Hamina Cultural Prize 2025

The City of Hamina Cultural Award will be presented again in December – now is the time to submit nominations for the recipient

The City of Hamina has been awarding a cultural award since 2011. The selection is made in cooperation with the residents of the municipality, as proposals for the award recipient are collected from the residents. The recipient can be a registered organization, but also an individual or even a working group behind a cultural event or other cultural work that is considered important. 

The Cultural Award aims to stimulate discussion about significant cultural works and artists 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 award is presented annually at the Independence Day civic celebration organized by the City of Hamina. The accompanying photo is from the 2024 celebration, where exceptionally several actors and works were awarded (photo: Riikka Koskimies).

In 2024, the Hamina Cultural Prize was exceptionally awarded to several recipients (picture). At that time, the person to be awarded for significant cultural work was musician, music educator and multi-industry figure in the cultural field Tomi Pekkola (right). In turn, two locally significant events were chosen as cultural events: the new Kuorsalo Island Film Festival (KIFF) organized by the Kuorsalo Society (Kuorsalo Society representative second from the right, author representatives in the video greeting in the background of the picture) and the Pitäjänsaari Day organized by the Pitäjänsaari Residents' Association (pictured in the middle). In addition, a certificate of honor for significant cultural work was awarded to Dualtech Oy for renovating the old Seurahuone property and opening it for recreational use by residents and visitors to Hamina in the Meyer Hamina hotel, restaurant and event activities (pictured left).

The number of award nominations has continued to grow annually; in 2024, almost 300 nominations were submitted, which represented an increase of approximately 25% compared to the previous year. This development can be seen as a sign that local residents recognize the real inclusion and opportunities for influence in the cultural award process. 

Who or what entity should be awarded the Hamina Cultural Prize 2025? Submit your proposal with justification by Sunday 2.11 November.

Proposals can be submitted with justifications from Wed 1.10 October to Sun 2.11 November. Suggestions are collected via the Forms survey link.

Here is the link to the Forms survey: click here.

The award selection year is the current calendar year and the justifications for the proposals must describe the award criteria related to the current year (2025). After the proposal phase, the Hamina Events and Culture team's preparatory working group will process the proposals submitted by the municipality, including their justifications. Based on these, the working group will make a selection proposal to the Hamina Vitality and Wellbeing Committee, which will select the award recipient in November and confirm the value of the award. In the absence of suitable candidates, the committee may not award the award. In addition to the Culture Award, it is possible to award certificates of honor. 

Proposals are also accepted by paper ballot at the customer service point in Rinkeli (Puistokatu 6, Hamina), in the lobby of Hamina Main Library, Ruissalo Library, Hamina Library and Multi-Service Car on Päivänsätee and in the lobby of the Linnotin Swimming Hall, during opening hours. Proposals are collected anonymously, meaning that the proposer's identity is not asked in connection with the proposals. In order to gradually increase accessibility, the proposal survey has also been made bilingual this year. Proposals can also be submitted in English.  

Additional information:
Hamina City Events and Culture
Henni Kiri
+358 40 722 3687
henni.kiri@hamina.fi

Recipients of the City of Hamina Cultural Award 2011 – 2024

Cultural Award 2024
Musician, music educator and multi-faceted figure in the cultural field Tomi Pekkola
Kuorsalo Society, KIFF – Kuorsalo Island Film Festival event
Pitäjänsaari Residents' Association, Pitäjänsaari Day
Certificate of Honor Dualtech Oy/Meyer Hamina

Cultural Award 2023                                   
Director, screenwriter, presenter and musician Jalle Niemelä

Cultural Award 2022
Dance artist Heli Kärki, for valuable and diverse work in the field of dance art in Hamina

Cultural Award 2021
Theatre expression director Päivi Hyle, for her valuable work in promoting theatre education and theatre performance activities for over 20 years in Hamina

Cultural Award 2020
Poet Maiju Pohjola, whose debut poem Lautuma (Aviador 2020) is the cultural work of the year, as well as writer Tuukka Sandström and visual artist Varpu Eronen

Cultural Award 2019
Kannusjärvi-Kitula Village Committee, the restoration of the Kannusjärvi fire station is the cultural act of 2019

Cultural Award 2018
Village Theatre Marmut from Mäntlahti, for ten years the theatre circle of Hamina Community College with its headquarters in Seurantalo Toivola 

Cultural Award 2017
Rock Criminals. The band is proud to be from Hamina

Cultural Award 2016
Kristiina Terva-Heinonen and Juha Heinonen, implementation of the Mayor's Hall light park. In addition to the couple hosting the building, the event was implemented by AK Sound & Music Service from Hamina, Sevenon Taidelasistudio and Restaurant Kamu.

Cultural Award 2015

Hamina Quartet

Cultural Award 2014 

The Hamina Fortress Old Houses Association has strengthened the district identity, enlivened the old city center of Hamina and thus increased the visibility of the district through the residents' own initiative and community activities.

Cultural Award 2013
The cultural award went to the Hamina parish, the organ of Marian Church.

