iriaarenas

Iria Arenas

About

Multidisciplinary artist based in Finland moving between dance, cables, LX cues, and coordination.

Education

Other

2024-ongoing. MA in Visual Cultures, Curating and Contemporary Art. Aalto University, Espoo (FI).
2017-18. Postgraduate in Performance Research Studies. SOZO vim. Kassel (DE).
2016-17. MA in Theatre and Performing Arts. Complutense University of Madrid. Madrid (ES).
2010-14. BA in Visual Arts and Contemporary Dance. Rey Juan Carlos University. Madrid (ES).

2023. An Introduction to Trans Studies - Open Course. Åbo Akademi University. Turku (FI).
2021-22. Developing an Artistic Research Project - Open Course. Stockholm University of the Arts (SE).

Work Experience

2025-ongoing. Events and Communication Assistant. Dept. Art and Media (DAM) - Aalto University (FI).
2023-ongoing. Lighting Technician Assistant. Zodiak - Centre of New dance. Helsinki (FI).
2023-25. Teacher. Hip Hop and House Dance. Saiffa - Flow Mo Dance School. Helsinki (FI).
2020-23. Teacher. Introduction to Stage Lighting and Web Development. SOZO vim. Kassel (DE).
2020-23. Website Designer and Social Media Coordinator. Tanzwerk Kassel e.V. Kassel (DE).
2020-21. Office Assistant/Coordinator. Tanzwerk Kassel e.V. Kassel (DE).

Grants

2024. ~~City of Espoo Culture Committee.~~ (Grant cancelled due to health reasons)
2024. Goethe Institut. Culture Moves Europe. Individual Mobility Grant.
2023. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2023. Fonds Darstellende Künste. NEUSTART KULTUR. #TakeHeart Rechercheförderung.
2022. NATIONALES PERFORMANCE NETZ - STEPPING OUT.
2022. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2021. Goethe Institut - Nachwuchsförderung.
2021. Brückenstipendien - Hessische Kulturstiftung .
2021. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2021. Hessische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst.
2020. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2018. AC/E Programme for the Internationalisation of Spanish Culture (PICE).

Residencies

2026. Redukt_Studio. Helsinki (FI).
2024. Sonnenstein Loft. Linz (AT).
2022. ON DISPLAY. Lake Studios Berlin (DE).
2021. Studio Practice and Artistic Process. Stockholm University of the Arts (SE).
2018. Atelier Real (REAT). Lisbon (PT).
2017. Oulu Dance Hack. Oulu (FI).
2016. DOCH Summer Residency. Stockholm (SE).

Lighting Design

2024. NEFES & Global Music Master’s Transcultural Ensemble. Vapaan Taiteen Tila. Helsinki (FI).
2023. Zipora and Friends. Sibelius Academy. Kalliosali. Helsinki (FI).
2023. STREAMS #4. Aura Antikainen & Niv Melamed. Halle 2. Kassel (DE).
2023. Sie starb und sie lebte. Rosalie Kubny. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2022. DIE FLACHE ERDE. Lauren Rae Mace. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2022. Silken Veil. C/O Mareike Steffens. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2021. Visitors. arenas&antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel, Germany (DE).
2021. EPILOGUE. Deborah Smith-Wicke. Halle 2. Kassel (DE).
2021. Could you stay for tea?. Aura Antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2021. Body of land. TANZWERKE '21. Aura Antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2021. Protrahere. Deborah Smith-Wicke. Halle 2. Kassel (DE).
2020. Rock, water, spell. C/O Mareike Steffens. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2019. Choreografische Werkstatt, Staatstheater. Kassel (DE).

Dance / Performance

Guest Dancer / Performer

2024. Red Bull Dance Your Style, Helsinki (FI).
2024. Tanssivirtaa Tampereella. check your body at the door. Hällä-näyttämö. Tampere (FI).
2023. Kulturhaus Dock4. check your body at the door. Kassel (DE).
2021. Stockholm Fringe Festival. anverso. Stockholm (SE).
2021. Gothenburg Fringe Festival. anverso. Gothenburg (SE).
2021. Galeria Kollektiva. late for laundry, again. Kassel, (DE).
2019. Oops Festival. anverso. Brighton (UK).
2018. RandFilm Festival. anverso. Kassel (DE).
2017. Stockholm Fringe Festival. Wortenlust. Stockholm (SE).
2017. OT301 Highs and Lows #22. Wortenlust. Amsterdam (NT).

2019. Theater Spektakel. Terrain. Boris Charmatz. Zurich (CH).
2019. Staatstheater Kassel. Ares (statisten). Johannes Wieland. Kassel (DE).
2016-17. Reflections: Triple Bill. Body Politic Dance Company. Oxford (UK).
2017. Dancers. Coproducción Sonia Gómez + CORPO A TERRA. Ourense (ES).

