Students at Turku University's Arts Academy are doing their part to help turn the spotlight on Turku next year. They're working on fire drawings to light up the cityscape.
Their instructor, Ellen Turner, says each fire sculpture is unique and designed with care.
"In January, the fire drawing will be approximately 100 to 150 metres long and it will hang from the cliff face, from the Wärtsilä shipyard, and it will take up most of that cliff face," says Turner, Project Chair of the UK production company Walk the Plank.
Some 200 students and 20 to 30 members of Walk the Plank will be needed to pull off the event. Wintry conditions are posing challenges to event organisers.
"The weather, always the weather. The biggest enemy is wind. It makes everything very, very difficult. But also, a lot of our crew will come from the UK, so they won't necessarily be used to be working in such a cold environment,” explains Turner.
Turku officially turns into a European Capital of Culture in January, sharing the honour with Tallinn, Estonia. From fire drawing exhibitions, to literary events, music, theatre and dance, the city is leaving no cultural corner untouched.