◈ Homepage — http://www.finnishhall.org/KEEP FINNISH HALL OPEN & ACCESSIBLE ! THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS AUDITORIUM MEETING ROOM CAFÉ SKI CLUB ROOM POLICIES / FAQ EVENTS REGULAR CLASSES & MEETINGS COMMUNITY EVENTS FINNISH EVENTS FINNISH HALL HISTORY FINNISH HERITAGE SOCIETY KALEVA SKI CLUB ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT The Finnish Hall is a beautiful meeting space in Berkeley, CA, dedicated to arts, community, and Finnish culture.   Spaces are available to rent for classes, rehearsals, events, lectures, meetings, and more! Our building was built in 1932 by volunteers from local immigrant families. It is home to Berkeley’s Finnish Heritage Society, and is used by many local artists and community groups. Please note that we do not allow alcohol to be served/consumed at our facility. Please also note that our building is not yet wheelchair accessible. Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! EXPLORE SPACES AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY USE: Auditorium The Auditorium is the main space at the Finnish Hall.  It has a beautiful floor and stage, and accommodates up to 200 people. Meeting Room The Meeting Room is located up a flight of stairs.  It is a lovely room with hardwood floors, high ceiling, and lots of natural light. Café The Café is a pleasant and convenient place to meet. It features a full kitchen with an excellent gas range and oven. Ski Club Room The Ski Club Room is on the lower floor, accessible via a ramp or stairs.  Chairs, tables, wifi and a built-in projection screen make it ideal for meetings, while our newly installed floors make for a great dance rehearsal space as well. Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Heritage Society FOR EASY TO READ AVAILABILITY CALENDARS, PLEASE GO TO THE PAGE OF THE SPACE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN: AUDITORIUM, MEETING ROOM, SKI CLUB ROOM, OR CAFE. SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. SIGN UP FINNISH BROTHERHOOD HALL, 1970 CHESTNUT ST, BERKELEY, CA, 94702, UNITED [email protected] Powered by Squarespace ◈ Interior Pages — 14 pages crawledRegular Classes & Meetings — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events ONGOING EVENTS This page lists ongoing classes and events offered at the hall. *** PLEASE NOTE: Events are always subject to change. If you’re attending an event for the first time or are unsure of anything, please follow the links and check in with the event teacher or organizer! *** For select one time events, see the COMMUNITY EVENTS page. For rental availability, please look under the RENTALS TAB for the page of the room you are interested in, and check the corresponding availability calendar. Follow this link to learn about SENSE OBJECT, our resident artist organization. This information is subject to change. Contact Improvisation Tuesday CI Class & Jam 6 - 7:30PM Class * Auditorium 7:30 - 9:30PM Jam * Auditorium Tuesday Jam FB page InterKinected.org senseobject.com/jams Thursday CI Class & Jam 7 - 8PM Class * Auditorium 8 - 11PM Jam * Auditorium thursdayjam.org/schedule Saturday CI Jam 10AM -12:30PM * Meeting Room or Auditorium senseobject.com/jams Other Dance Abrazo Queer Tango Sundays 3:30 - 6:30PM and 3rd Saturdays 5:30 -10PM abrazoqueertango.wordpress.com Bachata Various Times * Ski Club Room Alana&Esteban Biodanza with Zora Coeur de Roy Mondays 7:30 - 9:30PM * Auditorium Closed to the Public biodanzawithzora.com Contemplative Dance Practice Group Fridays 9:30AM - 11AM * Meeting Room For more information, email Nick : [email protected] East Bay Waltz 3rd Saturdays * Auditorium. eastbaywaltz.com Kinetic Waves (Axis Syllabus/CI/Dance) with Marcus van Duren Fridays 9 - 11AM * Auditorium linktr.ee/MarcusvanDuren PLAY. PULSE. RELEASE. Embodiment Project Intermediate Level Dance Class Tuesdays 11AM - 12:30PM * Auditorium embodimentproject.org/classes Soul Motion with Michael Zipkin Sundays 10 -11:30AM * Meeting Room juststarthere.org Wednesday Dance Lab Contemporary Dance & Somatics Wednesdays 10AM - 12PM * Auditorium senseobject.com/class 5Rhythms Class with Qibei Wednesdays 7 - 9PM * Meeting Room qibei.be/workshops-classes Martial Arts Silat Martial Arts Every Sunday but the 5th 1 - 3PM * Meeting Room [email protected] Tai Chi with Middle Way Internal Arts Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 - 7PM and 7 - 8PM * Meeting Room middlewayinternalarts.com QiGong Class with Jesse Sachs Mondays 6:30 - 8PM * Meeting Room zidudurenqigong.com Other BAAM Bay Area Applied Mycology Last Monday 7 - 9PM * Café bayareaappliedmycology.org Jennifer Linderman Art Mondays 10AM - 12PM * Meeting Room jennifer-linderman.squarespace.com/classes Oakland Symphony Chorus Wednesdays 7 - 9:30PM * Auditorium Closed to the public, if interested visit: oaklandsymphony.org/chorus Spindles & Flyers Textile Guild Schedule varies, for info visit: spindlesandflyers.org Theater Class with Arastoo Darakhshan Tuesdays 7 - 9PM * Ski Club Room tagelenstheater.com Yoga with Barbara Kaplan Mondays 5:15 - 6:45PM * Auditorium harmonyyogastudio.net Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Finnish Heritage Society — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club FINNISH HERITAGE SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS The Finnish Heritage Society Board of Trustees meets officially on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom, inquire below. Prospective members are encouraged to attend an event or a meeting, where they can ask questions and pick up an application. Future members must be voted in by members of the organization.  The Finnish Heritage Society Cultural Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7:15pm via Zoom, inquire below. Contact [email protected] for more information. The Finnish Hall and membership association has historically served both immigrants and those seeking connection with their Finnish heritage and cultural practices. The Finnish Heritage Society was formerly known as Lodge 21, which was the second largest lodge in the United Finnish Kaleva Brothers & Sisters association. Activities at the Finnish Hall have included stage plays, dances, orchestra, choruses, folk dancing, lending library, public dances, concerts, voting for Finnish national elections, movies, arts shows, poetry readings, and benefits. Today, all Hall and Finnish Heritage Society events are open to the public, regardless of their heritage.  