Behind ANTI
The first-ever ANTI Festival took place in October 2002 and was organised by the Arts Council of North Savo. The festival was built on a previous event organised by the council, The Arts Department Store, while also being inspired by other site-specific art projects that had taken place in the Kuopio region. Since then, the original idea of a multidisciplinary arts festival has grown into an independent association that works to promote contemporary art around the year. Behind ANTI one can find a group of employees, volunteers, and associates, whose enthusiasm and continued support in the last twenty years have made possible not only the annual festival but also the continuity of all other functions involving the association.
The artistic directors of ANTI Festival, Gregg Whelan and Johanna Tuukkanen. Tuukkanen has worked as the artistic director of ANTI since its beginning in 2002. Whelan was appointed her co-director in 2007 and will be leaving his position after the 2021 festival.
2008
Elisa Itkonen, ANTI Festival manager since 2015. Volunteering festival assistant Anna Heikkinen in the background.
2018
The first Live Art Prize winner Cassils. Also in the photo are Seppo Karvinen and Petra Karttunen of Saastamoinen Foundation, President of ANTI Association Kari Voutila, Chair of the 2014 jury Ruth Mackenzie, curator Antoine Pickels, and artistic directors Johanna Tuukkanen and Gregg Whelan.
2014
Festival volunteer Marleena Huuhka at a PechaKucha Night hosted by ANTI.
2016
Kim Saarinen, videographer for ANTI Festival since 2011.
2013
Johanna Tuukkanen, Gregg Whelan, and artist Terike Haapoja at the opening of her exhibition Gravitation .
2017
Production assistant Jyri Väisänen at Kai Syng Tan and Alan Latham's (UK) ANTI-ADULT RUN! RUN! RUN! event. Väisänen has also worked as the festival's producer and manager.
2015
Future DiverCities artists Davor Sanvincenti, Anniina Aunola, Joseph O'Farrell, and Eevi Tolvanen as well as regional artist Marika Räty with Elisa Itkonen, Johanna Tuukkanen, Gregg Whelan, production assistant Anna Lebedeva, and videographer Kim Saarinen at Koivula Sauna.
2017
Producer Suvi Koivisto and artist Loren Kronemyer.
2019
In the foreground, students of ANTI's partnership class Hatsala School 7E after Cuqui Jerez' (ES) performance The Phenomena of Fictitious Forces.
2019
President of ANTI Association Kari Voutila, Seppo Kääriäinen of Saastamoinen Foundation, and member of the Association Paavo Suokko with the artistic directors of the festival, celebrating the birth of the Live Art Prize. Alongside Saastamoinen the prize is also funded by Kone Foundation.
2013
Chair of the 2019 Live Art Prize jury Saara Turunen, and jury members Daniel Brine and Thomas F. DeFrantz.
2019
ANTI Festival manager Elisa Itkonen, and production assistants Emmi Tuppurainen and Piia Jokivarsi at the Festival Info.
2017
On the right, founding members of ANTI Festival Johanna Tuukkanen and Jere Ruotsalainen who also worked as the producer. On the left, Erkki Soininen, the artistic co-director of ANTI from 2002 to 2006
2002
The artistic directors of ANTI Festival, Gregg Whelan and Johanna Tuukkanen. Tuukkanen has worked as the artistic director of ANTI since its beginning in 2002. Whelan was appointed her co-director in 2007 and will be leaving his position after the 2021 festival.
2008
Elisa Itkonen, ANTI Festival manager since 2015. Volunteering festival assistant Anna Heikkinen in the background.
2018
The first Live Art Prize winner Cassils. Also in the photo are Seppo Karvinen and Petra Karttunen of Saastamoinen Foundation, President of ANTI Association Kari Voutila, Chair of the 2014 jury Ruth Mackenzie, curator Antoine Pickels, and artistic directors Johanna Tuukkanen and Gregg Whelan.
2014
Festival volunteer Marleena Huuhka at a PechaKucha Night hosted by ANTI.
2016
Kim Saarinen, videographer for ANTI Festival since 2011.
2013
Johanna Tuukkanen, Gregg Whelan, and artist Terike Haapoja at the opening of her exhibition Gravitation .
2017
Production assistant Jyri Väisänen at Kai Syng Tan and Alan Latham's (UK) ANTI-ADULT RUN! RUN! RUN! event.
2015
Future DiverCities artists Davor Sanvincenti, Anniina Aunola, Joseph O'Farrell, and Eevi Tolvanen as well as regional artist Marika Räty with Elisa Itkonen, Johanna Tuukkanen, Gregg Whelan, production assistant Anna Lebedeva, and videographer Kim Saarinen at Koivula Sauna.
2017
Producer Suvi Koivisto and artist Loren Kronemyer.
2019
Petteri Laitinen, one of ANTI's videographers from the early years of the festival.
2006
In the foreground, students of ANTI's partnership class Hatsala School 7E after Cuqui Jerez' (ES) performance The Phenomena of Fictitious Forces.
2019
President of ANTI Association Kari Voutila, Seppo Kääriäinen of Saastamoinen Foundation, and member of the Association Paavo Suokko with the artistic directors of the festival, celebrating the birth of the Live Art Prize. Alongside Saastamoinen the prize is also funded by Kone Foundation.
2013
Chair of the 2019 Live Art Prize jury Saara Turunen, and jury members Daniel Brine and Thomas F. DeFrantz.
2019
ANTI Festival manager Elisa Itkonen, and production assistants Emmi Tuppurainen and Piia Jokivarsi at the Festival Info.
2017
On the right, founding members of ANTI Festival Johanna Tuukkanen and Jere Ruotsalainen who also worked as the producer. On the left, Erkki Soininen, the artistic co-director of ANTI from 2002 to 2006
2002