My Day: “I stay inspired by immersing myself in diverse events and meeting new people”
Haiyun Yu, an Arts Management student and Student Ambassador at the Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki, balances a daily routine filled with academic commitments, creative collaboration and personal passions. Follow along to see how she embraces each moment with energy and curiosity.
8.30 Tea, emails and a simple breakfast
I start my day with a full pot of Earl Grey tea from the Stockmann department store. As I sip my tea, I check my emails and review my schedule for the day, gradually waking up. For breakfast, I usually have a pulla [Finnish word for “bun”] or some toasts with jam.
9.30 Commute from Kallio
I head out to begin my school day at around 9:30, usually taking the metro or tram from my home in Kallio. Our vibrant and artistic neighbourhood offers a perfect balance of urban life, where you can enjoy both the creative energy of the city – the arts – and the peaceful beauty of nearby parks.
There are many great cafés in Kallio, and I’m a regular at Ipi Kulmakuppila – it feels like my home base. I often go there to read and write. The café features large glass windows, and the window seats opposite to the Kallio library are amazing. The whole environment is bright, stylish and cozy.
10.00 Classes and collaborative learning
In our Arts Management programme, the first year presents a packed schedule of courses designed to blend theoretical concepts with practical knowledge. We engage in independent studies as well as collaborative group work, which is a vital component of the learning experience.
In group projects, we share research findings and actively facilitate discussions, honing our collaborative skills in a team environment.
Currently, I am working on my master’s thesis on language policy and planning in China.
13.00 Lunchtime favourites at campus cafeterias
I typically have my lunch at a campus cafeteria or at Unicafe in Kaivopiha, downtown Helsinki. I usually pick the fish option, though occasionally I like the meatballs, too. They sometimes offer a delightful vegan tofu dish, but I especially love the salad at the Musiikkitalo cafeteria.
I prefer to go for lunch a bit later, as the peak hour around noon makes it challenging to find a seat. By one o’clock, I can enjoy a more relaxing meal. The lunch costs €2.95.
When I have a class, we often go as a large group. You always bump into some friends anyways, so I rarely eat alone.
14.30 Creative time with the Student Ambassadors
In the afternoon, I might have a meeting with my fellow student ambassadors. Recently, we’ve been working on a podcast series, an initiative led by KuvA [the Academy of Fine Arts of Uniarts Helsinki] ambassador Rong. We’ve recorded several episodes and are currently finalising edits and illustrations. Now, it’s time for us to determine our publication strategy for the podcast.
Last week, I helped create Halloween videos at the Sibelius Academy, drawing inspiration from my favourite thriller, Final Destination. The concept explores how one small detail can trigger a chain of events – with a Halloween vibe. It’s always a joy to work on such unconventional school videos.
Take a look at one of the Halloween videos here.
16.00 Learning across campuses
It’s also possible to select courses outside the Sibelius Academy, so I’ve taken the opportunity to attend classes at the Theatre and Fine Arts Academies on the Sörnäinen campus. Although fitting them into my schedule can be tricky, I enjoy these courses a lot. The diverse topics and methods offer new frameworks for my thinking.
For example, last week, I had an art history class at KuvA, followed by a field trip to Ateneum, Finland’s most renowned art museum, where we explored the exhibition on Gothic Modern. This exhibition provided insight into the specific period and how we approach modernism today; what was considered modern back then is now viewed as antique in the digital era.
18.30 Building connections through art and music
I’m thrilled to see my network expanding through the school. Recently, I attended an exhibition opening at Gallery Kohta, where I reconnected with an artist I had previously met while assisting her with translations.
I participated in a multidisciplinary seminar at KuvA, where we collaborated on a final presentation at the Museum of Impossible Forms. The curator then invited me to help with translations for one of their events, leading to my acquaintance with the artist Kristiina Koskentola. She invited me to help with some translation works on her current project.
In addition, I’m assisting with communications and marketing for Global Club Nights, an event series in Helsinki initiated by Global Music alumni from the Sibelius Academy, promoting equity, equality and inclusivity through music. The upcoming concerts and events are in Cultural Centre Caisa.
My dinner time is usually flexible, but I always manage to cook something at home. I typically prepare soup or easy stir-fries.
20.30 Editing programme notes for a collaborative choir concert
I am editing the programme notes for a concert featuring a collaboration between SibA and Teak [Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki], performed by the EMO Ensemble.
Last semester, I took a writer-composer collaboration course at Teak, where we worked with the composition department at SibA. Poets – Teak students – and composers – SibA students – collaborated to create new choral works.
My working group consists of one composer and three writers. We decided to make multilingual poetry. Our finished texts consist of 7 languages: Finnish, Basque, Latvian, Old Chinese, Greek, Proto-Indo-European and Old Norse. We have spent a lot of time working together to find out our shared cultural heritages and the connections of different languages through sound.
22.30 A touch of film to wind down
I wind down for the night by watching a film before bed. Last night, I enjoyed “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” from 1975.
Haiyun’s tips and tricks for a fulfilling day
- I gain energy from… my morning Earl Grey tea.
- The best part of my day is… evening when I enjoy the fulfilled tasks while rewinding myself to different activities.
- My favourite way to de-stress or relax during the day is… to watch some interesting films before going to sleep.
- I stay motivated… when I participate in different events and meet different people.
- I wind down for a restful night’s sleep… by leaving the worries for the next day.
Who
Haiyun Yu is a translator, writer and producer from Suzhou, China. With a background in linguistics and comparative literature, her artistic interest is to invite performativity to text. In her writing practices, she explores the intersection of cultural heritage, ecology and identity.
Her research focuses on decolonisation, cultural policy and intercultural communication. She received the Finland Scholarship in 2022 and is currently finishing her master’s study of Arts Management, Society and Creative Entrepreneurship at Sibelius Academy, Uniarts Helsinki.