The Berkeley Finnish Hall and Finnish Heritage Society seek to promote social welfare for the entire community by making the Hall available for community events open to all members of the public. Events here are related to dance, art, music, history, health and wellness, and other community functions. FHS educates the public about Finnish heritage, culture, and traditions, and upholds the mission and values of the Finnish immigrant community that built the hall in 1932. Yearly Finnish cultural events include: Finnish Independence Day - First Sunday in December Vappu Celebration - First Sunday in May or Last Sunday in April If you have questions about joining the hall's Finnish Heritage Society, please contact [email protected] Ready to join? Membership starts at $25 per year. DOWNLOAD MEMBERSHIP FORM Renewal/Change of Address form for current members: DOWNLOAD RENEWAL FORM FHS Meeting Minutes: Google Drive Link Link to Finnish Hall Special Events: www.finnishhall.org/finn-events Member History Pages/Links: When West Berkeley Was Finn Town Subscribe to our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdl8zZP472lo4tKM4P6dmeQ 2024 Finnish Independence Day Photos (link) *Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how your tax deductible donation you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! 2024 Finnish Independence Day 2024 Finnish Independence Day 2024 Finnish Independence Day 2024 Finnish Independence Day 2024 Finnish Independence Day Video of FINNISH INDEPENDENCE DAY Virtual Celebration Dec. 6th, 2020 Subscribe to our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdl8zZP472lo4tKM4P6dmeQ HISTORICAL IMAGES OF FINNISH IMMIGRANTS IN CALIFORNIA A collection of old photographs of the Berkeley Finnish immigrant community has been found and redeveloped by Mikko Varpiola. Please contact us at [email protected] if you recognize anybody, or have any other information to offer about the images. Members dance at the annual Vappu celebration… (date unknown) Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Meeting Room — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT The Meeting Room is located up a flight of stairs.  It is a lovely room with hardwood floors, high ceiling, and lots of natural light. RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ THE MEETING ROOM The upstairs Meeting Room has its own entrance door up the stoop facing Chestnut Street. A flight of stairs takes you to a light filled room with high ceilings and hardwood floors.  A raised platform at the far end of the room makes a perfect Speaker's Corner. There is an adjacent restroom and small lobby holding 50 chairs.   39' x 27' 1053 ft2 80 person capacity 2 wood desks and 3 folding tables 50 folding chairs High Speed wifi Rates $30-40/hr Mon-Thurs weekly/regular $35-50/hr Fri/Sat/Sun weekly/regular $50-100/hr Special events any time/day (4 hour minimum) Rates vary depending on nature of the event, size of the group, price of attendance, nonprofit status, and whether food is served. Discounts for all day rentals. All events serving food will be charged a $50 - $100 mopping fee. Please read the Policies  and FAQ  pages when planning your event!                                    Quiet Hours begin at 10pm No Alcohol allowed at any events. Not ADA/Wheelchair Accessible. It is approximately 1.5 stories up to the Meeting Room. Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! Calendar We have been experiencing some technical difficulties with our calendar. If you do not see a calendar below, please follow THIS LINK to view the Meeting Room calendar. * Click here to view availability for all the spaces in one calendar.  Also follow the link if you are viewing the calendar on a smartphone.  Hall viewings are by appointment only. Please do not drop by, as we do not have a reception desk. To make an appointment, use the form below, or Email us at [email protected] Call us at (510) 845-5352 Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Kaleva Ski Club — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club The Kaleva Ski Club The idea for a Finnish Ski Club came from The United Finnish Kaleva Brothers and Sisters at Lodge 21 in Berkeley, CA.  Talk at meetings often drifted toward skiing, and how the inclusion of a ski club might create more activities for younger members. On November 23, 1945, a collection plate accumulated its first donations, and was entered into the accounting. This first small step and first official meeting of the Kaleva Ski Club was celebrated with coffee, and, of course, Finnish pulla . Since that time, innumerable collections and work parties have led to the construction and upkeep of a beautiful ski lodge in the Tahoe area.  The words of one of the Kaleva Ski Club’s earliest members echoes the spirit of many active members, today. Ted Jalo said, “I can say without any reservations that the ten of us who started the Kaleva Ski Club could never dream of how successful it would become. It has taken a lot of hard work, strong effort, and donations from many gracious people. I would like to give a special thanks to everyone who participated in helping us in the creation of the ski lodge.” Our club wouldn't be what it is today without the contributions of our members. From teachers, to construction workers, to nurses, to electrical engineers, ALL members make communal efforts to contribute to what our club is today. Our annual Spring and Fall Work parties are largely attended and greatly sustain the vitality of our organization. Recently, we completed our electric sauna, a great way to relax after a long day out on the hill. Finishing the Dressing Room and basement Games Room is next! Potential new members must attend two meetings, apply, write an introductory bio, and be voted on and read in. They must also go through Opening and Closing Procedures with a member in good standing.  Ski Club meetings are held on the the 4th Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m via Zoom. Contact [email protected] for further information. * Trifold Brochure * Facebook Group MEMBER LINKS * Google Calendar * Calendar Instructions Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Ski Club Room — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT The Ski Club Room is on the lower floor, accessible via a ramp or stairs.  Chairs, tables, wifi and a built-in projection screen make it ideal for meetings, while our newly installed floors make for a great dance rehearsal space as well. RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ THE SKI CLUB ROOM The Ski Club Room is ideal for meetings, screenings, and presentations. It has a pull down screen, folding chairs and tables available, and a small sink. This room is on the same floor as the Kitchen and Café, and is accessed via the parking lot. Please note that the Ski Club Room is not available as a venue for parties.   