"Connected" in Valssaamo, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki

The Cable Factory was built during 1939-1954 and was at that time the largest building in Finland. In the 1960s Nokia set up production here until 1980s when they shut down the plant. During a transitional period the empty spaces were rented out to artists amongst others and there were serious plans to demolish at least parts of the factory. In order to preserve the factory artists and other influential cultural persons established the Pro Kaapeli association. This grassroots action attracted a lot of media attention and succeeded in preserving the factory with its valuable industrial environment. In 1991 the building of the old cable factory was converted into a cultural centre. It houses 3 museums (Museum of Photography, Theatre Museum, Hotel- and Restaurant Museum), 12 art galleries, numerous artist studios, workshops, dance studios, art schools, Helsinki Society of Artists and Institut francais de Finlande. Around 900 people work at Kaapeli on a daily basis and it has over 200,000 visitors a year.