City of Iisalmi Cultural Recognition Award 2025 goes to Teatteri Sujo
The City of Iisalmi Cultural Recognition Award is now being presented for the fifteenth time. The award goes to a person or association that has made a significant contribution to culture. Nominations could be made by Iisalmi-based organisations and individuals, and the recipient was chosen by the Education and Wellbeing Committee on the proposal of its Wellbeing Subcommittee. This year there were 17 nominees, and the committee decided to present the award to one association. The award will be presented at the Independence Day celebration at the Youth Centre on 6 December at 12 noon.
The 2025 Cultural Recognition Award goes to Teatteri Sujo ry. Led by Topi Marin, Teatteri Sujo has boldly set out to make high-quality village theatre in Pörsänmäki and to tour the North Savo region. Thanks to the theatre, the area now has a residency programme, which has diversified cultural activities and enabled professional artists to work in the region.
Teatteri Sujo has operated in a rural setting in Pörsänmäki since 2019. The theatre has staged 12 different productions in total, including the touring shows “Keuhkot” (Lungs) and “Seitsemän ihmeellistä tarinaa” (Seven Wondrous Tales). More than 6,000 people have already enjoyed Sujo's performances.
“Hip, hip, hooray! On behalf of Teatteri Sujo, a huge thank you for this recognition! It has been a joy to make theatre in Pörsänmäki and all around Upper Savo. There is a lot of strong work happening in Upper Savo, and wonderful, engaged audiences. Pörsänmäki's artistic theatre will keep working on new and different theatre productions. We take this as encouragement for the journey we share. Onwards, together!” says a delighted Topi Marin, director and chair of the association, who has also just received the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) North Savo Arts Prize 2025.
Previous recipients include Ylä-Savon Kamariorkesteri, Nukketeatteri Kepponen, Juha-Pekka Lappalainen, Heli Löytynoja, Päivi Herd, Teppo Kulmala, Tanssiteatteri Williwisio, Pro Kivikoulu ry, Petteri Tikkanen and Markku Ryynänen, Runnin seudun kyläyhdistys ry, Kari Angeria and Mirjami Palomäki, Iisalmen Kameraseura ry, Jukka Virtanen and Jyri Paretskoi, Nuorisokuoroyhdistys Allegro ry, Kyösti Marin and Marjatta Miettinen, IN-teatteri ry and Tuomas Miettola.