43' x 19' 817 ft.2 45 person capacity Chairs and folding tables available High Speed wifi   Rates $20 -$25/hr M-Th weekly/regular $35-50/hr special events (4 hour minimum rental) No dinners or parties allowed in the Ski Club Room Rates vary depending on nature of the event, size of the group, price of attendance, nonprofit status, time of day, and whether food is served. Discounts for all day rentals. All events serving food will be charged a $50 - $100 mopping fee. No Alcohol allowed at any events. Please read the Policies and FAQ  pages when planning your event!      The Ski Club Room is now Accessible via a ramp located at the back of the parking lot. There are also 4 stairs down to the Ski Club Room. Thank you all who donated to our Accessibility Project to help make the Finnish Hall Accessible to All! Calendar We have been experiencing some issues with our calendars. If you do not see a calendar below, please follow THIS LINK to view the Ski Club Room calendar. * Click here to view availability for all the spaces in one calendar. Also follow this link if you are viewing the calendar on a smartphone.  Hall viewings are by appointment only. Please do not drop by, as we do not have a reception desk. To make an appointment, use the form below, or Email us at [email protected] Call us at (510) 845-5352 Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT The Finnish Hall is a beautiful meeting space in Berkeley, CA, dedicated to arts, community, and Finnish culture.   Spaces are available to rent for classes , rehearsals, events , lectures, meetings, and more! Our building was built in 1932 by volunteers from local immigrant families. It is home to Berkeley’s Finnish Heritage Society , and is used by many local artists and community groups. Please note that we do not allow alcohol to be served/consumed at our facility. Please also note that our building is not yet wheelchair accessible. Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! Explore spaces available for community use: Auditorium The Auditorium is the main space at the Finnish Hall.  It has a beautiful floor and stage, and accommodates up to 200 people. Meeting Room The Meeting Room is located up a flight of stairs.  It is a lovely room with hardwood floors, high ceiling, and lots of natural light. Café The Café is a pleasant and convenient place to meet. It features a full kitchen with an excellent gas range and oven. Ski Club Room The Ski Club Room is on the lower floor, accessible via a ramp or stairs.  Chairs, tables, wifi and a built-in projection screen make it ideal for meetings, while our newly installed floors make for a great dance rehearsal space as well. Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Heritage Society For easy to read availability calendars, please go to the page of the space you are interested in: Auditorium , Meeting Room , Ski Club Room , or Cafe . Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL AT THE BERKELEY FINNISH HALL The Finnish Hall is a local treasure that has been supporting Berkeley arts and community for almost a century. Built in 1932 by immigrant families with volunteer labor, today we are a home for a diverse span of groups focused on kids, mycology, spelunking, textiles, tango, ballet, myriad dance and improvisation modalities, community organizing, and so much more. Adding much needed accessibility upgrades will cost $300,000. ***We have raised $265,000 TO DATE!** We’re almost there! Let’s work together to welcome EVERY body to this historical community space. DONATE ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT FHS is proud to have stewarded this historical community resource with care and can-do spirit. Over the years, the community has always pulled together to make upgrades to the building as necessary: mitigating leaks, installing new stage curtains, upgrading electrical circuits and plumbing, etc. Through careful stewardship, we weathered the closures of the Covid years. Now, it’s time to tackle accessibility. During the Covid closure, we added an accessible bathroom in the main auditorium. Now, we are putting in place ramps to two levels, a new entrance and hallway, plus another fully ADA compliant bathroom in the basement. Your contribution gets us closer to being the inclusive and welcoming space we want and need to be, and helps us avoid needing to shut our doors! Why does it cost so much? The Berkeley Finnish Hall is a historical building with lots of quirky features. It is a split level building, meaning ramp construction has involved several feet of excavation into the foundation. Building an entrance at the right slope meant cutting through walls and creating a new hallway, which required rerouting HVAC. The placement of the ramp also require us to rebuild a third story fire escape. We have been working on this project for almost a decade, and have considered every possible placement of ramps, lifts, even multi-story elevators! We are confident that with the help of our architect, Greg VanMechelen, we have reached the most cost effective and feasible plan possible, meeting legal obligations and creating accessibility to a majority of our spaces, if not all. Construction is very expensive, but we are confident that with the help of our community, we'll be able to pull this off and stay open, preserving this beautiful space for generations to come. CONTRIBUTE To raise funds for this accessibility project, Finnish Heritage Society is partnering with Sense Object , the 501(c)3 arts organization in residence at the hall, which has been producing community arts programming here since 2014. Donations processed via Sense Object are tax deductible to the full extent of the law (EIN #93-1507563) If desired, you may choose to make a donation directly to Finnish Heritage Society, however please note that because FHS holds 501(c)4 status, such donations are not tax deductible. If your employer offers gift matching, we encourage you to donate to Sense Object, Inc. using Benevity: https://causes.benevity.org/causes/840-931507563 “Accessibility for All at the Berkeley Finnish Hall” GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/171f3236 Zelle [email protected] Paypal [email protected] Venmo @senseobject By Check: Make out to "Sense Object", and send to: 1970 Chestnut St. Berkeley CA 94702 (Please note “ADA” if making your donation via Zelle, Paypal, Venmo, or check.) *** The names of all donors will be included on a special commemorative plaque. We