UMO Jazz Orchestra and the congregation of Kallio organise concert event Human meets Human for asylum seekers lodging at the reception centres of Helsinki. The event takes place at Kallio Church and Kallio Church park on Monday 28 September from 3-5PM. All are welcome.
Initiated by members of the big band the idea was received enthusiastically by Kallio congregation that has collaborated with the Kaarlenkatu reception centre frequently.
“Finnish entrepreneurs and private people have already lent a helping hand by donating everyday essentials and clothes to the refugees. UMO wanted to act too, but in a way that comes naturally to a big band. The language of jazz music is universal and can bring people together and provide consolation and faith in what is to come”, says Eeva Pirkkala, managing director for UMO.
The concert is a part of UMO’s audience development activities that aim at increasing accessibility to live music among all kinds of audiences. A key goal is to make the well-being that live music can provide more widely accessible. In addition to public concerts, UMO produces dozens of workshops and concerts for children, teenagers and senior citizens. In 2014 concerts that fell into the category of audience development amounted to 29 and reached a total audience of 6622 persons.
“The goal of Human meets Human is, as the title suggests, providing an atmosphere where asylum seekers and residents of Helsinki can encounter each other in a friendly and natural way. In addition to live music, coffee will be served. There will be time for free socialising and a playing area for kids. Come and bid your new neighbours a warm welcome”, says reverend Mari Mattsson.
Human meets Human
Kallio church & church park
Mon 28 Sept 2015 at 3-5PM