Meet Our New Fall 2025 Project Coordinator, Elsa Piikki!

We’re thrilled to welcome ELSA PIIKKI, our new Project Coordinator intern at FCINY! She’ll be with us through mid-February 2026.

To get to know Elsa better, we asked her a few questions about her journey and what she’s looking forward to during her internship.

𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙁𝘾𝙄𝙉𝙔?
I’m Elsa, a recently graduated Master of Arts from Helsinki with a creative background in marketing and communications. Alongside my studies, I´ve discovered the beauty of cultural production within Helsinki’s vibrant subcultural art scene as a founding member of a Mankka Collective. I’m excited to strengthen these skills further as the new project coordinator at the FCINY.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩?
I´ve done my masters at the Department of Finnish Language about equality in conversation, so equality and meaningful connections among people are important for me. As a linguist, I’m passionate about communication and interaction – whether it´s through words, gestures, or different forms of art and performance. How can we express ourselves and the issues that matter to us in an accessible way? 

In addition to linguistics, I’ve enriched my studies with minors in marketing, film, and performing arts which also aligns with my interests in personal life.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝘾𝙄𝙉𝙔?
As someone who has gained their experience in culture productions within independent subcultures with a strong DIY spirit, I’m eager to learn how an established institution like FCINY brings creative projects to life. I look forward to getting to know the international cultural scene and the working pace of a radiant city like New York, hoping to carry these learnings with me back home. On a personal level, I find it especially meaningful to understand and foster international cultural dialogue in today’s political climate.

𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚?
My goal is to find and clarify my own dreams in the city that never sleeps. I´m going to approach this goal by stepping in from doors that seem intriguing and draw inspiration from the city's rich art and culture scene. 

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨…
Elsa can’t help but smile when remembering all the cultural productions she's organized with the Mankkaco crew in Helsinki. Bringing people and creators together and helping emerging artists to find their audience remains one of the most rewarding cultural experiences for her.

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