are committed to full transparency with any donor who wishes to track how funds are spent. Architect’s rendering of new ramps, hallways, and bathroom at basement level. THANK YOU! The new accessible ramps and bathrooms at the Berkeley Finnish Hall are being made possible by the enormous generority and stupendous support of the following: City of Berkeley Civic Arts Commission Estate of Raymond Lifchez Fred Mork Sara Rudner Stephen Schiller Kirsti Bellows Jill Cooper Mike and Jennifer McDougall Keri Ferencz & James Levine Kristen Stone East Bay Waltz Community John Benson, Yosh Haraguchi, ri Dym, Rosemary Hannon, Tom Rockwell, Cole Lehman, Shana Sturm Rene Alvarez, Ellen Raney, Tina Amidon, Libby Lee-Egan, Brett Weinstein, Amy Kingwill, Finlandia Foundation SF Bay Area Chapter Dharam Khalsa, Trent Watson, Anjaleena Laitakaripyyko, Peitsa Hirvonen, Bruce Holgers, Joe Dumit, Robin Lassonde, Dharam Kaur Khalsa, Zoe Feld, Ruthann Sherrier, Andrew Saul, Io Bones, Dan Nazarian, Robin Lassonde, Zoe Chamberlain, Neil Goldberg, Daiane Lopes da Silva, Elaine Jegi, Karen Ivy, Glenn Goffin, Neil Goldberg, Angela Heyun, Barbara Saarni Oddone, Jenica Hierman, Kari Autio, Seppo Rantala, Anna Kipnis, Jessica Wahl, Andie Hoyer, Hannah Westbrook, Johanna Rauhala, Ubani Balogun, Neil Sethi, Cathie Caraker, Gabriel Grant, William Devore, Sarah Kurtz, Skp Pham, Hend Saadeh, Claudine Jones Anna-Linnea Rodegard, Paul Aho, Andrew Jacob, Sarka Briel, Keith Caceres, Kristina Kessel, Gabrielle Wolodarski, Seth Little, Josh Merlin, Suzi Garner, Eduardo Poyart, Sarah Young, Carol Swann, Leon Young, Irene Hsi, Gee Bee, Melissa Crago, Frederick Soo, Karla Quintero, Aryn Faur, Richard Villa, Barbara Kaplan, Schuyler Ingle, Debbie Taylor, Louis Caditz-Peck, Sophie Bransfield, Jenny Miner, Jonathan Devoto, Eva Lyons, Lauren Brazell, Igor Chernyshev, Jo Kreiter, Rebecca Strull, Elyse Jacob, Elina Juvonen, Ava Maag, michael fleit, Nicco Tyson, ainsley tharp, Cheryl Fralick, Shaham Shira, Alanna Krowiak, J Miakoda Taylor, Suzanne Blumenthal, Maica Folch, Christine Renaudin, Hanna Sistek, Risa Jaroslow, ri dym, Stephanie Frankle, Marie Hoff, Jules Brouillet, Catrina Sheen, Olivia Trevino, Nina Bayley, Sasha Wright, Mihyun Lee, Angela Heyun, Gabriel Diamond, Dena Holper, Michael Reinhold, Riki Bloom, Ro Stratton, Katie Ring, Saana Deichsel, Elizabeth Rojas, Robb Godshaw, Ezra LeBank, Daniel Moreh, Travis Jungroth, Tamera Lanham, Marisa Handler, Anneli Berry, Emily Leap, Jennifer Allen, Shira Yaziv, Erica Stevenson, Jessica Mayer, Natalia Mäntynen-Smith, Riitta Maunus, Heikki Koskinen, Linnea Due, Rent Romus, Jonah Kagan, Daniel Deslauriers, Sam Seppala And many generous donors and volunteers who wished to remain anonymous. THANK YOU. Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Auditorium — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT The Auditorium is the main space at the Finnish Hall.  It has a beautiful floor and stage, and accommodates up to 200 people. RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ THE AUDITORIUM Ten steps lead up to the main entrance doors, which open into a small foyer with ticket and coat room. Wide double doors lead into the auditorium, with warm light from large windows along the length of the room, high-arched ceiling, an ample stage, and 2300 square feet of beautiful oak floors. The room is appropriate for classes, rehearsals, performances, events, meetings, and lectures. Tables and chairs are available.  A portable stereo + PA system are included. *Please note that we do not allow alcohol to be served/consumed at our facility. Please also note that the Auditorium is currently not wheelchair accessible. Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all!   55' x 42' 2300 ft.2 200 person capacity 20 folding tables 180 folding chairs High Speed wifi Rates: $40/hr-60/hr M-Th regular/weekly events $70/hr-$200/hr special events (4 hour minimum). Rates vary depending on nature of the event, size of the group, price of attendance, nonprofit status, and whether food is served. Discounts for all day rentals. All events serving food will be charged a flat $150 mopping fee. Please read the Policies  and FAQ  pages when planning your event!                                        No weekly/recurring events on weekends. No Alcohol allowed at any events. The Auditorium is currently not ADA/Wheelchair Accessible . Accessible handrails are available via the small stoop. There are approximately 7 stairs up to the Auditorium. We have built a ramp located at the back of the parking lot that will reach the main level of the Auditorium which is nearly complete. Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! CALENDAR We have been experiencing some technical difficulties with our calendar. If you do not see a calendar below, please follow THIS LINK to view the Auditorium calendar. * Click here to view availability for all the spaces in one calendar.  Also use the link if you are viewing the calendars on a smartphone.  Hall viewings are by appointment only. Please do not drop by, as we do not have a reception desk.  Use the form below, or Email us at [email protected] Call us at (510) 845-5352 Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Community Events — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events COMMUNITY EVENTS This page highlights only some special events at the hall. Follow this link to learn about SENSE OBJECT, our resident artist organization. For a list of ongoing events, click REGULAR CLASSES/MEETINGS . For rental availability, please visit the page of the room you are interested in, located under the "RENTALS" tab, and check the availability calendar for that space. April 24-26, 2026 Laban / Bartenieff Movement Studies with Brenton Cheng Intro to Shape. More Info/Register for Brenton's Workshop: Here SHARING PRACTICES Salon May 17, 3PM Performance Practices shared by Styles Alexander, Aura Fischbeck, Irene Hsi, Katherine Orloff, and Jason Torres Hancock Sunday May 31st @ 7pm The Finnish Heritage Society and Outsound Presents Rent Romus , Heikki Koskinen 's The Otherworld Ensemble play SOUL BIRD SUITE + ZELE , Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble’s East Bay community chorus More Info Plus Tickets: Here Bay Area Axis Syllabus Exchange BAASE June 23-28, 2026 More Info and Registration: Here wcciJam 2026 July 1-5, 2026 More Info: Here Register: Here California CI Teachers Exchange CALCITE July 7-9, 2026 More Info and Registration: Here ***PAST EVENTS*** Moving Freely An Immersive Dance Weekend with Suzanne (Zan) Beahrs March 13-15, 2026 Butoh yiyaSaka Festival March 22nd, 