Please note that this translation of a resume includes liberal translations of titles that are often originally Finnish.

Isa Hukka is a facilitator, artist, writer, and educator from Helsinki.

Contact: contact@isahukka.com

Language skills

I am bilingual: Finnish and English.
Advanced level: Swedish.
Beginner level: Danish, Spanish, and French.

Education

2017-2023 University of Helsinki. Bachelor of Social Sciences (Practical Philosophy). Thesis title: “Cripping the Disabled Identity”. Minors: Gender studies and Comparative literature.
2016-2017 Lahti Folk High School. Theatre 1 programme.
2012-2015 Kallio Upper Secondary School of Performing Arts.

Other trainings

2022 Platform for Feminist Leadership. UrbanApa.
2019 Training on minority stress amongst LGBTIQ+ people. Seta ry.
2015 Training by Seta ry to become a voluntary educator facilitating LGBTIQ+ trainings.
2012-2016 Dozens of trainings in Prometheus Camp Association that organizes religiously and politically unaffiliated coming-of-age-camps that aim to support young people in building their own world view.
- I worked as a camp instructor, trainer, and trainer of trainers, gaining hundreds of hours of experience in ethics and pedagogy.
2010-2017 ESKO Espoo School of Performing Arts, advanced level studies in theatre.

Recognition and awards

2024 Guest at the Independence Day Reception of the President of the Republic of Finland, 6th December.
2023 Theatre Act of the Year. Awarded to facilitator Isa Hukka and the rampa associations working group for the theatre piece ‘inviting precarious perspectives’. Given by Theatre Centre Finland.
2021 Honorary mention in the J. H. Erkko young writer’s national contest.
2020 Winner of the Debut as a Poet -competition by Nuori Voima magazine.
2015 Stipend for versatile artistic work. Kallio Upper Secondary School of Performing Arts.

Published texts

The language of the text is mentioned in brackets.

2025 UPCOMING ‘4 observations on crip time’, an essay for Ny Tid magazine. (IN SWEDISH)
2025 Translation of Elsa Tölli’s several poems for Versopolis pan-European literary magazine. (FROM FIN -> TO ENG)
2025 A textual art work ‘linnaea borealis’ for Rauma Triennale 2025 group exhibition. In collaboration with Hele Okkonen. (FIN)
2025 ‘Ämmäs/suo‘, a poem for Lilat lesbian/feminist zine. (FIN)
2024 A translation of a poem with Nat Sascha Saietz Vork for the Poetry in the Nordics issue of Tuli & Savu magazine. (DK->FIN)
2024 ‘Towards holistic accessibility’, an essay, in Is the world ready? – Writings on art and disability, published by the Making space for artistry -project by The Culture for All Service. (FIN)
2023 ‘Cripgrass – fragments’, a poem. Kaamoskalenteri online art project, curated by Aatos Ketvel. (FIN)
2022-2023 ‘Ask the Poet!’, a poetry column developed and curated by me. Published in four issues of Nuori Voima magazine 2022-23. (FIN)
- Columnists: Oona Wuolijoki, Helga West, Juti Saari and Mika Leminen.
‘What happens when you collapse into the bog? – Conversation with Johanna Hedva’, an essay written with Jemina Vainikka Lindholm. Rehearsing Hospitalities 4, Frame Finland. (ENG)
2022 ‘A crip critique on the rhetoric and organizing in the arts’, an article by multiple authors, published by Just Another Crip Group. Crip Letters blog. (FIN)
2021 ‘likajokityttö’, a translation of Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha’s poem ‘dirty river girl’. Tuli & Savu magazine 4/2021. (ENG->FIN)
2021 ‘A Crip Artist’s Perspective: The Possibilites of the Abled Illusion’, an essay, Feminist Culture House. (FIN & ENG)
2021 ‘crip mythology part 2: the birth of the abled’ and ‘bicycle’, poems, Libero magazine 4/2021. (FIN)
2021 ‘Slow movement’, a performance text produced in collaboration with the commissioner, Ilmastokirkko Climate Church, and the Corpus Crisis perfoming arts project. (ENG)
2021 ‘bedfeels’, a poem in cooperation with EMK. Astra magazine 4/2021. (ENG)
2020 ‘Access as a radical act of love’, an essay written with Nadja Leham. Nuori Voima magazine, Möykky issue 3-4/2020. (FIN)
2020 ‘Vuorovesipuhelu’, a poem awarded in the Debut as a Poet competition. Nuori Voima magazine, Möykky issue 3-4/2020. (FIN)

Trainings and workshops

2024 ‘Cripping the Safe Space’, workshop at the Pedagocics Across Injury and Repair -seminar. Åbo Akademi University, Turku.
2024 ‘More accessible working life – tools for facilitation’ at Y event. Organised by the Ministry of Justice & co. Event curated by UrbanApa. Dance House, Helsinki.
2024 ‘Cripping Communication’, workshop, Stroom Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands. As part of the Language Matters: Accessible and Inclusive Communication in Art Spaces symposium. Commissioned by the Jindřich Chalupecký Society. Organised by the Islands of Kinship project.
2024 ‘How to facilitate an accessible space?’, workshop, #StopHatredNow, Helsinki.
2024 ‘Cripping Access’, lecture + workshop, UMPRUM / Prague Academy of Arts, online.
2023 ‘eco cripness?’ workshop, Frame Finland and the Islands of Kinship -project, Helsinki.
2023 ‘Ruumiinosoitus’, dance and embodied writing workshop with Pääsky Miettinen. Helsinki, Finland.
2022 ‘accessible dance????’, a movement workshop. kuudestila dance festival, Mikkeli.
2022 ‘slowly towards radical access’, workshop, UrbanApa TOOLBOX #19. Helsinki.
2018 ‘Equal Stage’, a feminist workshop project with Minea Lång.

