Töölönlahti Leisure District – Managing multiple expectations and creating a joint story. Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.

Since the beginning of HEISE project, the Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki has piloted challenge-solving process within two different topics and course contents: audience development and cultural planning. Whereas the challenge-solving processes within audience development were more like one-time engagements with the challenge-owners, the cultural planning course started a long-term engagement with the city of Helsinki. The city is committed to develop the cultural and leisure district of Töölönlahti area and the arts management students were engaged to study the expectations of nearly 30 institutions operating in the area. The students interviewed the directors of these cultural, sports and leisure institutions and wrote summaries of the interviews. This turned out to be a win-win situation for both the city of Helsinki and the students.