Installation

2022. Violett Kunstgalerie. anverso. Body Tales. Kassel (DE).
2022. tonwerkstatt kassel. anverso. Kassel (DE).
2022. Pilotenkueche. anverso. Moving surreal curiosity. Leipzig (DE).
2022. 4bid Gallery. anverso. Amsterdam (NL).
2022. CreativQuartier Fürst Leopold. anverso. Dorsten (DE).

Film

Video Art

2023. Festival Antigone. Centre Culturel d'Uccle . Brussels (BE).
2022. Tanzhaus Temporär Nº1. Bergpark. Kassel (DE).
2022. LAKE Studios Berlin. ON DISPLAY Screening. Berlin (DE).
2022. Staatstheater Kassel. Queeres Kurzfilmkino im TiF. Kassel (DE).

2020. United Cowboys. Seasoning Summer. Eindhoven (NT).
2019. NB Film Festival. Puebla, Mexico and Texas (US).
2019. VideoSkin Festival. Ontario (CA).
2019. SzoloDuo Festival. Ork_Kota_Platform. Budapest (HU).

©Iria Arenas 2024

Index

What’s New

𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗘, 𝗿𝗲𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘

For three weeks, Redukt_Studio in Kallio functioned as a small-scale hub for collective exchange, activation, and practices of commoning. Artists, collectives, cultural workers, and activists are invited to come together to exchange on the conditions of artistic labor in 2026 Finland and other relevant topics amid funding cuts, the rise of right-wing policies, institutional repression, restrictive immigration laws, growing unemployment, ongoing genocides, and systemic colonial violence.

The space was used as a forum for critical discussion and as a platform for performances and community-led activities.

Dates: 5–25 January 2026
Location: Redukt_Studio (Kaarlenkatu 12, Kallio, Helsinki)

Programme:

https://artivism4ct.cargo.site/redukt_studio_programme

A4CT - ZINE #2

Contributors: Barsha Bhandari (Nepal); Hussain Al-Jerjawi (Palestine); Satu Söderholm (Finland); Tove Salmgren (Sweden); Mia Wennerstrand (Finland); Blu (Nepal); Alexia Coville (Germany/France); Labani Jangi (India); Prints Para sa Bayan (Philippines); Zaida Ruby (US/Mexico); Kiila ry (Finland); Mreethmandir (Bangladesh/Finland); @katekuler (Russia/Finland); JINNZINE (India); rajatonvimma (Finland); Rand Hamdallah (Palestine); @wearywitness (India/Finland); H-P Lehkonen (Finland); Cristina Donati Meyer (Italy); Mana Tashakorinia (Iran/Finland); Rosa Borrás (Mexico)

We still have a few copies available!
You can pick yours up next year:

Pickup dates: 7–25 January 2026
Location: Redukt_Studio (Kaarlenkatu 12, Kallio, Helsinki)

More info:

https://artivism4ct.cargo.site/

Post Theatre Collective Presents SILENCE — A Multilingual Nordic Co-Production Challenging Language and Identity in Theatre

Post Theatre Collective is proud to announce its first Nordic co-production, SILENCE, a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant multilingual performance that explores the politics of language, identity, and representation on stage. The project is supported by Arts Promotion Center Finland, City of Helsinki, Nordic Culture Point, and Svenska Kulturfonden, premiering at Post Theatre Collective’s studio in Helsinki on 10.09.2025. 

Premiere:
10.09.2025 at 18:30 

Other Performances:
12., 13*., 16., 17., 18., 19., 24., 25., and 26.09.2025 
All shows start at 18:30, except the performance on 13.09, which begins at 15:00. 

Activist Art Today - Workshop

What role can activist art play in shaping social and political change today? This workshop explores how the affective potential of art can lead to more effective forms of activism and how its impact might be measured. Together, we’ll reflect on the challenges activists and artists face in today’s political climate and explore strategies for resistance and expression through both theory and practice.

17.5.25 - The Action Weekend, Oulu, FI

More info:
www.dodo.org

Super Supper - Public Programme

Super Supper explores how a prolonged family dinner can form an artificial framework for a public programme. An admixture of dramaturgically annexed elements, such as talks, screenings and various disruptions interrupt the pseudo-coherence of an extended family; unity needs an intermission as its counterpart, TV gives you the needed break. Humans form a dysfunctional family, which might not build on a mutual agreement but still holds a latent caring for each other. The lack of energy to meet is often replaced by a maximalized moment where everything and everyone are brought and forced into a shared table.

With Contributions by Harold Hejazi, Kemê, Jani Anders Purhonen, Niklas Toivakainen, Yuko Takeda and Timo Teern. Curated by: Aalto Vicca

9.5.25 - Museum of Impossible Forms, Helsinki, FI

More info:
@aaltovicca