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1.
Diversity is richness
1.1. Rovaniemi is an international city
with a vibrant cultural life
Cultural life binds individuals the operation of a customer panel consisting of
together into a community immigrants and draw up the plans for the cultural
sector integration programme with action proposals.
Cultural life refers to the things that people in the local The project started on 1 June 2013 and ends on 31 May
community do together to entertain themselves, enjoy 2014. The project was funded by the European Social
each other’s company and study the different aspects Fund and the Centre for Economic Development,
of life. Culture binds the members of a community Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) for
together, creates expression, transmits experiences and Lapland, as well as the City of Rovaniemi. Riikka
makes life meaningful. Rovaniemi sees that cultural Vuorenmaa, Project Coordinator, and Sintija Dutka,
life has great meaning for new inhabitants putting Expert by Experience, worked part time for the project.
down roots in the area.
Culture is present at every stage of
The population of Rovaniemi is increasing, putting down roots in the area
which is due to immigration, among other things.
Higher education institutions, tourism and product The goal of the cultural sector integration program is
development bring people from all over the world a Rovaniemi which is a vibrant community and which
into the city. Rovaniemi has received and integrated receives its new members actively and introduces
refugees as a long-term process. For the cultural life of them to the area. People who have moved to
the city, diversity is richness. The Rovaniemi cultural Rovaniemi are welcome, they can become a part of the
sector integration programme (the Programme further community effortlessly, and they feel that they are its
in text) presents ways of fulfilling the special needs of equal members. New inhabitants of the municipality
the inclusion and cultural services of the immigrant participate in the community functions from the
population. start. The programme supports the maintenance
of cultural diversity in Rovaniemi and its natural
The goal of the Kultti project started by Cultural development. It proposes actions for ensuring that the
Director Marja Widenius was to assemble the people new inhabitants of Rovaniemi are included equally in
working with immigrants in the cultural sector
in Rovaniemi into a co-operative network, start
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