2026 Noon - 5pm Celebrating teacher Hijikata’s 98th Birthday Kids and Family Friendly FREE!! SPRING CI JAM March 28 - 29, 2026 Registration Form: https://shorturl.at/5CHoC REGISTRATION Before March $150 Regular $100 BIPOC $150-200 Supporting A weekend of classes, jams, and community, featuring a day long deep dive into Contemplative Dance Practice, plus classes with Megan Lowe, Rosemary Hannon, Kristen Greco, Brenton Cheng, Carol Swann, Leslie Castellano, and Kevin Dockery! Come dig into techniques and mechanics for sharing weight, Underscore, community meals, and more. JAN 2-4, 2026 info: senseobject.com/jams reg: t.ly/vrx9j schedule: shorturl.at/9Q4dm Robin and Maya are hosting a queer CI jam!! The event will take place at Berkeley Finnish Hall on Sunday, December 7th, 2025, from 7-9:30pm, with a schedule as follows: - 7:00pm Warm Up / Arrival - 7:15pm Opening Circle -9:15pm Closing Circle There is a $5 suggested donation, venmo link: https://account.venmo.com/?txn=pay&audience=friends... Fall Into Contact, Vol 3 November 26 - 30, 2025 Intensive with Sarah Konner (Boston), Workshops with Sara Shelton Mann (SF), Keith Hennessy (SF) & Ezra LeBank (LA). Plus Live Music, Jams, Naps & Snacks Galore!! Limited to 36 Participants. For more info and to register: https://forms.gle/62KRXMh1jMq6KjBw5 or www.badgoatdance.com Solidarity Jam to Support the people of palestine 100% proceeds go to Gaza Soup Kitchen and the Middle East Children’s Alliance Bi-Monthly Family Art Night at the Finnish Hall By Sense Object senseobject.com/family-art-night Nita little Advanced CI Practitioner Workshop https://www.nitalittle.com/about/ KlezCalYidFest Sept 12 - 14th concerts, workshops and dancing with local and international artists from the klezmer and contemporary Yiddish culture scene. For more info: https://klezcalifornia.org/events/klezcalyidfest/ SALON September 7, 7-10PM www.senseobject.com/salon Works in progress by Nica Portavia, Kevin CK Lo, alloyed mettles (Karla Quintero & Belinda He.)  Followed by community discussion, tea and jamming. Donations welcome at the door! Contact improvisation intensive with Nica Portavia (she/they) — dancer, teacher and researcher, performer, and organizer from Italy. SOMATIC TECHNIQUES IN IMPROVISATION: CULTIVATING SOLO PRACTICE with Cathie Caraker Sept 20-21 https://www.cathiecaraker.com/offerings for more information. 2-day workshop : October 18 - 19 5-day workshop : October 18 - 22. Holistic Dance with focus on Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, Somatics, Applied Anatomy, creative writing and composition. FB: here . For questions and registration, contact Nick directly at: [email protected] ︎ FAMILY ART NIGHT ︎ Sunday October 19, 3-6PM *** The Monster Edition *** Experiential experimental art for all ages. ALL ages! Bring littles, grandmas, or just yourself. You don’t have to be or bring a kid to enjoy art together. Free/ By Donation senseobject.com/family-art-night Fall Hall Jam 2025 Oct 10 - 13 Join us for a weekend of classes, jams, and community and more! senseobject.com/jams Zero to Flying with Scott Wells and Shira Yaziv, Oct 3rd - 5th CI Workshop More info/reg: Here December 6, 2024. 7-9PM in the Main Auditorium FAMILY ART NIGHTS Next up on Dec 15, 4-6PM An all ages experiential art making event facilitated by Suzi Garner . senseobject.com/family-art-night Body-Mind Centering® and Contact Improvisation Techniques a workshop with Cathie Caraker and Miriam Wolodarski February 28- March 2 senseobject.com/bmc A.R.C. 2025 CI INTENSIVES WITH CHRIS AIKEN, RAY CHUNG AND ANDREW HARWOOD March 15-21, 2025 https://movingbytouch.com/arc/ Spectacular Spines: Axis Syllabus Workshop with Emily Jones November 15-17th https://www.facebook.com/events/416373487968522 Fall Into Contact CI Workshop with KJ Holmes & Ezra LeBank Nov 27-Dec 1 https://www.facebook.com/events/416373487968522 FALL HALL JAM 2024 October 11-13 A weekend of contact improvisation. Our seasonal fundraiser! Fall Hall Jam 2024 senseobject.com/jams THE AFROSPACE OF SUN RA  September 6, 7PM A concert with Dr. Markku Salo, presented by Finnish Heritage Society and Outsound Event link RASAMBLE! September 14-15  Haitian Arts and Culture Festival by Rara Tou Limen Dance Company Event Link THE LANDSCAPE OF TOUCH with SCOTT WELLS  September 21, 10AM-3PM Contact Improvisation workshop  Event Link BODY INTELLIGENCE Begins September 25 Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy practitioner training  Event Link COMPOSING IMPROVISATION with CHRISTIAN BURNS September 28 A real time composition workshop produced by Sharp and Fine sharpandfine.org/events PATIENTLY FALLING UP with SHIRA YAZIV & LILY KANE Oct 4, 5 & 6 A Contact Improvisation workshop on slowing down to fly up. Event Link ADVANCED C.I. PRACTITIONER WORKSHOP with NITA LITTLE Oct 19-23 By application. Details MICROBATICS & INTEGRATING FLUIDITY with WINSTON REYNOLDS and KIM AMANKWAA October 26-27 Movement workshop inspired by from dance, fighting, acrobatics, meditation, and partnering Event Details   ROSEN METHOD November 2-3 Experiential anatomy workshop Event Details FELDENKRAIS  November 7-11 Professional training Program with Elizabeth Beringer  Details SPECTACULAR SPINES with Emily Jones November 15-17 Axis Syllabus workshop Event Details FALL INTO CONTACT November 27 - December 1 Contact Improvisation workshop with Ezra LeBank & KJ Holmes Event Details CalCITE  August 13-16 Teachers and aspiring teachers of CI from anywhere in the world are welcome to come to our yearly exchange.  For More Info and Registration: https://www.interkinected.org/calcite/ OPEN PRACTICE Shake, Fall, Sound, Decolonize July 24 & August 28 https://www.senseobject.com/class The West Coast Contact Improvisation Festival is Back!  Join us for an amazing lineup of intensive workshops, classes, special events and jamming at the miniWCCI: August 7-11 Registration is open at: wccijam.org OUTSOUND  New Music Summit July 26-29 outsound.org/summit BAY AREA AXIS SYLLABUS EXCHANGE June 27-30 Twenty-four hou History — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club History of the Hall & Lodge Berkeley Lodge 21 was founded by nine men on May 14, 1911 as a mutual aid society for its members.  