English Summary
Empty Bowls Helsinki event is an annual event that takes place at the atmospheric Crypt of the Helsinki Dome. The 2017 Empty Bowls Helsinki takes place on Saturday, September 16.
Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. It was started 1990 in Michigan, USA, by art teachers Lisa Blackburn and John Hartom. Empty Bowls is a happy lunch event that is established through donations given by potters and other craftspeople who make beautiful handcrafted bowls, restaurants that donate delicious soups and bread. Musical entertainment is also donated to the event by exceptional artists.
In exchange for a cash donation (minimum 20 €) visitors are given a handmade bowl to keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. In addition, visitors are invited to enjoy a soup lunch and entertainment in the beautiful Crypt of the Helsinki Dome.
Events take place all around the world and many millions of dollars have been raised and donated to hunger-fighting organizations. Empty Bowls Helsinki’s donations go to the Finnish UNICEF emergency fund, which uses the money to build and renovate wells, water pipes, pumps and dry toilets, and to teach children in poor countries the basics of hygiene. Work is done in over 90 worst-off countries.
Finland’s first ever Empty Bowls event took place in 2003 in Helsinki. Ceramic artist Eva Spoof gathered a group to arrange the Empty Bowls day as a celebration of her 10-year-anniversary as a potter UDUMBARA. Potters, restaurants and other volunteers participated in making the day a success. 800 bowls went in just two hours.
The most successful year so far has been 2008, when 870 guests donated approximately 15 300 euros to UNICEF.
From 2006 on the Empty Bowls Helsinki has been a part of the Helsinki Design Week. In addition, it was one of the Suomi 90 Finland jubilee year’s events. In 2011 it was one of Ornamo’s 100-year celebrations.
In 2008 Empty Bowls Helsinki was awarded the ”Vuoden UNICEF-teko” diploma and Kelpo esimerkki diploma for volunteer work.
For further information, please contact Tuula Styrman, tel. 050 548 9717.
Read more about the international Empty Bowls organisation at www.emptybowls.net.
