Welcoming our new Chair, Board Member and Residency Assistant!

Vappu Renko is HIAP’s new Chairperson from 1st January 2025

Vappu Renko is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Cultural Policy Research Cupore where she has worked since 2017. Her current research focuses on local and regional cultural policies as well as arts and artist policies in Finland, with a particular interest in Nordic comparative studies.

She holds a doctoral degree in Social and Public Policy from the University of Jyväskylä with a dissertation examining cultural policy in Finland in contrast to Sweden. Additionally, she has masters degrees in Political Science from the University of Turku and Art History from the University of Helsinki.

Renko has previously worked as a researcher at the University of Jyväskylä and has held administrative and coordination roles in various cultural organisations including HIAP where she worked as an administrator in 2016-17. Since 2023, she has been co-editor of the Finnish Cultural Policy Research Yearbook and currently serves as the chair of the steering group for Kulturanalys Norden.

Niki Matheson joins HIAP’s Board

Niki Matheson has been the Managing Director of Dance House Helsinki since 2021. Prior to that, she was Managing Director of Korjaamo Culture Factory from 2019 to 2020, and Administrative Director of Helsinki Festival from 2007 to 2019. Niki has worked in arts production and administration since 1995.

AK joins HIAP Team as Residency Assistant

AK (she/they) is an artist, writer and (occasional) curator from Dakar, Senegal. Their artistic practice is concerned with archives and memory, thinking through familial and colonial histories. They are interested in questioning oppressive structures and creating community wherever they go.

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Images:
1. Vappu Renko. Photo: Emmi Korhonen
2. Niki Matheson. Photo: Liisa Takala
3. AK. Photo: Kija Lucas