The year 2020 marks 75 years since Tove Jansson wrote her first story about the Moomins, “The Moomins and the Great Flood”. To celebrate the anniversary, Moomin Characters Ltd together with its partners is launched the #OURSEA campaign to help the Baltic Sea.
The goal is to collect one million euros for John Nurminen Foundation’s work to save the Baltic Sea and its cultural heritage for future generations and the campaign continues on until July 31st, 2021. Here’s the list of events of the upcoming #OURSEA events in 2020-2021.
Ongoing events
Maretarium: Tove and the allure of the sea, Kotka
– end of 2020
As a part of the collaboration regarding the #OURSEA-campaign, the Kotka-based museum Maretarium has set up an exhibition which focuses on Tove’s life in the Finnish archipelago. The exhibition is displayed until the end of 2020.
Further reading and tickets.
Tampere Moomin Museum: Moomin’s sea exhibition.
February 15, 2020 – January 31, 2021
It is common knowledge that Tove Jansson drew inspiration from the Baltic Sea. Tampere Moomin Museum takes a look at the Moomins’ nature-loving lifestyle through a selection of Jansson’s original illustrations, featuring images of the Moomin characters embarking on adventurous sea voyages and enjoying picnics on rocky shores.
The exhibition is open to the public between 15.2.2020 – 31.1.2021.
More information.
Moomin at Maritime museum, Stockholm
March 6 – December 31st, 2020
On the 6th of March Maritime museum is opening a family trail in co-operation with Moomin Characters and John Nurminen Foundation where you can follow Moomin illustrations through the museum and learn about the Baltic Sea, it’s preservation and life at sea. Here you can donate money, follow the campaign and see where the money is going.
National Museum: Courage, Freedom, Love!
August 14, 2020 – February 28, 2021
75 years ago Tove Jansson created the Moomin characters but the values conveyed through the stories – friendship, love, respect towards nature, adventurous desire, equality, freedom and courage – are to this day present in society. The National Museums exhibition, which opens on August 14th is a magical venture into the way of life and philosophy of the Moomins. The illustrations and quotes are based off of Tove Jansson’s original work.
Read more.
Wasa teater: The invisible child
Premiered on September 5th
The story of The Invisible Child tells about Ninni who has turned invisible after being treated poorly. The care received by the Moominfamily slowly turns her visible again. The Invisible Child is a play about alienation and about being seen. Wasa Teaters production of the play is a touring puppet show. The tour is set during the fall of 2020 in kindergartens around Ostrobothnia and features the actress Susanne Marins.
Ticket can be bought here.
Events in October
Digibarn (underBARA BARN), online
October 23–27, 2020
The underBARA BARN fair will take a digital form and become Digibarn. The Moomin page will highlight the #OURSEA-campaign with banners, encouraging people to donate to the campaign, shop #OURSEA products and tips for children on how to help save #OURSEA.
Year 2021
Events in February
Emma Klingenberg: Tove Jansson – The Lyricist.
February 27th, 2021, Jakobstad
Emma Klingenberg has studied Tove Jansson’s lyrics for quite some time and she finally presented her findings in the form of a concert in Svenska Teatern in Helsinki. Now she is planning on taking the concert further north, to the city of Jakobstad.
Buy your tickets
Further reading
Events in April
ProMartat: Rubbish picking day.
April 17, 2021. 12 o’clock, Seurasaari.
The Baltic Sea is one of the most polluted seas across the globe but by combining our efforts there is still hope in saving #OURSEA.
ProMartat are partaking in the #OURSEA-campaign and as part of the collaboration they are organising a rubbish picking day at Seurasaari where members and friends are invited. For more information and registration, please email: promartat@hotmail.com
Events in May
Skolmusik 2021, Jakobstad.
May 6-8, 2021
As part of the Moomins 75-year anniversary, Moomin Characters have given the organisers access to previously unreleased texts by the author Tove Jansson. The theme for this year’s Skolmusik is the ocean and the environment and Tove’s texts that have been set to music tell about the sea and her passion about it. The newly composed songs are part of a repertoire consisting of eleven pieces that are going to be performed by pupils during the event.
Child Fair, Messukeskus.
May 7–9, 2021
The #OURSEA-campaign is participating in the Child Fair, at our department you will find a vivid sea-experience and when diving behind the seaweed you will find out how we together can save #OURSEA.
Events in June
Midsummer Madness, Töölö Bay.
June 21st, 2021
Starting on Midsummer Eve afternoon and continuing throughout the night, you will get to experience firsthand how Moomin tales, Finnish culture and Midsummer traditions are intertwined. Midsummer Madness showcases music and performing arts from all around Europe with the main venue being a floating stage in the middle of Töölö Bay. The Midsummer Eve afternoon is filled with things to do and see for the whole family while the evening programme is for adults, in the spirit of Moominpappa’s adventures. The mainland in Hesperia park hosts different activities, workshops and installations that encourage visitors to explore Finnish culture and way of life.
Events in July
Tove Jansson – The lyricist.
Maritime Centre Vellamo
July 31st, 2021
After extensive research in Tove Jansson’s poems, Emma Klingenberg will for the first time present her finds in Finnish. Accompanied by the pianist Ralf Nyqvist, the duo is set to perform next to Toves Victoria-boat in the Maritime Centre Vellamo’s boathall.
Ticket release and more information to be announced.
More events will be announced soon!