North Savo Arts Prize 2025 awarded to director Topi Marin

The North Savo Arts Council has decided to award its regional arts prize to director Topi Marin. The prize is worth €5,000.

The Council gave the following reasons for the award:

Topi Marin creates high-quality, distinctive theatre in his home region of Pörsänmäki, Iisalmi. He has built Teatteri Sujo in a barn, where he works as director and dramaturg.

The performances combine folk art and contemporary theatre, making it easy for audiences to join in. Marin wants to make theatre accessible to everyone. His vision of village theatre has grown year by year. The production Keuhkot (Lungs), for example, toured the whole of North Savo.

Teatteri Sujo has also established a structure for a residency programme, which has brought professional art to the region and diversified its cultural offering. Through his work, Marin has shown how art can be deeply rooted both in local soil and in contemporary theatre and world literature.
Topi Marin is a pioneer whose versatile work in theatre and genuine love for his home region have created something special in Pörsänmäki, even on a national scale.

The North Savo Arts Council is an expert body of Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) that decides on grants and arts prizes in its region. The regional arts prize is awarded to an artist, artist group or artistic community that has promoted the visibility and status of the arts in its region and increased discussion of and interest in the arts.

Topi Marin's work has been hugely important to Teatteri Sujo. After all, Topi founded Teatteri Sujo, and there would be no theatre here without his efforts.

Congratulations to our very own Topi! <3