Photo: JP Manninen, Green Fields (2024).
Janne-Pekka Manninen, Chairperson of the board
Photographer, writer
Janne-Pekka Manninen is a photographer and a writer, whose career has spanned nearly 20 years in journalism. As a photographer, Manninen has specialized in portraiture, documentary and fine art. Manninen has worked as a photographer and as a writer in numerous productions for Flow and considers it a privilege to work so closely with the performing arts.
Milla Virtanen, Vice-chairperson of the board
Dance artist
Milla Virtanen is an Oulu-based dance artist, who has studied dance in Finland and in the Netherlands. She graduated from Fontys Dance Academy (NL) in 2008.
Since 2007, Virtanen has created 14 dance theater works. Her art has been presented in all the Nordic countries and in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Russia, Germany, Great Britain and South Korea.
Her work is characterized by unique physical expression, absurdity and heightened tension. Milla Virtanen is interested in the experimental combining of dance, physical theater and the visual arts.
Tapani Launonen, Board member
Fixer, Location scout, Production service producer
Tapani Launonen is an experienced craftsman in arts and culture, who has photographed, danced and created films during his entire career. “Dance has been the first and most cherished creative outlet for me, one that I found at a school party,” says Launonen.
“For me, dance has the power to describe life in the most touching way. I feel like I understand dance and believe in it more than the other stage arts. If I should ever direct or produce a feature-length film, all the principal cast shall be contemporary dancers. Their expression is peerless in its credibility and it is wonderful to see how contemporary circus has grown from the same seed. It is my honor to support the future of Flow Productions through working on the board.”
Tuomas Niemelä, Board member
Architect
Tuomas Niemelä is a partner in alt Architects, an architecture firm based in Oulu, Finland. Niemelä has studied architecture in Finland, Denmark and the UK and has taught architecture at the University of Oulu for 10 years. He has worked in architecture, design and art for more than 20 years, with the main goal of improving the quality of the built environment in Northern Finland.
Niemelä’s architectural practice has designed many widely published cultural and educational buildings and performing arts spaces, which have received awards including the Puu Prize for Wood Construction, the Finlandia Nomination for Architecture, the Best Building in Northern Finland Award and the Ministry of Culture’s Finland Prize.
Tuomas’ work is based on strengthening local culture, increasing interaction between people, equality and ecological values.
Taina Ala-Ketola, Secretary of the board
Producer of Flow Productions
Taina Ala-Ketola (KM, dance teacher) is an arts professional who has worked in various positions in the dance field for a long time. She has worked as a teacher and dancer and as the managing director and producer of the Pyhäjärvi Full Moon Dance Festival.
In her work, Ala-Ketola attaches great importance to creating the best possible conditions for the creation of art. Ala-Ketola enjoys working in a creative and inspiring community where the common goal is a smooth process, an ambitious and successful artistic experience for the audience and a caring working experience for the artists involved in the project.
