Chinese artist Pan Jianfeng. www.invitationtohelsinki.fi

A group of talented people from Shanghai will soon be enjoying a unique visit to Helsinki. This is part of an innovative programme focused on establishing long-lasting networks between people in Helsinki and selected cities worldwide.

“The main goal of Invitation to Helsinki is to build long term relationships,” says Ossi Luoto of Pluto Finland. “It helps people here in the Greater Helsinki area to learn new things from people abroad and expand their networks. This is not just marketing and promotion.”

The programme began last spring when 12 Washington, DC residents with diverse professional backgrounds were invited to come to Helsinki. They were hosted by native counterparts and experienced the professional and everyday life of the metropolitan area. Later four guests came from Madrid. Now the offer has been extended to Shanghai.

“We have people coming from a number of different backgrounds,” continues Luoto. “In travel, we will have a travel agent and a travel enthusiast. In education, we will have a professor and a student who will visit Aalto University. On the business side there will be an innovator, such as in clean technology. Then we have an artist, Pan Jianfeng, who will take up a month-long artist residency in Suomenlinna.”

Jianfeng worked for large multinational design agencies before starting his own company. He is well known for portraits, which he often places on objects such as ceramic cups. “I’m looking forward to see a peaceful world covered by pure white snow,” he says. “What I am always interested in is creating something different and meaningful related to everyday life. I do hope my visiting will help people in Helsinki and Shanghai understand each other better and learn from each other… got lots of work to do!”

Typically a participant in Invitation to Helsinki stays for about a week, but Pan intends to stay longer in order to participate in Helsinki’s Chinese Spring Festival and prepare works for the Shanghai World Expo.

Guests visit sites and professionals in the area pertaining to their working life as well as sampling the nightlife and cultural activities. Of course, a trip to the sauna is normally high on the list of things to do when visiting Helsinki. The invitees keep an online journal of their activities and thoughts on Helsinki, and these are available on the program’s website.

The invitees will broaden their network in the Helsinki area. City officials, who are keen to develop closer contacts with Shanghai, consider this especially important. The Invitation to Helsinki project is tied to the Chinese Spring Festival as well as the mammoth Shanghai World Expo.

David J. Cord