It was originally named the Brotherhood Lodge; similar Sisterhood Lodges were also available to Finns at that time. In those days, many lodges existed throughout California and to the north into Canada, as many Finns sought to start new lives in America. Several Berkeley Finnish women founded the Otava Sisterhood Lodge #2 in early 1913, and the two lodges merged to form the current Lodge 21 on Sept. 21, 1915, under the parent organization The United Finnish Kaleva Brothers and Sisters. UFKB&S was created to help  newly emigrated Finns orient to American culture. Berkeley was the 21st lodge to join this umbrella organization, and is the second largest in the organization. The cornerstone of our Finnish Hall at 1970 Chestnut Street in Berkeley was laid on October 9, 1932, on land donated by Berkeley Finnish-American manufacturer Walter Mork. The building of the hall was commissioned by the UFKB&S Lodge 21 as its meeting, cultural and recreational facility. The building of the hall was completed by the end of 1932, mostly by the labor of its members. Its grand opening was marked by a three-day festival on Dec. 30 and 31 and Jan 1, 1933. The festivities included an inaugural program, an all-night New Year’s Eve dance organized by its younger members, and a stage play in Finnish on New Year’s Day. Lodge membership flourished at the time, as Berkeley was home to a large Finnish immigrant population. The hall was a busy place. As a mutual benefit society, the Lodge provided sickness and burial benefits for its members, and its social and cultural life was phenomenal for decades. Activities included stage plays, concerts, dances, an orchestra, choruses, a lending library, movies, and benefits.  In more recent years, as the immigrant population has dwindled, Finnish cultural events are more sporadic. Nevertheless, the goal of maintaining a close connection with Finnish heritage and cultural practices still remain strong. Today the Finnish Heritage Society, formerly Berkeley Lodge 21, host many Finnish and Finnish-American performance groups, arts shows and poetry readings. It has also coordinated voting in Finnish National Elections and registering expatriates.  Current mainstay programs of FHS include the Bay Area’s Finnish Independence Day Celebration on the first Sunday of December and the annual May Day (Vappu) dances.  All Finnish Heritage Society events are open to the public, regardless of their heritage.  The Berkeley Finnish Hall and Finnish Heritage Society seek to promote social welfare for the entire community by making the Hall available for community events open to all members of the public. Events here are related to dance, art, music, history, health and wellness, and other community functions. FHS educates the public about Finnish heritage, culture, and traditions, and upholds the mission and values of the Finnish immigrant community that built the hall in 1932. Join us ! *Please also visit: “When West Berkeley Was Finntown” by Richard Hourula *Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Café — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT The Café is a pleasant and convenient place to meet. It features a full kitchen with an excellent gas range and oven. RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ THE CAFE The Café has an entrance right off the parking lot, and also connects to the auditorium upstairs via a staircase. Clean and attractive, the Café and Kitchen have gray-blue floors and  white walls. A flat screen TV with HDMI and internet connectivity is included. Long tables and folding chairs are available. The Café can be rented with or without use of the kitchen, which includes a six burner Wolf range with griddle and oven, refrigerator and freezer, microwaves, coffee maker, and table settings. 43' x 22' 946 ft.2 80 person capacity 14 folding tables 80 folding chairs High Speed wifi 70” LCD TV hdmi hook ups   $30-50/hr weekly/regular events $50-100/hr special events (4 hour minimum.) - Rates vary depending on nature of the event, size of the group, price of attendance, nonprofit status, and whether food is served. - Discounts for all day rentals. - All events serving food will be charged a $50 - $100 mopping fee. Please read the Policies and FAQ  pages when planning your event!                                    No Alcohol allowed at any events. Use of the 70" LCD TV included with all rentals. The Café Room is now Accessible via a ramp located at the back of the parking lot. There are also 6 stairs down to the Café from the front of the parking lot. Thank you all who donated to our Accessibility Project to help make the Finnish Hall Accessible to All! The complete project is nearly finished! Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! Calendar If you do not see a calendar below, please follow THIS LINK to view the Café calendar. * Click here to view availability for all the hall spaces in one calendar. Also follow this link if you are viewing the calendar on a smartphone.    Hall viewings are by appointment only. Please do not drop by, as we do not have a reception desk. To make an appointment, use the form below, or Email us at [email protected] Call us at (510) 845-5352 Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Policies / FAQ — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ FINNISH HALL RENTAL POLICIES We expect all our renters to: * Respect the hours of the reservation: please arrive on time, and be ready to leave at the end of your slot. * Leave the space clean. This includes taking out the trash if you filled up the bin, sweeping up, and putting back all furniture. Composting and recycling are important to us: sort your waste correctly. * Turn off lights and heaters before leaving.  * Lock the door behind you if there is no event directly after yours. * Abide by the no alcohol policy . * Alert the managers if anything is broken, stolen, or otherwise awry. * Smoke only outside. * Take care of our hardwood floors.  This includes taking care not to scrape or gouge the floor with chairs, tables, shoes, etc. Dance events may NOT use powder of any kind, and we expect organizers to convey this clearly to all participants. NO glitter. * Have no liquids besides drinking water, no food, oil, candles, sage, incense, or open flame of any kind without express permission from the managers. * Follow any and all restrictions including but not limited to space, guest count, hours, and noise given by the managers.  Failure to comply with the managers' instructions may result in your event being shut down without a refund. * Respect our neighborhood noise curfew of 10PM by keeping quiet when exiting the building.   Questions? Check out the FAQ below! If you don't find your answer there, don't hesitate to email [email protected] or call us at 510-845-5352. CONTACT US Frequently Asked Questions Can I come see the hall in person? Absolutely! Please email, call, or use the contact form below to request an appointment.  We encourage renters to visit once before their events.  