Meet Reset! Helsinki – Reclaiming the Digital 19 October 2026
Reclaiming the Digital, organised by Pixelache, Aavistus Festival, Culture Cooperative TIcAS and the Reset! network on 19.10.2026 at Oranssi (Kaasutehtaakatu 1/20) in Helsinki, invites artists, cultural practitioners, and experts to explore alternatives and practical pathways towards greater digital autonomy. Participation is free of charge but requires registration via link in our bio.
For the past years we have been witnessing an increase of private companies’ intrusion with data privacy, governmental surveillance, bot farms and fake news to mess with public discourse and many other manifestations that despite being in the digital realm, are affecting life. A misuse of data, AI, and media information, have the potential to affect access to information and other resources, social equality and even in some cases they can put democracy as we know it in danger.
All this zeitgeist is happening at the same time -or because- of the climate crisis.
How can cultural practitioners gain greater agency over the technologies and infrastructures they use? What alternatives already exist, and what can we build and influence collectively? How can we distribute and share resources surpassing centralized infrastructures that polarize discourses or focus only on economical growth? Can ethical digital tools help generate solidarity networks, outside the logics of mainstream and private companies?
Programme
9.30.-10.00 Morning coffee
10.00 – 10.15 Welcoming words and introduction (Reset! & Pixelache)
10.15 – 11.15 Panel talk “Towards greater digital autonomy in artistic and cultural work”
Moderator:
Nitin Sawhney, Docent in Computer Science at University of Helsinki and Uniarts Helsinki https://nitinsawhney.org
Panelists:
Luka Piscorec, computational architect, generative artist, researcher and educator working across computational design, robotic fabrication, and algorithmic art https://protocell.xyz/
Vertti Luostarinen, creative technologist and AI reseacher, Ehko collective https://vertti.eu
Iina Taijonlahti, choreographer who works in the field of dance and interactive art. She explores the relationship between technology, humanity and corporeality in the era of posthumanism. Iina is part of Ehko collective https://www.iinataijonlahti.com
Lauri Lavanti, responsible for Digital Independence Citizens’ Initiative, software developer, chair of the Green council group, and parliamentary candidate 2027 https://lavanti.fi/en/
11.15-12.00 Artist talk: Zombie in Panopticon: Aestheticization of the EU’s External Electronic Border Surveillance Systems Zombie in Panopticon is an artistic research project that focuses on creating a visual conceptualization of the European Union’s (EU) electronic external border surveillance systems through a 360-degree video installation, a collage of generated images, motion, and sound design. The project aims to offer conceptual and physical interpretations of these systems, reframing them through contemporary visual communication and critical design thinking. The original 360° video installation will be adapted to a site-specific visualisation and will be accompanied by a 45 minute talk on the topic of electronic surveillance systems by Jassir Kuronen, artist and Aavistus Festival Head of Design, as well as 15-20 minutes Q&A.
12.00-13.00 Lunch break
13.00-15.00
Option A
Workshop: How to break free from surveillance capitalism by Kohti digitaalista vapautta -working group
How to break free from surveillance capitalism by Kohti digitaalista vapautta (Toward Digital Freedom) -working group. Digital giants control a large part of the internet. The surveillance capitalism they practice erodes privacy and democracy and touches the lives of all of us. Our phones have become spying devices, and large social media platforms have become realms of ads, polarisation and false content. Techno billionaires have become fascists’ best friends. Fortunately, there are viable better alternatives, many of them European and open source code. How can I be part of the revolution of a liberated internet and social media? At the event, we will present a general overview of the topic and some history. Practical help is available for those who want to try out more ethical applications and services.
Option B
Panel discussion & workshop:
Data, Regulation and Legislation in EU for creative practitioners
Panel discussion on the recent developments related to EU data and AI-related regulation, its impact on digital creators, and realistic possibilities. The panelists discuss practical steps for creative sector professionals to navigate the changing realities of the operating environment in the cultural sector.
Panel participants:
Atte Harjanne, member of parliament, Green party: Green MP, Master of Science in Technology, and Helsinki City Councillor. In Parliament, Harjanne serves as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Transport and Communications Committee. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
Raoul Plommer, EFFI ry: Raoul Plommer is a digital rights activist from Finland. His interest developed in digital rights because of the Finnish Pirate Party and changes in law because of censorship in 2008.
Sami Niemelä, Head of Design, In Parallel: Previously partner & co-founder at Nordkapp, Finland’s leading strategic design consultancy. Winner of 40 awards. Contributor to several successful scale-up and startup projects, including Oura, Supermetrics, Beddit, and Umbra 3D.
Saara Pesonen, Traficom: Saara transitioned from mathematics into cybersecurity, where she’s spent the last 4 years specializing in vulnerability data science. At NCSC-FI (Traficom), she works with Finland’s attack surface mapping, identifying national infrastructure risks, essentially finding the digital doors before the wrong people do.
Workshop: After the talk the participants are invited to join a co-creation workshop to get familiar and collaboratively try out examples of practices and approaches demonstrated in the panel discussion. During the workshop, the audience is invited to reflect on the current situation from their perspective, to envision the changes they would like to see in order to improve their future prospects as creative professionals, and sketch out the world in which these changes have been realized. The aim of the excercise is to provide an opportunity for the participants to sketch out ideas and move towards concrete action. The goal of the panel and the workshop is to provide context and understanding about possibilities for influence and long-term actions related to Finnish and EU legislation.
5.00-15.30 Coffee break
15.30-16.30 Reset!Network presentation & QA
16.30-17.30 Networking
17.30-19.30 Afterparty (DJ&VJ, Aavistus festival)
The event is organised by Pixelache, Aavistus Festival, Culture Cooperative TIcAS and the Reset! network.
Supported by Reset! network – European network of independent cultural and media organisations, created in 2022 in Lyon, France. Reset! network exists and works to connect independent cultural and media organisations together, document our situation across Europe and beyond, equip its members with knowledge and practical tool, as well as to advocate for independence to be recognised as a core value in the cultural and media sectors.
When: 19 October 2026, 9.30-19.30
Where: Oranssi ry, Kaasutehtaankatu 1 / 20, Kulttuurikeskus 1. Krs
Participation is free of charge but requires registration REGISTER
Graphics: Antti Hietaniemi
