Sweat And Tears / November 2024
18.11.2024 16–20 @ Kulttuurisauna (Helsinki, FI)
On 18.11.2024 at 16–20 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 16–20 (last entry at 18.45). 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. (There are also bench towels to borrow.)
The water is already quite cold, you might also want to bring swimming shoes of some sort.
You can also bring a sauna whisk with you if you want!
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 the cultural sauna can be difficult due to the “Kruunusillat” bridge construction.
You can arrive at Kulttuurisauna through Merihaka via the Merihaka pedestrian bridge from Hakaniemi. On the other side of Merihaka, there is a ramp to get back to ground level. The last 70 meters of the route are gravel and the route goes through the bridge construction site.
You can also arrive at Kulttuurisauna along Hakaniemenranta from Hakaniemi. The last 350 meters of the route are gravel and the route goes beside the bridge construction site.
You can arrive on foot or by bike. 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 of arrival at Kulttuurisauna. The white arrows describe the route through Merihaka. The light blue arrows describe the route beside of the construction site, along the gravel footpath.
The route to Kulttuurisauna starts from the new Hakaniemi bridge. You can reach the bridge on foot and by bike, for example, from the direction of Hakaniementori along Hakaniemenranta. It is possible to recognize the cultural sauna from afar by the red light advertisement on its roof that says “SAUNA”. The route from the bridge to Kulttuurisauna is about 350 meters long. The route is gravel and there is a gentle downhill at the beginning. The route is straight. It runs between the construction site on the right and the apartment buildings on the left.
The first turn along the route is at its end. Turn right at the point indicated by the light blue arrow. The route is also indicated by yellow pedestrian signs on site.
The second turn is in the sauna yard. Turn left at the point indicated by the light blue arrow. The organizers welcome sauna guests at the front door of the sauna.
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.