Vantaa Cultural Environment Programme

About

The city of Vantaa is located in the north of Helsinki, along the Vantaa River. It is part of the Helsinki metropole area and Finland’s fourth most populated city. Vantaa has a long and rich history, with evidence of habitation dating back to the Stone Age. Throughout Vantaa, there are approximately 1.200 sites recognised as having local, regional or national heritage significance. These sites include ancient remains, historic railway stations, churches and a WW1 fortress and represent the layered history of Vantaa. [2] Preservation of cultural heritage has been a critical aspect of the urban development strategy of Vantaa since the 1960s. As part of a response to ongoing urbanisation, an innovative methodology was sought to safeguard cultural heritage while ensuring citizen support and engagement. This resulted in Vantaa’s Cultural Environment Programme (Vantaan kulttuuriympäristölinjaukset). [2;3]

The Cultural Environment Programme represents a participatory approach to developing cultural heritage. The initiative seeks an understanding of the history, present and future of Vantaa’s cultural landscape. Through a three-year project (2018-2020), the city of Vantaa has facilitated the development of a set of guidelines that sets a vision, target state and set of measures for preservation and development of the cultural heritage of Vantaa. [2;3] To ensure citizen engagement, the first year of the project has experimented with different forms of participation, the successful ones being implemented on a more permanent basis later in the project [2]. A cross-sectoral approach has been followed to safeguard that heritage is part of different policy fields within the city. Over 100 city officials from various departments and 3.000 residents have participated in the programme throughout the three years. [1;2;3]

A total of 57 activities have been organised during the project. These include meetings focused on participatory planning and cultural activities, like historical walks and an exhibition at the Vantaa Museum. A set of mobile games has been developed for school children to learn more about their environment. Education of the cultural heritage of Vantaa has become part of the social integration programme for immigrants. Vantaa also enabled the adoption of monuments by local associations, an idea developed elsewhere in Finland and executed successfully in Vantaa. [2;3] The Cultural Environment Programme has improved processes for co-design of public policy, improved collaboration between different stakeholders and city offices, and a renewed awareness of and engagement with local cultural heritage by residents. [3]

Governance

The City of Vantaa has appointed a full-time project coordinator. The programme was overseen by a project steering group, including representatives from different policy areas within the city. Together, they appointed a combined 100 members of staff who have participated in the cross-sectoral discussion. Until 2024, a cross-sectoral committee will oversee the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the guidelines. [2;3] In addition to public employees, several community representatives from Vantaa-Seura, a local cultural heritage association, have been involved, as well as a range of local associations and cooperatives representing a range of public and private stakeholders in Vantaa. Through participatory events, 3.000 residents have been involved in drafting the guidelines. [2;3]

Business Model

A total of €216.000 has been invested in the programme. Of this, €168.000 was allocated to the core programme resulting in the guidelines. This funding was provided by the National Board of Antiquities (€40.000), and co-financed by the City of Vantaa and different public institutions connected to it, including Vantaa Land Use (€50.000), Culture and Education Services (€50.000), Vantaa City Museum (€28.000). [3] Next to that, the Vantaa City History Committee funded the development of the online games, worth €48.000. [3]