General Info
1. THE TEACHING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE
2. TUITION, HOUSING, AND MEALS
2.1. Tuition
2.2. Housing
2.3. Meals
3. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
4. APPLICATION PROCESS
4.1. APPLICATION
4.2. REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
4.3. WAIT LIST
4.4. DISCOUNT
4.5. COMPANIONS
4.6. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
4.7. COVID
5. PRACTICAL WORKSHOP INFORMATION
5.1. LANGUAGE
5.2. WHAT TO BRING
5.3. HEALTH AND SAFETY
5.4. INSURANCE
5.5. SCHEDULES
MORE INFORMATION
1. THE TEACHING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE
SUOMENVALO Workshops schedules are designed by the teachers for lectures, shooting excursions, editing sessions, individual and group discussions, critiques and the like. Classes are limited to 14 students per class to ensure an intimate environment for learning, allowing each student to have individual, spontaneous and scheduled, time with the teacher on numerous occasions.
2. TUITION, HOUSING, AND MEALS
2.1. Tuition
Each workshop is priced at €1,250. See below for application and registration procedure. Tuition includes an allowance for the printing of three 40x 50 cm prints during the workshop. Students can order more prints at their own expense.
2.2 Housing
SUOMENVALO Workshops offers different housing options within the local community of Paltaniemi village. The lodging locations will be at walking or biking distance away from Puistola campus. There are slight variances between the rooms, but all have their unique charm and atmosphere. Most rooms are equipped with a private bathroom; some have a shared bathroom. The cost of the rooms varies from € 20 to € 60 per night. Hotel lodging in the city of Kajaani 8 kilometers away ranges from € 90 to € 160 per night.
2.3. Meals
Meals are an important communal experience at SUOMENVALO Workshops: to relax, exchange opinions and ideas with fellow students and your teacher(s).
The charge for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus wine served during the meals, as well as coffee, tea, and water available during the day is € 55 per day. We can accommodate most culinary needs, such as special diets, vegetarian and vegan when notified in advance.
3. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Most students will arrive by air from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport. The Sunday 4.30 pm flight on Finnair arrives in Kajaani at 5.50 pm. Students will be met at the airport and board a ten-minute shuttle bus to their specific accommodations in Paltaniemi Village where they will meet their host families. Students arriving by Inter City train direct from Helsinki leaving 11.19 am will be met at the Kajaani Railway Station at 5.32 pm. (These times are based on being in Kajaani in time for getting settled before dinner in Puistola).
At 7.30 pm there will be a welcome orientation at the Puistola campus where you will meet your teacher(s) and fellow students. This social event will be followed by a lovely inaugural dinner after which your teacher(s) will gather everyone together for introductions and a brief overview of the workshop. The day-to-day workshop schedules appears below. The return Flight from Kajaani to Helsinki on Saturday leaves from Kajaani Airport 11.05 am and arrives to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport at 2.20 pm.
4. APPLICATION PROCESS
4.1. APPLICATION
To apply for a place in one (or more) of the workshops, we’d like to learn a little bit about your background in photography, know the reason for your chosen workshop(s), and get a chance to view some of your work. Please send us the application form (box below). We will notify you on the status of your application after we have reviewed it. Workshops are limited to 14 students at which point we will start a waiting list for accepted students.
4.2. REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
Once accepted into a workshop, the registration process requires a deposit of € 600 through our on-line registration form or by calling Kimmo Koskela +358 40 413 1188, in which case a registration form will be sent to you by email. The balance of the € 1250 tuition is due 40 days before the beginning of your workshop. If you prefer, you may also pay the total amount of the workshop at the time of registration.
4.3. WAIT LIST
Once a workshop fills, we will open up a wait list in case of any last-minute cancellations. You will be entered on the wait list once we have received your registration form, but a deposit is not required. We will keep you updated on any openings.
4.4. DISCOUNT
Should you decide to take more than one workshop, for each additional workshop we can offer 10% off.
4.5. COMPANIONS
It is possible, and encouraged, to come with a companion, such as members of your family or friends, who will not be attending classes or taking part in the workshops. Our staff would be happy to help arrange hotel or independent housing in the village for students with companions.
4.6. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
Rarely is a cancellation the result of not reaching the minimum number of students to hold a workshop class. In these cases, students can choose either to be fully reimbursed or transferred to another workshop. If you decide to cancel for any reason, you will be reimbursed for all fees less € 80 for administrative expenses, provided cancellation is received in writing at least 40 days before the starting date of the workshop, after which time you will forfeit your down payment. There will be no refund of any fee for withdrawing after the workshop has begun.
5. PRACTICAL WORKSHOP INFORMATION
5.1. LANGUAGE
All courses are held in English. Finns are happy to speak English.
5.2. WHAT TO BRING
Bring photographic equipment you normally use, including a laptop with external hard drive for image transfers. While there are few stores in Kajaani for camera and computer needs, make sure your equipment is in perfect working condition.
Summer in Finland is often very pleasant with 20C -25C degree temperatures, but it can be cooler at night during dinner and post-dinner slide shows. Rain is a reality here too.
5.3. HEALTH AND SAFETY
We monitor international restrictions and apply all necessary precautions and best practices during the workshop. Should the workshop be cancelled for Covid-related issues, you will be refunded for all fees in full.
5.4. INSURANCE
SUOMENVALO Workshops is not liable for personal injuries or equipment damage during the workshop. The signing of the registration form releases SUOMENVALO Workshops from any liability whatsoever. SUOMENVALO Workshops is not responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses in case a workshop is cancelled. We recommend that you buy refundable air or train tickets and/or travel insurance. Please check with your travel agent.
5.5. SCHEDULES
The general schedule for the week is centered around mealtimes and daily pre-dinner social hours and/or sauna nights.
Breakfast (Monday to Saturday), 8:30 to 9:30 am
Lunch (Monday to Friday), 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Dinner (Monday to Friday), 8:00 pm
Teacher Slide Show (Wednesday), 10.00 pm
Friday dinner, student slideshow & wrap party 9.00 pm
Last class meeting (Saturday), 9.00 to 10.00 am
The one-week workshop ends on Saturday morning in time to catch trains and planes back to Helsinki. Except for those staying for more than one week, all students should be packed and checked out from their lodging before breakfast.
The Rain House
Should the clouds turn darker, maybe you’ll be out shooting and lucky enough to catch the sound of rain returning to its source down by the lake. Or you’ll hunker down with your computer to edit that morning’s breakthrough, or head for the Rain House to print it. It’s where the kids used to rush to paint watercolors at the third sound of thunder. The Rain House also doubles as a library, reading room, and teacher/ student chat room. There’s plenty to do at SUOMENVALO in any kind of weather. Perfect your dart throwing or bike to the Kajaani wooden church dating back to 1656, camera in tow. There will be plenty of wheels to pedal, a few rowboats to row, as well as watercolor paints, brushes, and paper.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, do not hesitate to contact us at our office.
office@suomenvaloworkshops.fi
SUOMENVALO Workshops
Pappilanniementie 191, 87850 Paltaniemi, Finland
Please, visit Kajaani Tourist Office for more information.
Don’t forget the sunglasses… you’re in SUOMENVALO, Finnish Light, of course!
© SUOMENVALO Workshops
