Responsibility at Helsinki Biennial

The biennial implements strategic measures such as energy wisdom, stringent waste reduction, and management practices encouraging the use of sustainable
transportation options among participants and visitors (the ferry is not free, which affects equity and economic and social sustainability), the principle of proximity (on-site production and commitment to local communities), sustainable materials (local and natural materials, ecological products, reused and repurposed elements, ecolabels, investment in new sustainable materials) and avoidance of harmful chemicals.

Establishing metrics for evaluating sustainability practices, the biennial will regularly assess and publicly report its environmental impact. This process will facilitate
continuous learning and improvement. Every artwork’s practical realization and choice of materials on Vallisaari Island will be carried out in cooperation with Metsähallitus and the Finnish Heritage Agency’s specialists. Helsinki Biennial was granted the Eco-Compass certificate for its commitment to adhering to the principles of the EcoCompass environmental management system.

The sustainability plan will not be a one-off initiative but rather a continuous commitment to eco-social transformation. By developing a governance model based on sustainability, the biennial will ensure that its operations align with the overarching goals of environmental justice and social equity. Many strategic actions will extend beyond just this edition of the biennial, such as our decision to relocate some of the biennial’s site-specific works and place them on permanent display elsewhere the city.

We respond sensitively not only to carbon, energy, and water footprints but also to invisible footprints, including those related to emotions, care, and sense of community.

We view art as a shelter where we can envision new models of protection, remediation, and healing.

We assess the environmental, social, and cultural life cycles of all projects, using climate justice as our guiding principle.

We embrace the multiplicity of cosmovisions that give voice to the pluriverse we inhabit, ensuring that no one—human or non-human—is excluded.

We recognize the value of non-hegemonic knowledge and subaltern epistemologies as essential heritage in addressing the eco-social transition.

We champion art as fostering the idea of ‘well-being’ or ‘good life’ in the sense of the ideal and beautiful fulfillment of the planet and leading a life of dignity.

We prioritize local production, viewing the biennial as a shared community initiative, encompassing both human and non-human participants.

We acknowledge our eco-dependence and interdependence, advocating cooperation as an evolutionary principle and favouring symbiosis over competition.

Recognizing the impossibility of achieving a zero footprint, we aim to compensate through various ecological actions that extend beyond conventional environmental finance systems.

We reject climate negativism and encourage positive action.

We encourage all visitors to come to the Helsinki Biennial’s event sites by bike, foot, or public transport, as the transport choices of each visitor have a real impact.

The works that make up Helsinki Biennial are located in unique natural environments, such as the valuable archipelago nature of Vallisaari. Nature and art can coexist in peace when treated with respect.

When moving about in nature, make sure to follow the rules and boundaries for that area. Protect delicate nature by keeping to the marked routes or existing paths. Protect nature and minimise your light and noise pollution while moving around in nature. This will also help preserve biodiversity.

We encourage visitors to take care of the fragile nature of Vallisaari Island by bringing back any waste they bring to the island. Bringing your own water bottle and refilling it at Vallisaari’s water points is a convenient and ecological way to take care of your own well-being too!

During the Helsinki Biennial from June 8 to September 21, you can support the protection of the Baltic Sea at the HAM ticket counter, HAM shop, or online store. If you wish, you can donate €2 to the John Nurminen Foundation’s Baltic Sea efforts. The full amount will be transferred to the John Nurminen Foundation without deductions.