Meet Lapinlahti people: Saara Hornig
Saara Hornig returned to work a few weeks ago after more than two years of parental leave and is now getting used to her new life as an exhibition coordinator at Lapinlahden Lähde. In her new job, Saara is responsible for Lapinlahti’s exhibition activities together with exhibition designer Paula Talvikki. Saara’s job description includes, for example, cooperation with artists, choosing a suitable space for exhibitions and communicating about exhibitions.
During her parental leave, Saara wanted to take her time to think about what kind of work would suit her at this stage of her life. She wanted to find a job that she could stand behind based on her values and that she was genuinely interested in. She applied to many places until she came across an advertisement for an exhibition coordinator position, decided to apply and finally got the job.
Saara has studied social work and photography and has long dreamed of combining these two educations and passions in her work. In the past, she has worked in child welfare with young people who have dropped out of school, as a freelance photographer and as a photographic artist. The themes have overlapped before through different projects, but this is the first day job where they are combined.
As with the rest of Lapinlahden Lähde, the exhibitions focus also on mental health themes. Many of the exhibitors are themselves rehabilitated or just starting out in their careers as artists, and several of the exhibitions deal with mental health.
– I think it’s extremely rewarding to be able to make a difference and give opportunities to people who might not otherwise have them,” says Saara.
The art exhibitions at Lapinlahden Lähde are free and open to everyone. In Saara’s opinion, there are many things in the art world that can distance people from art. Accessible places like Lapinlahti can lower the threshold to get to know art and therefore bring art closer to people.
Exceptional team spirit
When Saara arrived in Lapinlahti, she was particularly surprised by the good team spirit here and how much effort is put into it. She has worked in many different places, but nowhere else has she experienced such an atmosphere and working community. It’s all about the basics of team spirit, such as communal lunches and staff meetings, and they really happen here.
– These are structures that could easily be put in place in many workplaces, but here they are part of everyday life, creating and maintaining this whole spirit of the place.
Saara describes Lapinlahden Lähde as a human workplace, and from the beginning she has felt welcomed and valued as an employee. Everyone is treated as an equal, you dare to talk to anyone and the employees are trusted. The personal circumstances of each employee are taken into account and their impact is understood. For Saara, it’s about returning to work after a little longer break.
– In such a life situation, returning to work is really much smoother and more pleasant when there is trust, understanding and humanity.
For Saara, Lapinlahden Lähde is a unique place, both as a workplace and in general. Lappari has its own kind of open, welcoming and communal atmosphere, and Saara believes that this is also conveyed to visitors. The value of places like this is only increasing in these times, so she wonders about the future of the place.
– I follow this situation with great sadness, especially now that many important and inclusive contributions and services are being cut anyway.
– It is alarming if there is no space for such places in Helsinki, Saara continues.
Saara has already seen that Lapinlahden Lähde is a living space that is constantly evolving and changing its shape. It is not a place where people get stuck, and Saara hopes that the current activities in Lapinlahti can continue and develop in the same way as they have so far.
Text and photo: Heta Issakainen