From a Night of Arts to Industrial Heritage Week at Varkaus 

What happens when industrial heritage becomes more than something to visit and becomes part of how a city comes together?

Across August and September, Varkaus brought its industrial past into the present through two public events combining culture, community participation and experiences across the city. 

From an evening of art attracting around 3,000 people to the first pre-event for European Industrial Heritage Week, the programme demonstrated different ways of experiencing the Industrial Heritage of Varkaus, awarded the European Heritage Label in April 2026. 

One night, 3,000 people and Old Varkaus 

On 14 August, the Night of Arts at Old Varkaus transformed the historic area into a meeting place for culture, art and community life. 

Now an established local tradition, the event brought together around 3,000 residents and visitors from neighbouring municipalities for an evening designed for audiences of all ages, including families with children. 

Rather than being organised by a single institution, the Night of Arts was the result of cooperation across the community. Thirteen different organisations, businesses, associations and individuals contributed to the programme, supported by dozens of volunteers. 

Together, they created a diverse programme of cultural activities offered at low cost or free of charge, bringing audiences into a historically rich part of the city and demonstrating that Old Varkaus is not only a place, but an experience shaped by the people who use it. 

A new week for industrial heritage begins 

Less than a month later, the focus shifted directly to the city’s industrial story. 

On 11 and 12 September, Varkaus organised the first pre-event for European Industrial Heritage Week as part of the Varkaus Days. Developed following the city’s European Heritage Label recognition, the programme aimed to bring together Varkaus’ industrial environments, places, people and stories. 

Around 750 participants explored the city’s heritage through guided tours, boat trips and site presentations. 

At Museum Center Konsti, exhibitions introduced visitors to the city’s industrial history, while new guided experiences extended the story beyond the museum. Themed “Countess Boije” tours explored the Taipale Canal Museum, and a guided bus tour introduced participants to Alvar Aalto’s architecture in Varkaus. 

The programme also returned visitors to the water aboard the historic Warkaus VII steamboat, connecting the city’s industrial history with the waterways that have shaped its development. 

Building towards 2027 

The September programme was designed as more than a standalone event. It provided the first step towards a full Industrial Heritage Week planned for 2027, when the initiative is expected to expand to a national scale, with the longer-term ambition of developing its international dimension. 

Despite the short period between Varkaus receiving the European Heritage Label and the September pre-event, the programme successfully introduced the new event concept and raised awareness of both the forthcoming Industrial Heritage Week and the city’s EHL recognition. 

The initiative forms part of the Development of Industrial Tourism in Northern Savonia project, which aims to increase awareness of industrial tourism and has received EU co-funding from the Regional Council of Northern Savonia. 

Together, the Night of Arts and the Industrial Heritage Week pre-event show how Varkaus is approaching its industrial heritage not simply as a collection of historic buildings and objects, but as something that can be experienced across museums, streets, architecture, waterways and community events. 

By bringing residents, visitors, cultural organisations, businesses and volunteers into these spaces, Varkaus is creating new opportunities for people to encounter the stories behind its European Heritage Label — and laying the foundations for an even larger celebration of industrial heritage in 2027.