Lectures, talks and debates

2024 Panel discussion at the Pedagogics Across Injury and Repair seminar. Moderator Ali Ali, speakers Isa Hukka, Zoey Jay, Derek Ruez and Nia Sullivan. Åbo Akademi University, Turku.
2024 ‘Beyond Collectivity: Rethinking Feminist Allyship’, discussion presentation at the Researchers’ Union Summer School. Speakers Salla Aldrin Salskov, Isa Hukka and Luke von Lüpke.
2024 ‘Cripping – deepening and challenging queer theory’, an academic presentation in Back to Roots Conference, Tampere. Organised by the University of Tampere, Finnish Queer Studies Society SQS, Finnish Gender Studies Society SUNS, Finnish Society for Men’s Studies SuMS, Trans Studies Network.
2024 Panel discussion at the Philosophy and the Problem of Otherness -symposium. Speakers: Isa Hukka, Arwen Meereboer, Fredrik Westerlund and Salla Aldrin Salskov. Åbo Akademi University, Turku.
2024 ‘Cripping Access’, an online lecture, Prague Academy of Fine Arts (UMPRUM).
2023 ‘Transformative actions for contemporary arts’, a panel discussion. Speakers: Isa Hukka, Kay Han and S.U.R collective. Organised by Frame Finland and the Islands of Kinship project. Kone foundation manor, Lauttasaari, Helsinki.
2023 ‘On building resistant communities’, a discussion between Isa Hukka and Shubanghi Singh. UrbanApa X Ateneum. Online.
2023 ‘Accessibility & Intersectionality – A Crip Perspective’, keynote speech. #StopHatredNow 2023. Online.
2023 ‘Stage, Power and Representations’, a panel discussion. Moderated by Isa Hukka, with speakers Ritni Ráste Pieski, Mercedes Balarezo and Yoandy Jimeno. #StopHatredNow 2023. Online.
2023 ‘Accessibility in art and for artists!’, an online seminar. Speakers Isa Hukka, Maija Karhunen and Aku Meriläinen. Bildkonstförening Jakarte.
2023 ‘Making crip art possible’, an online lecture open to all, Taidekoulu Maa.
2023 ‘Radical care in activism’, a panel discussion. Speakers Isa Hukka, M. K. Baijukya and Elina Halttunen-Riikonen. Rainbow Activism Day event. Organised by Seta ry. Seta Seta, Allianssi House, Helsinki.
2022 ‘On trans positionalities within institutions’, a panel discussion. Facilitated by Mary Conlon and El Reid-Buckle. Pixelache X Ormston House, Rehearsing Hospitalities Gathering. Theatre Academy, Helsinki.
2022 ‘Intersectional Horizons part 1 – change, power and access’, a panel discussion. Moderated by Isa Hukka, speakers Nadja Leham, H Ouramo, and Ritni Ráste Pieski. #StopHatredNow 2022. Online.
2022 ‘Art and disability activism’, a panel discussion at the Cross over festival. Speakers Isa Hukka, Julianna Brandt, Sami Helle, MC Cepa. Facilitated by Marianne Savallampi. Musiikkitalo, Helsinki.
2022 ‘Disability Inclusion Webinar’, an online seminar. Rampaopiskelijat ry’n commentary on Professor Dan Goodley’s keynote speech. Speakers Isa Hukka, Milla Tengström, Ira Kolkkinen and Maija Lindström.

Curating

2025 Curating and facilitating the ‘Crip Archipelago’ short film event together with Adalmiina Erkkola. UrbanApa x Stoa Festival. The short films screened were from Finland, Canada, and Sápmi.

Performing arts

Facilitator

ONGOING. Since 2018, I have developed numerous workshops on topics such as accessibility, communication, and disability. See my CV under ‘Trainings and workshops’ for more information.
2023 rampa productions working group: ‘rampa landscape – lazy, late, absent’. Premiere in November at Iiris Centre for People with Visual Impairments. Part of the Coming Stage initiative. Coming Stage is Baltic Circle Theatre festival’s multi-year project, funded by the Kone Foundation.
- The rampa productions working group consisted of facilitator-artist Isa Hukka and artists Aku Meriläinen, Juti Saari, Vishnu Vardhani Rajan, and Una Auri.
- Producer Nóri Varga, sound designer and musician Sophia Mitiku, sound engineer f rizzo, chef Ziggy Allen, audio description expert Anu Aaltonen.
2022 rampa associations working group: ‘inviting precarious perspectives’. Premiere in November at Viirus Theatre. Part of the Coming project. The work was granted the Theater Work of the Year award in 2023.
- The rampa associations working group consisted of facilitator-artist Isa Hukka and artists Aku Meriläinen, Sunna Maaret, Ar Utke Ács, Sal Reis Trouxa, Hang Linton, and Laura Lulika.
- Producer Nóri Varga, guest artists Tuisku Lehto and Trashi, lighting designer Rita Löytty, live stream director Visa Kiikka, live stream assistant Ville-Matti Tenovirta, and care worker Margot Litchfield.

