Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber begins work as Internationalisation Expert

Promoting the internationalisation of the arts and culture has become a strategic focus of Taike, which is now refining its related activities. The goal is to prepare an overall picture of international activities and the division of duties in Finland and based on that to define Taike’s strategic role in promoting the internationalisation of the arts and culture. Pirkkalainen-Barber’s job is to clarify the current activities of organisations that promote internationalism and assess whether there are gaps between them where Taike should take a role.

“Internationalisation is one of the key focus areas of Taike's new strategy, which is why we now need very special expertise to strengthen our international activities and identify different dimensions of internationalisation. We are happy to have Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber pilot Taike’s international activities,” says Kaisa Rönkkö, Director of Taike.

Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber moves to Taike from her previous position as Head of Finnish Film Affair, an export and industry event for Finnish films and series, which she joined in 2019. In addition, she has also been in charge of the Nordic training initiative Nordic Flair, which most recently focused on actors.

Pirkkalainen-Barber has extensive experience with the internationalisation of the creative industries and has previously worked for the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, the Foreign Ministry of Finland, the British Film Institute and Finland’s culture-themed channel Yle Teema. She has also worked as an entrepreneur and a project and marketing manager, researched funding structures of the arts and culture, and been on the jury for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

She holds a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration degree from Aalto University School of Business, as well as a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki. She divides her time between Helsinki and Kimitoön.

Further information:
Kaisa Rönkkö, Director, [email protected], p. 0295 330 874