We recommend that you bring a list of all the questions and details you need to work out beforehand. What kinds of uses are permitted? Our policy is to prioritize social welfare uses. This means we give preference to events that are educational, charitable, cultural, and/or otherwise promoting the good of our community. Private events are also allowed, however. Please read on for details, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. What happens if I have to cancel my reservation? If you cancel a special event, your security deposit is forfeited.  For large events or events scheduled far in advance, we may also require a non-refundable down payment.  For regularly scheduled events going on hiatus, we require two weeks notice. Can I arrive early to set things up? We ask that all renters set up and break down within the hours they have rented, to avoid double booking. Any special exception is at the managers' discretion. Rental times may begin or end on the hour or half hour only. People who arrive early for their events may use the lobbies to wait, provided the previous event does not need privacy in these spaces. Can we have food and drink in the hall? Yes.  However, the Hall has a strict no alcohol policy . Also note that special events serving food will be charged a $50 - $100 mopping fee per space. Because of our residential location, we are not a good fit for late night, loud/rowdy parties, or parties for teenagers. Will there be enough tables and chairs? Check the page of the space you are renting to see the table and chair count. Feel free to contact us with any concerns or requests. Do you offer catering? No. Your welcome to bring in your own catering. Check out the Café page for more information about our kitchen. Is there AV equipment in the hall? The Auditorium and Meeting Rooms have great portable PA systems included in the rentals.  The Café and Ski club have portable stereos. The Ski Club room comes with an 100" pull-down projection screen.  The Café has a new 70" Samsung LCD television with various computer hook-ups available for a small fee.  Do you have a video projector? Yes.  A Vivitek D91x/D86x series projector is available as well as an 8ft portable screen for an extra rental fee.  Please contact us for more details. How late can we play music? The City of Berkeley noise ordinance requires quiet starting at 10pm. Some sound is ok even after that, as long as windows and doors are closed. We ask that you be mindful of the ordinance, especially in the parking lot at night, and require compliance with any request from the managers to turn it down. Again, note that we are not a good fit for late night, loud/rowdy parties, or parties for teenagers. Do you offer discounts? Discounts are at the managers' discretion, and are offered in accordance with our policy of prioritizing social welfare uses. The first step to getting a discount is to tell us about your event. How do I pay? Please work out the details of your reservation with the managers before sending any money. We will accept checks, cash, Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal.  Checks should be made out to "Berkeley Finnish Hall", and either dropped in the mail slot by the side door, or mailed to: Berkeley Finnish Hall 1970 Chestnut St. Berkeley, CA 94702 Is there parking? Yes.  There is a 11 car lot adjacent to the building.   Are you accessible by public transportation? Buses run along University Ave., and North Berkeley BART is just a short walk or bike ride away. Bike racks are available. Thank you for sparing the air! Can I make a tax deductible donation to help keep this community resource up and running? Yes! Please see our Accessibility Project to find out how you can help us reach our goal of accessibility for all! Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL AT THE BERKELEY FINNISH HALL The Finnish Hall is a local treasure that has been supporting Berkeley arts and community for almost a century. Built in 1932 by immigrant families with volunteer labor, today we are a home for a diverse span of groups focused on kids, mycology, spelunking, textiles, tango, ballet, myriad dance and improvisation modalities, community organizing, and so much more. Adding much needed accessibility upgrades will cost $300,000. ***We have raised $265,000 TO DATE!** We’re almost there! Let’s work together to welcome EVERY body to this historical community space. DONATE ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT FHS is proud to have stewarded this historical community resource with care and can-do spirit. Over the years, the community has always pulled together to make upgrades to the building as necessary: mitigating leaks, installing new stage curtains, upgrading electrical circuits and plumbing, etc. Through careful stewardship, we weathered the closures of the Covid years. Now, it’s time to tackle accessibility. During the Covid closure, we added an accessible bathroom in the main auditorium. Now, we are putting in place ramps to two levels, a new entrance and hallway, plus another fully ADA compliant bathroom in the basement. Your contribution gets us closer to being the inclusive and welcoming space we want and need to be, and helps us avoid needing to shut our doors! Why does it cost so much? The Berkeley Finnish Hall is a historical building with lots of quirky features. It is a split level building, meaning ramp construction has involved several feet of excavation into the foundation. Building an entrance at the right slope meant cutting through walls and creating a new hallway, which required rerouting HVAC. The placement of the ramp also require us to rebuild a third story fire escape. We have been working on this project for almost a decade, and have considered every possible placement of ramps, lifts, even multi-story elevators! We are confident that with the help of our architect, Greg VanMechelen, we have reached the most cost effective and feasible plan possible, meeting legal obligations and creating accessibility to a majority of our spaces, if not all. Construction is very expensive, but we are confident that with the help of our community, we'll be able to pull this off and stay open, preserving this beautiful space for generations to come. CONTRIBUTE To raise funds for this accessibility project, Finnish Heritage Society is partnering with Sense Object , the 501(c)3 arts organization in residence at the hall, which has been producing community arts programming here since 2014. Donations processed via Sense Object are tax deductible to the full extent of the law (EIN #93-1507563) If