Uniarts Helsinki’s conferment ceremony to liven up the streets of Helsinki next week
The second conferment ceremony in the history of Uniarts Helsinki invites the public to a Celebration of the arts and festive procession at Musiikkitalo and Helsinki city centre on 16-17 August 2024.
The university’s conferment event, the ceremonial conclusion of university studies, will be held in Helsinki from 16 to 18 August 2024. The ceremony will feature the conferment of degrees on master’s graduates and doctors from the university’s academies – the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy and Theatre Academy. Along with celebrating the graduates, the conferment also honours the significance and impact of education, research and art in society.
Additionally, honorary doctorates will be conferred on eight remarkable individuals: President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb, conductor Susanna Mälkki, performer and collector of traditional Romani songs Hilja Grönfors, theatre influencer Hanna Helavuori, CEO Heikki Lehtonen, Brazilian dancer, choreographer and teacher Lia Rodrigues, Berlin-based filmmaker, moving image artist, writer and researcher Hito Steyerl as well as British visual artist Tacita Dean.
Invitation to the procession and Celebration of the arts event
The conferment weekend kicks off with a public Celebration of the arts event at the Helsinki Music Centre Concert Hall on Friday, 16 August 2024 at 18:00. The event starts with a multi-artistic production of Uniarts Helsinki students depicting the unique human life path that travels through anticipation and struggle towards victory and fulfilment. After the performance, the evening will feature music, performances and an art exhibition.
On Saturday, 17 August 2024, the public is invited to follow the conferment procession, where newly conferred masters, doctors and honorary doctors, as well as the academic staff of the university, walk through the centre of Helsinki in black and white formal outfits. Along the procession, there will also be diverse art programme from Uniarts Helsinki students.
The procession departs at 14:00 from Musiikkitalo past Kiasma towards Mannerheimintie, from where it will continue through Paasikivi Square towards Salomonkatu and Antinkatu. On Antinkatu, the procession is divided into Temppeliaukio Church and Kulttuurikasarmi at 14:30.
The best viewing spots are in front of Musiikkitalo and Kiasma, as well as in Paasikivi Square, as the procession comes out from the entrance on the Kansalaistori side of Musiikkitalo.
Uniarts Helsinki conferment ceremony
Uniarts Helsinki’s first master’s and doctoral conferment ceremony was held in 2018. Master’s and doctoral conferment ceremonies have been held at the Sibelius Academy in 1997, 2003 and 2012, and at the Academy of Fine Arts in 2006. The Theatre Academy held its first doctoral conferment ceremony in 2009.
