Laitila works as the director of leisure and well-being in the city of Kerava. Turku City Council will decide on the selection on Monday.
Turku is getting a cultural director from Kerava.
The work will start in the summer.
– I believe in the possibilities of culture as a source of the city’s attraction, vitality and well-being. Turku also believes so, and that’s why our paths met, states Anu Laitila.
Anu Laitila has worked as a branch manager at Kerava for more than four years. Laitila has also been responsible for promoting well-being and health in cooperation with the city of Vantaa and the welfare region of Vantaa and Kerava.
Previously, Laitila has worked as the director of the Estonian Institute of Finland, responsible for cultural exports to Estonia and the rest of the Baltics, and as the executive director of the Reading Center and Nuoren Voiman Liito.
45-year-old Anu Laitila has completed two higher university degrees, the most recent of which is an EMBA degree at the British Henley Business School. He also has a Master of Philosophy in domestic literature from the University of Helsinki.
The culture director has Turku’s 800th anniversary celebrations ahead
The City Council of Turku established the position of culture director in January 2023, because the city’s organization and task emphasis changed after the Varsinais-Suomen welfare area started its operations at the beginning of this year.
In its press release, the city of Turku emphasizes that in the operation of the new Turku, culture plays an important role both in increasing the city’s attractiveness and the well-being of the city’s residents, and also in preparing for the milestone year of 2029. Turku turns 800 years old in 2029.
49 people applied for the position of cultural director. The total salary for the position is 6,700 euros per month.