The Finnish Institute in London and the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York started an international exchange and mobility programme for culture sector professionals.

MOBIUS is a fellowship programme for visual arts, museum and archives professionals based in New York, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Finland. The programme enables transatlantic mobility and collaborative practices and supports long-lasting professional relationships. Mobius is a three-year programme organised by the Finnish Institute in London and the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York.

The first fellows chosen to take part in the programme are Claire Gould (Helsinki Art Museum), Freelance researcher Satu Itkonen who has specialised in museum education, researcher Eriika Johansson (Museum of Finnish Architecture), curator Jonna Strandberg (Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art), museum director Maria Koskijoki (Helinä Rautavaara museum), development director Tuomas Olkku (Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre), museum educator Erja Salo (The Finnish Museum of Photography), archivist Alison Spence (Cornwall Record Office) and programme director Sam Watson (Circa Projects).

MOBIUS supports opening up of cultural data sets, meaningful networking and sharing knowledge. One of the main agendas is to develop current modes of operation in the fields of visual arts, museums and archives: ranging from up-and-coming to prominent, from independent to institutional. The programme offers culture sector professionals a unique opportunity to gain valuable international experience through a multi-institutional model of peer-to-peer learning.

Dr Susanna Pettersson, the director of the Finnish Institute in London says: “It is essential to test different ideas and practices in an international context. MOBIUS will create networks and knowledge that will benefit the whole culture sector in Finland, the UK, Ireland and the US.“

The key results will be shared during the programme at m0bius.net and in a publication, which will be compiled after the programme.

MOBIUS is generously supported by the Kone Foundation and by the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland.