International and Finnish Stone Carving Championships and Stone Sculpture Event
August 28–30, 2023 Juuka, Finland
Introduction video to The Juuka Stone Carving Festival & The Championships 2023
Soapstone, carving and summer in Finland at the peak. Juuka invites you to participate in the first and only stone carving championships in Finland. The theme this year is JOY.
Have a look at our introdution video and let the 2022 carvers tell about the event!
International and Finnish Stone Carving Championships and Juuka Stone Carving Festival, 28.-30.7.2023
Dear stone sculptors, enthusiasts and experts alike,
We are pleased to invite you to the International and Finnish Stone Carving Championships, Juuka Stone Carving Festival 2023! The festival will take place from the 28th to the 30th of July 2023 in Juuka, a beautiful summer town located in North Karelia, Finland. There are no requirements for entering the competitions. Everyone is welcome to participate!
Juuka Stone Carving Festival will bring together sculptors to carve their visions out of soapstone and visitors to follow their skills. Come show everyone how the soapstone of Juuka bends in your hands!
The championships have only solo series. There are three separate competitions: The Finnish Championship of Hand Stone Carving, The Finnish Championship of Machine Stone Carving and The International Stone Carving Championship. The participants of the international competition can choose their working technique (either hand sculpture or machine sculpture). Finnish citizens can participate in both, the national and the international competition.
The theme of the year is JOY
The main organizer of the event is Ellin Taitajat ry, a local cultural association. There is a wide range of local communities, businesses and volunteers involved. The soapstone used as sculpture material is donated by Tulikivi Oyj, a Juuka-based company, which is internationally well-known for its high-efficiency soapstone fireplaces.
The maximum number of participants in each competition is ten sculptors. The registration for competitors will open on the 1st of March 2023. If you wish to join the competition, fill the registration form here (opened on the 1st of March).
For inquiries related to the competition, please contact:
Tuula Ikonen-Graafmans, Contact Person: ellintaitajat(at)gmail.com, tel. +358 400 674 062 (FI, EN)
Tanja Rovio-Murto, Communication: ellintaitajat(at)gmail.com, tel. +358 50 563 0325 (FI, EN)
Reetta Nenonen, Communication: reettanenonen(at)gmail.com, tel. +358 050 365 0789 (FI, EN)
Kaisa Nykyri, Communication: kaisa.nykyri(at)gmail.com, tel. +358 50 321 8099 (FI, EN)
Tapio Vartiainen, Competition Director: twartsu@hotmail.com, tel. +358 50 522 0337 (FI)
Eija Meriläinen, Director of the Event and Chairperson of Ellin Taitajat ry: eijamerilainen@hotmail.com, tel. +358 50 541 8951 (FI)