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Representatives of architecture, urban planning and the performing arts are joining forces in an unprecedented project focusing on Oulu citizens, urban landscapes and human heritage!
From May to June 2026, Oulu will continue its three-year project Climbing over Oulu, which is part of the European Capital of Culture year. It will be realised by the French Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde in collaboration with Flow Productions.
Climbing over Oulu is a three-year collaborative project involving international architects, musicians and circus artists in Oulu. The artists invite citizens to join them in city walks, workshops, site-specific pop-up events and performances. Climbing over Oulu is inspired by the city, its inhabitants, its urban landscapes and its human heritage.
Urban walks around the city of Oulu will take the audience around the city and attract them to see the special features of the city. Led by project artistic director Eleftérios Kechagioglou and architect Amine Slimani, the Climbing over Oulu walks are spontaneous: participants are invited to share their experiences and knowledge of the sites along the route and suggest points of interest along the way.
In parallel with the Urban Walks and workshops, a 12-person team of circus artists and musicians has been meeting from 2024-2025 to prepare a stage production. The work will feature musicians and circus artists selected by Flow and PPCM and will premiere at the Culture Centre Valve on Fri 5 June 2026 at 19:00. The group will also present a pop-up performance at AaltoSilo on Fri 29 May at 18:00. Gaëtan Levêque will be responsible for the artistic direction of the performances.
The summer 2026 schedule for the Climbing over Oulu project will be announced in more detail during the spring.
Welcome to explore Oulu and your hometown with brand new eyes!
PPCM and Flow working group
Artistic Director: Eleftérios Kechagioglou
Artistic director: Gaëtan Levêque
Artistic development/production: Mathilde Lajarrige
Circus and dance artists: Lucille Chalopin, Julia Tesson, Erika Matagne, Johnson Saint-Félix, Helena Morag, Jared and Katarina van Earle
Musicians Stefanos Floras, Mahdi M’Kinini, Mélian Vlachos, Pauliina Kauppila
Architects: Amine Slimani, Dimitra Kanellopoulou
In collaboration with: Valentino Tignanelli, Aaltosiilo, Factum Foundation, Culture Centre Valve
Production support: Oulu Culture Foundation, Institut français de Finlande
Co-production: PPCM, Flow Production
The first Climbing over Oulu residency took place in the summer of 2024 and will culminate in the summer of 2026.
Climbing over Oulu is part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and cultural climate change. Oulu will be the European Capital of Culture in 2026, together with 39 northern municipalities. World-class experiences from near, far and in between are on offer. Culture, art and diverse events will be experienced in cities, villages and nature. It is a multi-year journey that will culminate in 2026.
