In 2024, ABOAGORA kicked off a new thematic series, The Planets. The theme is based on the orchestral suite of the same name by the composer Gustav Holst (1874–1934), composed between 1914 and 1917. Each of the composition’s seven movements famously represents a planet in our solar system, bringing forth various ideas, myths and dreams connected to the celestial bodies and the astrological characters associated with them. The series will continue all the way to 2030.

In 2025, Aboagora will focus in Venus, the Bringer of Peace. As a continuation of the previous year’s war theme, Mars, the main event at Sibelius Museum on 10th–12th September deals with peace, détente, conflict resolution, peaceful coexistence between peoples and different species, as well as inner peace and well-being. In addition to peace, Venus has been linked to beauty, love, and fertility, to name a few associations, as well as the carnivorous plant Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)!

ABOAGORA program will consist of interdisciplinary dialogues, keynotes, presentations, and panels, artistic performances and sessions, as well as workshops, all presenting different scientific and artistic perspectives on peace.

The full program of ABOAGORA 2025 will be published on this page in spring 2025. Be the first to know about Aboagora’s program release by joining our mailing list here!

OPEN CALL

SUBMIT A PROGRAM PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR’S ABOAGORA EVENT!

Aboagora is an international art and science event that takes place annually at the Sibelius Museum in Turku. In 2024–2030, Aboagora will realise a thematic entity titled The Planets, which draws its inspiration from Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite of the same name. The annual themes are based on the seven movements of the suite, providing inspiration and a thematic starting point for each year’s events:

2024:  Mars, the Bringer of War
2025:  Venus, the Bringer of Peace
2026:  Mercury, the Winged Messenger
2027:  Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
2028:  Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
2029:  Uranus, the Magician
2030:  Neptune, the Mystic

Next in the series we have Venus, the Bringer of Peace, on September 10–12, 2025, and now is the time to apply to be a part of the program! Submit your session proposal via Webropol latest by January 19 here.

You can submit your proposal in Finnish, Swedish or English. The main language of the event is English. Aboagora’s Curatorial Committee will be in touch directly to all proposals in spring 2025.

The sessions in Aboagora approach the annually changing themes both literally and metaphorically through various scholarly and artistic viewpoints. The program can include panel discussions, lectures, performances, excursions, concerts, workshops, and various combinations of these, and we are open to many kinds of proposals. In curating the program, we emphasise the variety of different artistic and scholarly viewpoints, as well as each session’s connection to the theme and the overall balance and diversity of the program.

Aboagora covers performers travel and accommodation costs for performance days as is mutually agreed, and pays all performers a small fee for the performance / session. Please note that we are unable to finance the work of a working group.

For inspiration, you can get to know the previous years’ programs here.
With any questions, please contact us at: aboagora@utu.fi

We’re looking forward to your proposals!