Sweat And Tears 2024
15.7.2024 16–21 @ Kulttuurisauna (Helsinki, FI)
On 15.7.2024 at 16–21 Kulttuurisauna is reserved for gender minorities, meaning everyone who is trans, non-binary, intersex, or gender non-conforming, as well as for their friends. This event is free, with an option to donate to the organizers with cash/mobile pay for costs.
The event offers safe embodiment, care and communality, bathing, swimming and releasing tensions into the sea. This time we don’t have music performances but we focus on the revitalizing effects of the sauna and bathing.
Sweat And Tears is a series of sauna gatherings, organized by and for trans people and their friends. The project was initiated by curator Orlan Ohtonen, artist Ignata Elana and Kulttuurisauna in 2022, aiming to develop Kulttuurisauna’s facilities and organizing towards safer access for trans people, who are often excluded from shared, collective and public sauna spaces. In 2023 the organising group is joined by Kaura Raudaskoski and Maru Paavola.
The sauna will be open 16–21 (last entry at 20). The sauna space is limited to max 50 people at once. Please give space to people who need these events to access sauna gatherings.
There will be vegan snacks in the lobby for the sauna-goers, free of cost.
Available by purchase: Low / non-alcoholic beer, soft drinks.
Bring with you
Bring your own towel, small bench towel and swimming suit for swimming.
Info about space, safety, and accessibility
Kulttuurisauna aims to start a regularly running sauna shift for gender minorities. There will be someone of us organizers at the door to greet you. We welcome you to give us feedback and share your ideas on how the sauna should be run in order to feel safe and welcoming.
We will not ask about your gender in any way; we only hope that you give space to those who cannot usually use public saunas without experiencing dysphoria, anxiety, or distressing incidents resulting from transphobia or other forms of discrimination. If you have any questions or concerns about joining, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
The wood burning sauna is open during the event with two non-gendered changing rooms and shower rooms. Robes, towels and swimwear can be used in the sauna but are not mandatory. There is also a spacious bathroom where one can get changed privately.
Safer space guidelines apply and are actively cared for by the organizers during the event.
No racism, cis-sexism, transmisogyny, transphobia, ableism, fatphobia, body commentary.
Do not photograph other participants. Do not touch others without consent.
COVID19 and infection safety: If you feel like you may have a cold or flu symptoms, please do not attend the event. Please take care of good hand hygiene. Note that people may have symptoms resembling allergies or flu-like symptoms associated with chronic illnesses, for example. We trust in everyone’s capacity to self-assess and that no one will be monitored or judged by others.
Accessibility info:
Arriving at Kulttuurisauna is a bit tricky because of the Crown Bridges construction site. It is best to arrive through Merihaka by Merihaka bridge, and walk diagonally through Merihaka towards the sauna. There is a ramp on the other side to descend back to the ground level. There is gravel for at least 70 meters before the building. You can access the building from Merihaka by walking or bike (see map and photos of the route below). There is no parking at the sauna but for a drop off and pick up, you can drive around Merihaka via the eastern pier / seaside – this gets you closest to the sauna. Nearest parking is at Merihaka P.
Map for arriving at Kulttuurisauna. The white arrows guide you through Merihaka area. The light blue arrows point an alternative route via a temporary gravel walkway. More accessible way is through Merihaka.
The route through Merihaka. The ramp continues down to the ground level but you can also descend the stairs. You can get to Kulttuurisauna by going between the two buildings in the photo.
The last 70 meters are rough gravel. You can go through the construction area to get on the other side of the road in order to arrive at Kulttuurisauna.
The front of the building (lobby & lounge) is accessible by wheelchair (space measurements below). There are 3 non-gendered toilets, one of which is wheelchair accessible. Please note that there is no water resistant wheelchair available and that the sauna room is not wheelchair accessible.
We speak Finnish and English. Please contact us for other translation or access needs, or any questions about the event: orlan.ohtonen@gmail.com.
Space measurements:
Front door width: 100 cm
Width other doors: 80 cm
Patio size: 1,5 m x 11 m (path to the cabinet space with the larger toilet)
Sauna size: 3 × 5 m + 3 × 6,5 m (floor area: 120 x 250 cm, the rest is steps and benches 40 cm in height and 20 cm in depth)
Shower room size: 3 x 2.8 m (2 showers in both shower rooms)
Shower height: 210 cm fixed height
Thresholds: +2cm at front door, atrium door, and cabinet door
There is a steep ladder in the courtyard to descend to the sea for swimming.
The entrance to the building has a ramp.
Entrance from the lobby to one of the dressing rooms, with a small toilet on the left. Both dressing rooms are gender-neutral for the event and lead to the same sauna.
The same dressing room entrance as above, viewed from the other direction (from inside the dressing room). There are two small toilets adjacent to both of the dressing rooms. The lobby and lounge can be seen in the background.
The dressing rooms have lockers for which you get the key at the front desk, a few small benches, and a coat rack on the wall to hang your towel.
The shower room has two showers and a small bench on the side.
The sauna space has high wooden benches with 6 steps. The space consists of two adjacent sauna rooms with the same stove, and the dividing wall is opened for the event.
The access to the more spacious toilet goes through the back patio of the building, with some thresholds. The toilet is seen at the back.
The more spacious toilet is on the other side of the building.
You can swim in the sea at the courtyard which is closed and only accessible through the building itself. The photo is taken from the door of the courtyard towards the sea.
This is the courtyard from the other direction. On the right, there is the swimming ladder. Jumping to the water is not allowed for safety reasons.