Dramaturg and writer

I have written more than ten texts for stage, some independently, some collectively. For example:

2023 ‘rampa landscape – lazy, late, absent’, performance text. Dramaturg: Juti Saari. Baltic Circle.
2022 ‘yökylä/sleepover’, solo performance text as part of the ‘inviting precarious perspectives’ piece consisting of several works. Baltic Circle.
2018 ‘Meissä on elämä’, a play based on George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Ilves Theater.
2017 ‘Välitila’, a play with Petra Lummi. Rajasaari, Helsinki.
2017 ‘Money Making Machine’, a play. Lahti Folk High School.
2016 ‘Taajama’, a play based on David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. Tervasaari, Helsinki.

Performer

ONGOING. Since 2020- I have performed stage poetry. I have performed my texts at events organized by e.g. Turku Poetry Week, Tuli&Savu, Tease&Power club, Helsinki Poetry Connection, and LiteraturHaus København.
2022-2023 Two works in the Coming Stage project at the Baltic Circle festival: inviting precarious perspectives in 2022 and rampa landscape – lazy, late, absent in 2023. (Performer)
2021 Video series for the Myllyhoitoyhdistys association’s social support campaign called Läheistenpäivä. Läheistenpäivä is a campaign that strives to improve the wellbeing of people affected by their loved one’s addiction. (Poet)
2019 ‘Meille, Pirate Jenny’, dir. Linnea Kilpeläinen, Kellariteatteri, Helsinki. (Actor)
2019 VALKO artist’s album release event, choreography by Veera Leppänen. Kattilahalli, Helsinki. (Dancer)
2017 ‘BOMB BOOB BOOM’, working with Minne Mäki. Performance at Joutomaa Festival. Kotka. (Performer)

Theatre producer

2022 The final phase of the performance art project “Disappearing – Passion.” Job description: producing a more accessible version of the performance. Convened by Kid Kokko.
2019 Ilves Theatre entrance exams. Producing together with Tommi Kokkonen.
2018-2019 Part of production teams that planned and created several mini theater festivals for Ilves Theatre: Ilves Lives 2019, Räntäkarkelot 2019, Ilves Lives 2018.
2018 ‘Puhuu kukkien pelko’, a play. Director: Matleena Mäki-Petäjä. Ilves Theatre.

Director

2018 ‘Estradi’, a joint work by three directors, with Minne Mäki and Rosa Autio. Newcomers’ production at Ilves Theatre.
2018 ‘Meissä on elämä’, a play at Ilves Theatre.
2017 ‘Välitila’. Collaboration with Petra Lumme. Rajasaari, Helsinki.
2016 ‘Taajama’. Tervasaari, Helsinki.
2013-2016 Numerous school projects at Kallio Upper Secondary School and Lahti Folk High School.

Other

2019 I worked as audience experience designer together with Hannes Mikkelsson on Inkeri Raittila’s work ‘Darkroom’. Student Theatre, Helsinki.
2018 I worked as a designer for the week-long performance art event ‘Exploring Utopia’. Organized by Monia Penttinen. Student Theatre, Helsinki.
I do photography and visual design. I also have experience in lighting design for theater.

Teaching

ONGOING. Since January 2024 – I have been teaching at Kaaos Company's inclusive dance improvisation classes. Gig work. Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki.
ONGOING. Since 2018 – substitute teacher of Philosophy and Ethics in upper secondary schools in Helsinki.
Full-time teacher of Philosophy and Ethics at Kallio Upper Secondary School. Fixed-term position 10/2024–07/2025.
February-May 2024. Fixed-term substitute teacher of philosophy. Planning, teaching, and assessment of FI1 Introduction to Philosophy and FI2 Ethics courses (LOPS 2021). Kallio Upper Secondary School.

Other positions

ONGOING. 2021- Coordinator, Baltic Sea Philosophy Essay Event. Organizing a national philosophy essay competition for elementary school students on UNESCO Philosophy Day. Annual project work, employer Feto ry. Arrangements in cooperation with the National Board of Education.
Election official, City of Helsinki. European elections 2024.
Election official, City of Helsinki. Presidential elections 2024.
Summer 2021 Exhibition attendant, fixed-term work, Seure/Helsinki Biennial.
2019-2020 Exhibition attendant, temporary work, Seure/Helsinki Art Museum HAM.
2013-2017 Cultural producer, temporary work. Seure/City of Espoo.
Summer 2014 and 2015 Face-to-face marketer, seasonal work, UNICEF Finland.

Resume