Kulturhus Björkboda: Breathing new life into culture on Kimitoön

Kulturhus Björkboda – or Kubu as it’s known – is a communal, multipurpose building on Kimitoön in Finland, established in 2022. Situated in an old renovated school, it has become an important pillar of the local community, and a space for culture and people to connect.

Sari Kippilä and her husband Tuomo Tammenpää, who have taken on the role as Kubu-mama and Kubu-papa, decided to give a 110-year old school building a new lease of life. That is how Kubu, an artist-led, independent culture house, was born. It is located on the picturesque Kimitoön, a true archipelago paradise on the southwestern coast of Finland. The island is a popular travel destination, especially among nature and culture enthusiasts – and now Kubu is adding to the region’s cultural offerings with year-round exhibitions, classes and workshops.

“We wanted to honour the building’s history and let it continue to serve as a place for lifelong learning. Our hope is that everyone who visits Kubu leaves having learnt something new, whatever form that may take,” says Tammenpää. The island is bilingual, and Kubu has wanted to keep multilingualism in its programme, with many exhibitions featured in Finnish, Swedish and English.

A true community effort

Managed by a non-profit cooperative, Kubu works towards community-led and participatory governance. The building hosts rotating exhibitions, a craft shop, a hall with a stage, a kitchen, and a pop-up café, along with workshop, meeting, and collaboration spaces. “Culture is not just about art. It’s about all kinds of things people do together,” emphasises Tammenpää. The school building has been left in its original form, leaving the classrooms, gymnasium and kitchen virtually untouched – and with ample opportunities for a variety of events. Kubu’s workshops have ranged from silkscreen printing to art courses and yoga classes.

Before Kubu was founded, Kimitoön lacked dedicated gallery spaces. Now, the island has three galleries that have displayed visual arts, sculptures, and installations, doubling as reception and workshop spaces. “We’re constantly experimenting and developing the spaces here. There’s so much potential, and we’re always open to new ideas,” says Kippilä.

At the forefront of arts and culture

Very quickly, Kubu has managed to establish itself as a central cultural hub in the region. The notable Norpas festival, which features music, performances, visual arts, circus acts and film screenings by both international and Finnish artists, recently partnered with Kubu. This collaboration has expanded Norpas’ program, offering a wider array of art and music workshops, installations and debates, held at Kubu.

For 2025, Kubu has ambitious plans as part of Kimitoön’s 700th anniversary, which will include an international contemporary art exhibition. Curated for the first time by an invited guest; Irish-born, artist and Professor at the School of Art, UWE, Bristol, Teresa Dillon.

The summer exhibition will feature artists and groups from Finland and abroad. “Focusing on an expanded idea of what it means to develop and maintain a garden, the entire Kubu building, from basement to attic, will be dedicated to the exhibition from early June to the end of August,” says Tammenpää.

“At least one of the works will be an environmental and community art piece that involves volunteering local residents in its creation. Some of the artworks will change, grow, and evolve throughout the summer, making them worth visiting multiple times,” he adds. The environmental art will be co-curated by Ritva Kovalainen, primus motor behind the Norpas festival, a well-known photographer artist and a spokesperson for natural forests.

Kubu takes climate change challenges seriously, and actively engages in discussions on biodiversity. Tammenpää adds; “Up-cycling is evident in almost everything we do. For us, waste is a treasure that can be repurposed and returned to use, not to end up at the landfill.”

History and modernity in harmony

Kubu’s exhibition programme is dynamic and experimental, welcoming both professional and amateur creatives who think outside the box. “We encourage community participation and site-specific projects, making this an intriguing place to visit even a few times during the summer,” says Kippilä.

The old school building has been transformed into a vibrant cultural hub that keeps visitors coming from near and far. With its deep commitment to community engagement, sustainability and artistic exploration, Kubu has enriched the region’s cultural landscape and fostered a strong sense of belonging among locals and visitors alike.

As Kubu continues to grow and evolve, it stands as a shining example of how history and modernity can coexist, creating a space where creativity, learning, and community spirit thrive together. “At Kubu, visitors are not spectators. Everyone – if they so wish – can become a part of it, and participate in their own way. Here, everything is culture: bingo, tango, yoga, karaoke, hackathons, seminars, rituals, chill-outs, pop-ups and stand-ups… the list is endless and the opportunities limitless,” Tammenpää concludes.

 
Check out Tuomo Tammenpää’s interview below as part of Kulturhus Björkboda’s Culture Stew project in Hong Kong. Find out more about Hong Kong Microwave festival 2024 here: https://www.microwavefest.net/festival2024/?id=ProjectRoom
 

Web: www.kubu.fi
Facebook: kulturhuskubu
Instagram: @kulturhus_kubu