Luova Triangeli

Oulu, together with 39 partner municipalities, is the European Capital of Culture 2026, opening new opportunities to develop services in rural areas and to modernise and diversify the rural economy. The potential of rural areas for cultural and event tourism has not yet been fully exploited. The revenue generating models for artists and cultural operators are fragmented. The project will develop a network approach and environment to address this problem.

Cohesion between different actors will allow for better earning, longer seasons and more stable regional vitality effects. The specific objective of the project is to extend the tourist season by offering tourists cultural experiences in the context of conventional tourist attractions.

The project will design services combining artistic creation, cultural production, and traditional tourism activities such as accommodation and restaurants. The project will also have an international dimension, making use of sales portals and networks for residency and accommodation services. The project aims to develop cooperation, staff training and commercialisation and business skills in these sectors between entrepreneurs and professionals, arts and other cultural associations and residences and tourism businesses.

The project is managed by the Kerttu Saalasti Institute at the University of Oulu. The co-organisers are Kattilakoski Cultural Cooperative, Oulu Culture Foundation and Nivala-Haapajärvi Region NIHAK ry. The project covers the municipalities of North Ostrobothnia.