Welcome to Finnposium

Finlandia Foundation National brings you Finnposium, a variety of online chats, webinars, musical and other presentations related to Finland and Finnish culture in the United States.

The internet allows us to create a kind of virtual symposium enjoyed by the ancient Greeks: a post-banquet program of music, conversation, dancing and drinking.

The refreshments are up to you, but FFN strives to keep you entertained and informed with its wide range of programs. They will, with rare exception, be available indefinitely at the FFN YouTube channel.

Check for events at the FFN web calendar and Facebook page, and sign up for the free, monthly E-News for alerts on new programming.

Here’s a sampling of the programs available online at our YouTube channel; click video below:

Latest

The Road to Korsnäs: Unraveling the Iconic Sweater

WHEN: April 8 at 9am PST | 12pm EST

The Finnish American Folk School of Finlandia Foundation National invites you to join Gail DeMeyere as she takes us along on a journey of understanding more about the elusive Korsnäs sweater. The Korsnäs sweater typifies all things Finnish in its design elements, construction and dedication to craft. It is versatile, durable and once made, sweaters have been passed down from generation to generation, often being modified or mended along the way. In the past, information about the Korsnäs sweater has not been readily available. Now, with the efforts of textile historians, artisans, and museums the legacy of the Korsnäs sweater is being introduced to a wider audience. Gail will walk you through the origins of the Korsnäs sweater, teach you about its construction, and design motifs, and introduce you to those actively working to preserve the legacy of the garment. She has been on a twenty-year journey of learning all that she can about this masterful design and is dedicated to sharing what she knows to those who care to listen.

Iria Leino: An Extraordinary Life

In celebration of International Women’s Day, this special Finnposium webinar explored the remarkable life and artistry of Iria Leino, a Finnish artist who made her mark in SoHo, NYC. After her passing, an extraordinary collection of her work was uncovered—now the subject of an upcoming documentary film. This event brought together four remarkable Finnish women dedicated to preserving and sharing Iria’s story. Together, they discussed themes of art, Finnish immigration, and women’s creative legacies, highlighting a powerful story of resilience, identity, and artistic discovery. Featuring: Kati Aho – Creative Producer Janna Kyllästinen – Director of IRIA (documentary) Laura Birn – Acclaimed Finnish actor portraying Iria Moderator: Kati Laakso – Finnish Cultural Institute in New York Recorded on: Saturday, March 8. Watch the full recording now to discover the extraordinary legacy of Iria Leino!

Watch Now

PROGRAMS

Click Finnposium at right and look for the following playlists to enjoy a variety of programming including:

In Conversation

In this YouTube program, FFN hosts get Finnish and Finnish-American individuals from a variety of fields and areas of interest to talk about their fascinating work and lives.

My American Dream

In this monthly program, Michel Wendell interviews Finnish and Finnish-American entrepreneurs who share their stories as they follow their dreams and paths to success in the United States.

Deep River with Author Karl Marlantes

Finlandia Foundation National is pleased to present a chat with Karl Marlantes, award-winning author of the epic novel Deep River, which is rooted in his family’s immigrant experience.

ICE by Ulla-Lena Lundberg

Finlandia Foundation National created this series about ICE, the story of a pastor and his young family, new to a community in the rugged Finnish archipelago.

Meet Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen

Finlandia Foundation National is honored to have had the opportunity to visit via Zoom with internationally renowned Mikko Nissinen, artistic director of the Boston Ballet.

Finnish Recipes and Delights

Noted Twin Cities food experts Soile Anderson and Eleanor Ostman co-present a tasty program about Finnish foodways as Lecturer of the Year from July 2019 through December 2022.