juha Heinonen (cultural act)
2015, Hamina Quartet
2014, Hamina Fortress Old Houses Association
2013, Hamina parish (cultural event)
2012, Juhani Leinonen and the Hamina Orchestra
2011, Hamina Theatre Association (cultural event)