Pixelache, kiasma 3. & 5.4.: .alternative economy cultures

The ‘Alternative Economy Cultures’ (alt.econ.cult) programme on April 3rd & 5th brings together leading international and Finnish thinkers, cultural practitioners and activists, to present alternative economic visions.

The seminar aims to tackle not just the financial, but the social, cultural, institutional, human, material, emotional and intellectual forms of capital. Not just about individual gain, boosting, balancing or bail-outs, but common good, peer-to-peer, shared wealth and appropriate reward for effort involved.

Cultural production and social-networking, especially the digital online versions of the recent decade, have promoted new ideas of wealth, opportunity, scarcity, and exchange. Importantly, it also reminds us of old ones. Surrounding those ideas are developing practices, cultures and entrepreneurship.

Market-led capitalism and state-led socialism have both crashed in spectacular forms over the last 30 years. We are currently amid financial crisis where virtual credit affects physical and emotional health. These systems have proven to be unsustainable in their use of resources and people, and lead towards environmental and economic collapse.

Can we move forward in a sustainable and ethical way, leaving behind inequalities, appropriation and exploitation?

See The Pixelache page for detailed program and more info

The gnomes for the gift economy!

A group of gnomes will arrive at Pori to launch a campaign in favor of gift economy on Wednesday 17.12. ”The Worried Xmas Gnomes Manifest” will be handed to people on the streets. The campaign will continue in the 3H+K -gallery at 16 with a gift workshop and a discussion titled ”Gift Economy NOW!, and the concert Free Santa that begins at 20. The campaing is part of the Pori festivalweeks organised by the Nyte association. The event is free, and everybody is most welcome to participate!

Gift Workshop
We will work on the idea of a gift, and produce gifts where the thought matters most. You won’t have to rub off the pricetag from these immaterial gifts!

Gift Economy NOW!
What is a gift economy? Could it be a realistic possiblity in the future?
The ongoing economic crises has undermined the trust in the blessings of global capitalims preached by the high priests of capitalist economy. The system needs a change – where can we find alternatives? Could economy be built on the gift instead of exchange?
The discussion is started by a videoconnection by Andrius Kulikauskas, the founder of Mincius Sodas laboratory sitauted in Bosnia-Herzegovina and author of the book An Economy for Giving Everything Away. After that free discussion moderated by Hurðaskellir, from the International Movement of Xmas Gnomes.

Free Santa concert
Musical performances, gnostic gnoming and other such entertainment. Free Santa from the business and advertisement hounds!

Hurðaskellir

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN CREATIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

University of Art and Design Helsinki – School of Art and Media Pori
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN CREATIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT


PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
Master’s degree programme in Creative Business Management offers multidisciplinary expertise in managing creative processes and business in the creative economy. Creative economy is primarily a field of immaterial production, where general human abilities – communication, language, affections, relations – become the fundamental productive force. Our perspective is on the user becoming a decisive factor in production processess, and applying design methods to production processes themselves and not merely to product development. The studies focus on diverse issues of production, from concept design to media production and knowledge and brand management, and management of creative processes and research of immaterial production from a user-centered perspective. The programme is offered in collaboration with Turku School of Economics, Pori Unit which provides a multidisciplinary study environment for the students. The students will build contacts with the local industry and commerce and do project work in cooperation with companies from Satakunta region.


WHO CAN APPLY
The program is aimed at students who have successfully completed their bachelor’s degree or a polytechnic degree in the field of cultural production, media, design or other applicable discipline or have by other means achieved similar qualifications. In addition, the applicants should prove their experience of creative work and/or leading creative teams or an enterprise in the creative field.


PROGRAMME AIMS
The core aim of the programme is to educate experts in human-centered design processes, who understand the logic of immaterial production and are familiar with commercial principles, and able to apply their knowledge in practice. The learning objectives of the programme are:

1. Graduates of the programme understand the features and functions of creative economy and creative industries. They are skilled in user-centered and innovative product and service design and are able to create sustainable enterprise.

2. Graduates are able to function in multicultural and -disciplinary teams and understand cultural differences between disciplines and professional fields. They are able to recognise the rich interfaces between sciences and fields and to facilitate constructive dialogue.

3. Graduates grasp the phases of creative design processes, understand the conditions of creative work and are able to facilitate the building of creative surroundings. They understand the role of creativity in organisations and their development.

4. The programme offers a value sensitive, participatory and active environment, which allows differences in opinions. This educates experts with good interaction skills, who can articulate their ideas in a clear fashion and offer constructive criticism. Their leadership skills are well developed and they are able to create and upkeep an open and appreciative working culture.


WORK PROSPECTS
After graduating, the attendees can work in a variety of positions in the creative field, and also in traditional industry and service sector, and as researchers of creative economy in research institutions. Their work prospects are enhanced through their connections to companies built during projects and active interest and gathered expertise in specific tasks and positions.


STUDY STRUCTURE
The two-year, 120 credit degree programme in Creative Business Management leads to a master’s degree in arts (MA).

The structure of the degree programme consists of major subject studies (media production), multidisciplinary integrative studies and minor studies offered by other units at the University Consortium of Pori. Study methods include workshops, projects, practice work, intensive courses, lectures and personal guidance. Students are guided using a personal study plan, which helps them find their individual study paths and required professional competencies. The students also follow their progress through digital portfolio work.


LANGUAGES
The programme will be taught in Finnish and English..

APPLICATION PROCESS
The application deadline for the CBM degree programme is annually between January and February. A maximum of ten MA students are chosen to the programme through a two-phased admission process. In the first phase the applicants send in a completed application form with attached copies of degree certificates, a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest (A4) and a portfolio presenting their work. The portfolio must contain the documentation of participation in a media or cultural on other similar production. In the second phase the applicants are asked to write an essay on a related theme and present their portfolio in an interview.


CRITERIA OF ADMISSION
In the portfolio and admission test the student should demonstrate talent, motivation and development potential in the field of visual culture, media, design or other applicable fields and critical and analytical thinking skills. The evaluation also takes in regard the work and study experience of the applicant and their view on creative work and its management.


ADMISSION IN 2009
A maximum of 10 students.