About Us

What is Iso Tila

Iso Tila (Big Space) is a space to meet people, organise ourselves, organise open events, have spontaneous encounters, and strengthen our community. It is part of the continuum and future of the anti-authoritarian movement in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. We want to enable the networking and activities of various grassroots political actors, and create space for anti-authoritarian and non-commercial activities in Helsinki. The space can host courses, events and discussions as well as guided and independent cultural and sporting activities.

The spaces already existing in Helsinki are important to us, but we wish to create even more space for open activities and organising.

Our goals

Our aim is to promote and enable sustainable cultural activities based on ecological principles, low-threshold learning, and to create a variety of recreational opportunities in the metropolitan area. We want to strengthen the culture of self-organisation, direct democracy, and a sense of community.

Principles

Our principles include ecology, community and anti-patriarchy, as well as opposition to all forms of discrimination and racism. Discrimination based on gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age or (dis)ability is not tolerated.

We follow the principles of safer spaces to make the space open to people from different background and situations. The most important principles are openness, no prejudice, encouraging for participation, giving space and respecting everyone’s right to their boundaries and the right to define one’s identity.

We aim to actively create an atmosphere which aligns with our values. We keep learning ourselves and teaching everyone in the space about these principles, as well as guiding for self-organising and democratic decision-making. We aim to make the space as accessible as possible.

How to join?

We welcome a variety of groups and individuals who share our principles to create something in the space with us. At the moment, we share the space with an autonomous and non-commercial sports space Meidän Sali.

Our aim is to promote grassroots, anti-authoritarian organisation, so it is not possible for party political organisations to organise in this space.

If you or your group have any needs or ideas about what you would like from the space, please feel free to contact us!