Cultural Award 2012
Juhani Leinonen and the Hamina Orchestra

Cultural Award 2011
Hamina Theatre Association, renovation of Turku Bastion into a summer theatre area

Hamina Culture Award 2025

The City of Hamina Culture Award will be presented again in December – now is the time to submit nominations

The City of Hamina has been awarding the Culture Award since 2011. The selection is made in cooperation with Hamina residents, as proposals for the recipient are collected from them. The award can be presented to a registered association, but also to an individual or a working group behind a significant cultural event or other cultural act.

The Hamina Culture Award aims to spark discussion about Meaningful cultural acts and Actors 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 award is presented annually at the Independence Day Civic Celebration organized by the City of Hamina. The attached picture is taken from the Celebrations 2024 when there were exceptionally several awarded (picture: Riikka Koskimies).

In 2024, the Hamina Culture Award was exceptionally divided among several recipients. Tomi Pekkola, musician, music educator and multi-talent in the cultural field, was then chosen as the person to be awarded for significant cultural work. Two locally significant events were also chosen to be awarded: the new Kuorsalo Island Film Festival (KIFF) organized by the Kuorsalo Association, and the Pitäjänsaari Day organized by the Pitäjänsaari Residents' Association. In addition, a certificate of Honor for a significant cultural act was awarded to Dualtech Oy for renovating the old Seurahuone property and opening it again as Meyer Hamina hotel, restaurant and event operations.

The number of award proposals has continued to grow annually; in 2024, almost 300 proposals were submitted, which showed an increase of about 25% compared to the previous year. This development can be seen as a sign that Residents recognize real participation and opportunities for influence in the culture award process.

To whom should the Hamina Culture Award 2025 be given? Submit your proposal with justifications by Sunday 2.11.

Proposals with justifications can be submitted from Wed 1.10. – Sun 2.11.

Proposals are collected via a Forms survey link here.

Proposals are also accepted by paper ballot at the Rinkeli customer service point (Puistokatu 6, Hamina), in the lobby of Hamina library, in Ruissalo library, in library and multi-service car Päivänsäde, and in the lobby of the Hamina swimming baths, during opening hours. Proposals are collected anonymously, ie, the proposer's identity is not asked in connection with the proposals. To increase accessibility, the proposal survey has also been made bilingual this year. Proposals can also be submitted in English.

The award selection year is the current calendar year, and the justifications for the proposals must describe the award criteria related to the current year (2025). After the proposal phase, the Hamina Events and Culture team's preparatory working group processes the proposals submitted by Residents with their justifications. Based on these, the working group makes a selection proposal to the Hamina Vitality and Well-being Committee, which in November selects the award recipient and confirms the monetary value of the award. If suitable candidates are missing, the committee may leave the award unawarded. In addition to the Culture Award, it is possible to award certificates of honor.

Further information:
City of Hamina, Events and Culture
Henni Kiri
tel. + 358 40 722 3687
henni.kiri@hamina.fi

Recipients of the Hamina Culture Award 2011 – 2024

Culture Award 2024
Musician, music educator and multi-talent in the cultural field Tomi Pekkola
Kuorsalo Association, KIFF – Kuorsalo Island Film Festival event
Pitäjänsaari Residents' Association, Pitäjänsaari Day
Certificate of Honor Dualtech Oy/Meyer Hamina

Culture Award 2023
Director, screenwriter, host and musician Jalle Niemelä

Culture Award 2022
Dance artist Heli Kärki, for valuable and versatile work in the field of dance art in Hamina

Culture Award 2021
Theater and drama instructor Päivi Hyle, for valuable work in promoting theater education and theater performance activities for over 20 years in Hamina

Culture Award 2020
Poet Maiju Pohjola, debut poetry collection Lautuma (Aviador 2020) is the cultural act of the year, and jointly writer Tuukka Sandström and visual artist Varpu Eronen

Culture Award 2019
Kannusjärvi-Kitula village committee, renovation of Kannusjärvi fire station is the cultural act of 2019

Culture Award 2018
Village Theater Marmut from Mäntlahti, ten years of Hamina Folk High School's drama club with Seurantalo Toivola as its center

Culture Award 2017
Rock Criminals. The band is proud of its Hamina roots

Culture Award 2016
Kristiina Terva-Heinonen and Juha Heinonen, implementation of Pormestarintalo light park. In the implementation of the event, in addition to the house hosts, Hamina-based AK Sound & Music Service, Sevenon Taidelasistudio and Restaurant Kamu were involved.

Culture Award 2015
Hamina Quartet

Culture Award 2014
Hamina Fortress Old Houses ry, the association has strengthened district identity, enlivened the old center of the City of Hamina with residents' self-initiated, communal activities, and thus increased the visibility of the district

Culture Award 2013
The Culture Award was given to Hamina parish, Marian church organ

Culture Award 2012
Juhani Leinonen and Hamina OrchestraCulture Award 2011
Hamina Theater Association ry, renovation of Turku Bastion into a summer theater area