Pixelache Coordinator (2014–2017)

I served as Festival Coordinator and later Co-Director at Pixelache Helsinki from 2014 to 2017, working with one of Europe's oldest experimental art and culture festivals during a period of significant organizational transformation.

Organizational Context

Pixelache Helsinki operates as a transdisciplinary platform bridging emerging art, design, research, and activism. The organization's scope encompasses experimental interaction, code-based art, grassroots organizing, renewable energy, participatory art, open-source cultures, bioarts, and environmental engagement.
‍

My Roles and Responsibilities

I began as festival co-producer in early 2014, eventually becoming Co-Director of the 2016 festival. My role evolved alongside the organization's shift toward a decentralized operational model.

Key responsibilities included:

• Strategic oversight of daily operations
• Financial management and budget planning
• Grant writing and reporting
• Network development and partnership maintenance
• Festival production and program planning
  ‍

Festival Production Experience

2016 "Interfaces for Empathy" Festival

• Co-directed the festival alongside an interdisciplinary curatorial team
• Managed the presentation of over 100 artists' works across multiple Helsinki venues
• Developed programming that later evolved into a multi-year research initiative

2014-15 Festivals

• Worked closely with co-directors of the 2015 festival to facilitate a large-scale, multi-venue event
• Managed production logistics across numerous Helsinki locations
• Co-produced the 2014 festival on Vartiosaari Island
  ‍

Organizational Development

During my tenure, I initiated several key projects that enhanced both funding and programmatic depth:

• Established new collaborative curatorial frameworks
• Developed sustainable funding streams through strategic project planning
• Maintained and expanded the international Pixelache network
  ‍

Network Development

A significant portion of my work involved maintaining and growing Pixelache's extensive network of artists, cultural producers, and activists. This included:

• Facilitating international partnerships
• Supporting peer-to-peer knowledge exchange
• Developing collaborative projects across disciplines
• Nurturing connections within the wider Pixelache network
• Presenting the organization and its work in various venues and events

‍

About Pixelache Helsinki

Pixelache Helsinki is a transdisciplinary platform for emerging art, design, research, and activism. Since 2002, the Pixelache Helsinki Festival has brought together artists, thinkers, and activists around topics as varied as code-based art, open-source cultures, bioarts, grassroots organizing, and experimental environmental practices. The name “Pixelache,” derived from a Finnish word meaning "an overdose of digital media," reflects Pixelache's mission: to challenge the dominant digital narrative and to engage with issues that confront contemporary society.

Reflection

‍My time at Pixelache was foundational, allowing me to explore the intersections of art, technology, and ecological activism. This experience, deeply rooted in curatorial and community-driven practices, has influenced my approach to working across disciplines, prioritizing sustainable models for work and fostering collaboration.