In the Forest's Protection - Roundtable Discussion on Utopian Futures | Finland's Nature Day

The roundtable discussion is one of the culminating events of the Metsäkissa2044 project's conclusion. It takes place on Finland's Nature Day, 29.8.2026 at Kanneltalo, surrounded by the exhibition "In the Forest's Protection".

The discussion is led by Jaana Kanninen. Participants include author Anni Kytömäki, animal philosopher and executive director of the Animal Rights Academy Elisa Aaltola, professor of biodiversity research at the University of Turku and vice chair of Finland's Nature Panel Ilari Sääksjärvi, project leader of Metsäkissa2044 Jukka Ilmonen, and conceptual artist Juha-Pekka Väisänen. Additional participants will be announced later.

Each participant opens the discussion with their own manifesto about what constitutes a good future for forests and their inhabitants - including humanity. Väisänen's manifesto is filmed on a bog. The aim is not confrontation but dialogue, where participants build upon each other's perspectives.

The two-year Metsäkissa2044 project culminates in an event series at Kanneltalo from 14.-29.8.2026. The programme includes the exhibition as well as forest theatre, sound works, lectures, and workshops:

Fri 14. - Sat 29.8. | Exhibition "In the Forest's Protection" in Kanneltalo's gallery
Sat 15.8. at 13 | Jukka Ilmonen presents the results of the Metsäkissa2044 project
Night of the Arts, Thu 20.8. at 17 | Katja Luhtala & collective: Forest M
Night of the Arts, Thu 20.8. at 17.30 | Forest Floor - collaborative artwork
Fri 21.8. at 17 | Forest haiku workshop
Sat 22.8. at 13 | Forest improdialogue
Sat 22.8. at 15 | Artist meeting: Susu Rytteri
Thu 27.8. at 17 | Nature collaboration workshop
Fri 28.8. at 16 | Lecture on utopian pedagogy
Fri 28.8. at 18 | Legion Theatre's forest theatre collective: How the forest responds
Finland's Nature Day, Sat 29.8. at 13 | Roundtable discussion on utopian futures
Finland's Nature Day, Sat 29.8. at 15 | Katja Luhtala and the Forest M collective: Forest Heart - Ode to nearby forests

The exhibition and events are part of Helsinki's cultural services environmental programme. Admission to all events is free.