Oulu’s professional puppet theatre faces closure amid funding cuts during city’s year as cultural capital

The internationally recognised Akseli Klonk puppet theatre in Oulu may be forced to shut down after its public funding collapsed, despite the city’s status as a 2026 European Capital of Culture, Yle reports.

The theatre’s annual base grant has been slashed from €128,000 to €35,000, with the national Arts Promotion Centre Finland rejecting its general subsidy application entirely. Oulu city council also halved its support, citing the theatre’s €47,000 debt—partly stemming from its artistic director’s serious illness in 2023.

Akseli Klonk, known for its puppet and object theatre productions for children and young audiences, expanded its programming to include adult events in its rented Klonkka space. Yet director Janne Kuustie said the city’s stricter funding criteria now exclude such activities from public support.

“Without proper grants, we can’t maintain year-round professional operations,” Kuustie told Yle, noting that ticket sales alone cannot cover salaries, rent, or materials. The theatre has launched a membership campaign and benefit concerts to survive.

Oulu’s cultural director Katariina Kummala called the situation “sad” but insisted the city’s cultural capital image remains intact, pointing to investments like the central library’s children’s culture hub. However, Aleksi Valta of the Finnish Children’s Culture Association warned that shrinking public arts funding risks pushing young audiences toward commercial social media.

The crisis follows earlier cuts to Oulu’s children’s culture sector, including the cancellation of a long-running theatre festival and a national dance showcase after state funding ended.