UrbanApa

UrbanApa continues with the platform for feminist leadership.

In spring 2026, UrbanApa produces the eight edition of the platform for feminist leadership. The platform is based on peer learning, and it aims to support participants in their own work and attempts to practice feminist leadership. The frame for learning consists of seven meetings that intend to allow broader contemplation on feminist tools, leadership, and structures. The goal is to summon artists to share and discuss, to empower, to increase understanding of structures and their limitations, and to provide tools for more feminist and inclusive practices, as well as to collectively dream about potential futures. We all have know-how to share. By gathering, and bringing that know-how forth, we create the platform for feminist leadership together.

The workshops will be held once every three weeks or once a month (March– June and August – October 2027, one two-day residency in Fall 2027). The duration of each session is five hours (incl. lunch break), which consists of a lecture, a primer or introduction of the topic, and the follow-up exercises and discussions. The platform is facilitated by Sonya Lindfors and Olga Palo and the lecturers are experts from the fields of art, leadership, and feminism. The participants shall also reserve some time for independent work outside the workshops (reading articles and reflecting); either individually, or together with other participants.

The working language on the platform is English.

We hope that the participants commit to attending the platform.

What is feminist leadership?

How to redefine leadership?

Frictions and fictions – How to work in more feminist ways within hierarchical structures?

Power and responsibility – influence and wellbeing

Sustainability – ethical, social, and environmental

Conflicts and solving them

Taste and vision – whose vision guides collective work?

Facilitation – how to create circumstances for learning and collaboration?

Inclusivity and diversity – safer spaces

Leadership and dreaming – what could the future art field be like?

Communication as leadership – what could feminist communication culture be like?

The platform starts as a live meeting in Helsinki (venue TBA) after which we will continue with online meetings on Zoom. The two-day residency will also take place live in Helsinki.

The platform will commence in February 2027. Check the schedule below, some venues to be confirmed. Speakers and session topics confirmed later.

NOTE! There is no possibility to take individual days!

SCHEDULE

Sat 13.2.2027 at 11:00–16:00 (orientation) @ Live in Helsinki (location TBA)
Sat 6.3.2027 at 11:00–16:00 @ Zoom
Sun 4.4.2027 at 11:00–16:00 @ Zoom
Sat 8.5.2027 at 11:00–16:00 @ Zoom
10.-14.5.2027 #StopHatredNow – event week @ Zoom (Voluntary)
Sun 8.8.2027 at 11:00–16:00 @ Zoom (or possibly live?)
Sat 4.9.2027 at 11:00–16:00 @ Zoom
September-October miniresidency @ Helsinki (exact dates TBA)
Sun 10.10.2027 at 11:00–16:00 @ Zoom

We are searching for a diverse group of artists or professionals working in the sector of arts and culture, who work with directing, facilitating, curating or leadership in one way or another, and are interested in feminist ways of working. We are mainly looking for people who work or live in Finland, but other applications are also taken into account.

In case we receive loads of applications, we aim to choose participants who form a diverse, multivoiced group and prioritize applicants who don’t have access to similar content at the moment.

To apply, please fill the application form by 14th November 2026 at 23:59 (Finnish time): https://forms.gle/7sZVvGMXhkzoLDk27

If you are not able to fill in the application form, you can also send us an application via email. If you apply via email, please title your message ‘Application for Feminist Leadership Platform’ and attach to your message your CV and a short motivation letter (max. half A4). Please include your name in the attacment file names and make sure to include your contact information in the files. Send your message to sonya[at]urbanapa.fi. Email application have the same deadline as the application form.

In the motivation letter, please state

• What are you working with and how?
• Why/how are you interested in feminist ways of working?
• What kind of tools do you need and how do you hope to make use of the platform (for example for networking, as a support in a specific process, to internalize specific knowledge…)?
• Do the workshop dates suit you?
• Do you have time, energy and resources to commit to the platform right note? Note! The participants should commit to attending at least six out of seven sessions.

You will hear from us only once the application period is over. The participants will be selected by 20.11.2026.

In the name of intersectionality, we are experimenting with a progressive participation fee on the platform.

• For freelancers / unemployed / low-income the platform will cost €80 in total
• For employed / middle-income people the platform costs 270€ in total
• Community / company pays for your participation the platform pays a total of 1200€

If you have problems with the price of the platform, please contact us! We will work out a solution together.

There will be more information about the accessibility of the live meeting spaces once the venues have been confirmed.

The rest of the platform takes place on Zoom.

UrbanApa is an anti-racist and intersectionally feminist art platform whose purpose is to create space for multivoiced feminist and communal art making. Multivoiced feminist working means that we do not aim at a consensus. There must be space for new viewpoints and experiences, but the atmosphere must also remain respectful, safe and inclusive.

Read the ethical guidelines of the platform here: https://urbanapa.fi/ethical-guidelines/