My Oulu: Bothnian Arc collaboration aims to join cultural climate change

Although entry to the future Oulu Housing Fair area in Hartaanselkä is still restricted, participants of the Bothnian Arc annual meeting were treated to an exclusive guided tour led by Housing Fair project manager Hanna Mattila. The delegation, made up of representatives from Bothnian Arc municipalities, gathered in Oulu for the association’s annual meeting. Despite strong northern winds, attendees enthusiastically toured the emerging urban villa neighborhood being built on Oulu’s prime waterfront real estate.

Mirja Vehkaperä (Centre Party), Chair of Oulu City Council, could not hide her satisfaction as she walked through the future Housing Fair area.

“This is exactly what we envisioned—this area is stunning! I’m sure it will become a favorite spot for many locals,” Vehkaperä remarked as the group admired the still-under-construction ”Siivenkantama” bridge and its surroundings.

Vehkaperä will continue as chair of the Bothnian Arc board for the coming year. The association’s leadership rotates every two years between Luleå and Oulu. Just like the grand ambitions for the Hartaanselkä shoreline, the cross-border collaboration within the Bothnian Arc is setting its sights high. The municipalities along the Bothnian Bay aim to collaborate on several thematic fronts—including the sea itself.

“The most visible and tangible result for citizens last year was the Save the Bothnian Bay event held in Kuusisaari at the end of August as part of Baltic Sea Day. At the same time, we celebrated 50 years of basic education in Oulu,” says Satu Haapanen, network coordinator for the Bothnian Arc.

Baltic Sea Day is an annual celebration initiated by the John Nurminen Foundation to encourage governments, businesses, municipalities, and citizens to protect the Baltic Sea — one of the most polluted seas in the world. While the condition of the Bothnian Bay is not as dire, the Bothnian Arc Association wants to draw attention to its preservation through the Save the Bothnian Bay campaign. Environmental efforts must begin now—before problems escalate.

Collaboration is a team sport

While the Save the Bothnian Bay campaign aims to engage all residents, much of the Bothnian Arc cooperation takes place behind the scenes and on a long-term basis. One such example is the Bothnian Arc Traffic Vision, developed through a project funded by Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Council of Oulu Region from 2021 to 2023. As a result of this visioning effort, the Bothnian Arc Transport Forum was launched last year. This forum brings together 30 transport and logistics actors to explore how travel chains and infrastructure can be improved between Finland and Sweden.

“The Transport Forum and the Save the Bothnian Bay event are visible examples of our collaboration. But beyond that, we’re also working on joint solutions to strengthen citizen participation and regional competitiveness and expertise. Tourism development and cultural cooperation have long been at the heart of Bothnian Arc activities,” explains Anne Rännäli-Kontturi, Head of International Affairs for the City of Oulu.

The Bothnian Arc also has a dedicated programme for youth, recognizing the shared concern across northern municipalities: how to keep the region attractive to young people. Last year, a Finnish-Swedish youth group went on a joint study trip to the Kiruna Space Research Center. This year, the aim is to offer more cross-border opportunities for youth.

“We also plan to increase cross-border collaboration among schools, students, and student councils. Another large Save the Bothnian Bay event is planned for the end of August,” adds coordinator Haapanen.

This multifaceted nature of cross-border cooperation—environmental, educational, logistical, and cultural—could well be described as a multisport challenge. So what is the association’s special focus for the upcoming year?

“We certainly want to be part of the cultural climate change —that is, we are exploring how the association can participate in the Oulu2026 cultural programme. Each of our member municipalities has fantastic cultural activities that we want to highlight. We plan to submit our proposal to the ‘We are the Culture’ open programme call,” states Chair Vehkaperä.

Whether Bothnian Arc municipalities or cultural players will be visibly featured in the European Capital of Culture events next year remains to be seen. For now, the focus is on digesting the offerings of the Oulu Housing Fair area—and perhaps considering whether a similar construction-themed event could one day be hosted in northern Sweden. Such an initiative would certainly align with the strategic goals of the Bothnian Arc.

The Bothnian Arc is one of twelve border regions recognized by the Nordic Council of Ministers and is a member of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), alongside the Tornedalen Council. The association is funded by membership fees and by the Nordic Council of Ministers through border committee financing. The municipalities comprising the Bothnian Arc include Kalajoki, Raahe, Oulu, Ii, Simo, Kemi, Tervola, Tornio, Ylitornio, Haparanda, Kalix, Boden, Luleå, Piteå, and Skellefteå.