Finnish Theatre Information Centre

The Finnish Theatre Information Centre TINFO is a non-governmental organisation for the professional theatre field in Finland where theatres work in the two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. At the core of TINFO’s activities are the promotion of Finnish theatre and playwriting and international collaborations. TINFO commissions new drama translations, organises training for drama translators and supports the international exchange of Finnish theatre companies and artists.

TINFO collects and diffuses information about Finnish theatre. A solid backbone of information is provided by the files and statistics kept since the 1940s; this archive expanded from initially modest spectator statistics to satisfy the present-day needs of theatres and decision-makers. The yearly statistics now cover repertory, spectator, employee and economic figures. TINFO also edits publications which serve as tools for practitioners and guides for theatre lovers. 

TINFO is a member of many international networks; it organises international conferences and seminars, and collaborates with festivals.

 

The Finnish Theatre Information Centre is funded by the Culture Department of the Finnish Ministry of Education. For projects, publications or events the Centre applies for additional funding from cultural funds, European Commission funds and other sources; for bigger events even partnership funding and sponsoring are used as financing models. 

TINFO’s premises are at the so-called Theatre Corner, a building in the centre of Helsinki owned by theatre organisations. The unions of both theatre employers and employees, the associations of established theatres as well as those of independent theatre groups all have their offices under the same roof. In addition to the Finnish Centre of ITI and the Nordic Theatre Union, the Theatre Corner also houses two other national centres of international organisations: OISTAT and ASSITEJ.

 

As an organisation TINFO’s roots go back to the 1940’s. Today it has 14 member organisations representing the whole professional bilingual theatre field in Finland. This allows TINFO to respond competently to the national and international information needs regarding the ever changing world of Finnish theatre.

 

The password to open the doors of Finnish theatre is TINFO.

 

TINFO shares information about events, new or classical plays, interesting artists, arts education or possible collaboration partners.