Info

About the Festival

VERSO Festival is a new multi-arts youth festival in Joensuu, organized by Pohjois-Karjalan kansanteatteri Pokka. The three-day festival takes place during the darkest time of the year in late November. It features workshops, music, community art, and visiting performances.

The festival’s content is specifically aimed at young people aged 13–18 in North Karelia, a group that often falls outside the region’s cultural offerings. Instead of massive productions, the artistic focus is on smaller, intimate performances, participatory workshops, and other artistic acts that empower youth agency. The program is diverse, high-quality, and partially selected and implemented by the youth themselves.

Admission

Free admission to all festival events.

Venues

Venues for this year’s event will be published later.

Principles of safer space

We want everyone to feel respected, safe, and welcome at our events. Together, we strive to create a space where no one is discriminated against or bullied, where everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and express themselves, and where oppressive or aggressive behavior is addressed.

Everyone has the right to receive help and a responsibility to intervene in behavior that creates insecurity or is discriminatory. Ask others for help if intervening alone feels difficult.
We ensure that our language and actions do not offend others.
We do not make assumptions about anyone’s identity, ability, gender, sexual orientation, or background.
It is okay to make mistakes; things can be clarified by asking.
Everyone has the right to be heard and met as themselves.
We call for gentle communication and respect for humanity and individuality.
Despite good intentions, our actions may sometimes negatively affect others. We are open to questioning structures and thought patterns through dialogue.
We do not tolerate the use of racist or otherwise discriminatory symbols in our spaces.
If you encounter harassment or inappropriate treatment, please report it immediately to the event organizers.