desired, you may choose to make a donation directly to Finnish Heritage Society, however please note that because FHS holds 501(c)4 status, such donations are not tax deductible. If your employer offers gift matching, we encourage you to donate to Sense Object, Inc. using Benevity: https://causes.benevity.org/causes/840-931507563 “Accessibility for All at the Berkeley Finnish Hall” GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/171f3236 Zelle [email protected] Paypal [email protected] Venmo @senseobject By Check: Make out to "Sense Object", and send to: 1970 Chestnut St. Berkeley CA 94702 (Please note “ADA” if making your donation via Zelle, Paypal, Venmo, or check.) *** The names of all donors will be included on a special commemorative plaque. We are committed to full transparency with any donor who wishes to track how funds are spent. Architect’s rendering of new ramps, hallways, and bathroom at basement level. THANK YOU! The new accessible ramps and bathrooms at the Berkeley Finnish Hall are being made possible by the enormous generority and stupendous support of the following: City of Berkeley Civic Arts Commission Estate of Raymond Lifchez Fred Mork Sara Rudner Stephen Schiller Kirsti Bellows Jill Cooper Mike and Jennifer McDougall Keri Ferencz & James Levine Kristen Stone East Bay Waltz Community John Benson, Yosh Haraguchi, ri Dym, Rosemary Hannon, Tom Rockwell, Cole Lehman, Shana Sturm Rene Alvarez, Ellen Raney, Tina Amidon, Libby Lee-Egan, Brett Weinstein, Amy Kingwill, Finlandia Foundation SF Bay Area Chapter Dharam Khalsa, Trent Watson, Anjaleena Laitakaripyyko, Peitsa Hirvonen, Bruce Holgers, Joe Dumit, Robin Lassonde, Dharam Kaur Khalsa, Zoe Feld, Ruthann Sherrier, Andrew Saul, Io Bones, Dan Nazarian, Robin Lassonde, Zoe Chamberlain, Neil Goldberg, Daiane Lopes da Silva, Elaine Jegi, Karen Ivy, Glenn Goffin, Neil Goldberg, Angela Heyun, Barbara Saarni Oddone, Jenica Hierman, Kari Autio, Seppo Rantala, Anna Kipnis, Jessica Wahl, Andie Hoyer, Hannah Westbrook, Johanna Rauhala, Ubani Balogun, Neil Sethi, Cathie Caraker, Gabriel Grant, William Devore, Sarah Kurtz, Skp Pham, Hend Saadeh, Claudine Jones Anna-Linnea Rodegard, Paul Aho, Andrew Jacob, Sarka Briel, Keith Caceres, Kristina Kessel, Gabrielle Wolodarski, Seth Little, Josh Merlin, Suzi Garner, Eduardo Poyart, Sarah Young, Carol Swann, Leon Young, Irene Hsi, Gee Bee, Melissa Crago, Frederick Soo, Karla Quintero, Aryn Faur, Richard Villa, Barbara Kaplan, Schuyler Ingle, Debbie Taylor, Louis Caditz-Peck, Sophie Bransfield, Jenny Miner, Jonathan Devoto, Eva Lyons, Lauren Brazell, Igor Chernyshev, Jo Kreiter, Rebecca Strull, Elyse Jacob, Elina Juvonen, Ava Maag, michael fleit, Nicco Tyson, ainsley tharp, Cheryl Fralick, Shaham Shira, Alanna Krowiak, J Miakoda Taylor, Suzanne Blumenthal, Maica Folch, Christine Renaudin, Hanna Sistek, Risa Jaroslow, ri dym, Stephanie Frankle, Marie Hoff, Jules Brouillet, Catrina Sheen, Olivia Trevino, Nina Bayley, Sasha Wright, Mihyun Lee, Angela Heyun, Gabriel Diamond, Dena Holper, Michael Reinhold, Riki Bloom, Ro Stratton, Katie Ring, Saana Deichsel, Elizabeth Rojas, Robb Godshaw, Ezra LeBank, Daniel Moreh, Travis Jungroth, Tamera Lanham, Marisa Handler, Anneli Berry, Emily Leap, Jennifer Allen, Shira Yaziv, Erica Stevenson, Jessica Mayer, Natalia Mäntynen-Smith, Riitta Maunus, Heikki Koskinen, Linnea Due, Rent Romus, Jonah Kagan, Daniel Deslauriers, Sam Seppala And many generous donors and volunteers who wished to remain anonymous. THANK YOU. Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Back to Top Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States 510-845-5352 [email protected] Powered by Squarespace Finnish Special Events — THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT THE FINNISH HALL HOME RENTALS Auditorium Meeting Room Café Ski Club Room Policies / FAQ EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events FINNISH HALL History Finnish Heritage Society Kaleva Ski Club ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT EVENTS Regular Classes & Meetings Community Events Finnish Events SPECIAL FINNISH EVENTS This page highlights Finnish cultural events at the hall. For rental availability, please visit the page of the room you are interested in, located under the "RENTALS" tab, and check the availability calendar for that space. Vappu Spring Festival 2026! Sunday may 3rd, 2pm - 4pm Finnish Heritage Society present the Vappu Spring Festival 2026! A celebration of Spring! Food, Raffle, Music, Poetry, Crafts and more! **More info TBA ** ALL PROCEEDS HELP COMPLETE THE ACCESS/ADA PROJECT!!! Make a donation today! https://www.gofundme.com/f/berkeley-finn-hall-accessibility Sunday May 31st, The Finnish Heritage Society and Outsound Presents: Rent Romus , Heikki Koskinen 's The Otherworld Ensemble play SOUL BIRD SUITE + ZELE , Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble’s East Bay community chorus Rent Romus , Heikki Koskinen and The Otherworld Ensemble will present Soul Bird at the iconic Berkeley Finnish Hall , a musical odyssey of mythic bird stories. The spark originally came from the stories of the Siberian Jay, also known in Finland as ‘kuukkeli’, which is found throughout the Arctic regions of the world. In Finland, as well as in other Finno-Ugric cultural myths, this small, brave and charismatic bird is considered to be the carrier of human souls to and from the afterlife of Manala (the Underworld). ZELE, Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble’s East Bay community chorus , is now in its 22nd season. This vibrant women’s choir sings folk tunes and choral pieces from Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus regions. The music is steeped in the richness and diversity of women’s ancient a cappella singing traditions bursting with odd rhythms and dissonant harmonies. Its vocalists revel in the joy and transformative powers of group singing and community song sharing. kitka.org/zele-community-chorus Doors 6:30 PM Music 7:00 PM Advance Tickets @Eventbrite or at the Door Cost: $15/20 ✚gCal    ✚iCal Past Events: Finnish Independence Celebration! Come Celebrate One Hundred and eight years of Finnish independence! Saturday, December 6, 2025 hosted by: Finnish Heritage Society Doors Open at 1:30pm, 2pm Food is Served, 2:30pm Program Starts * MUSIC FROM Heidi Saario & Erich Buchholz + Heikki Koskinen, Rent Romus * POETRY BY Anita Erola * GUEST SPEAKERS Fred Mork FHS Chairperson, Andy Lundberg, Hall Manager “The State of the Hall”, and Irene Hjelt, Honorary Consul of Finland in the San Francisco Bay Area * KEYNOTE SPEAKER Richard Hourula FREE ADMISSION PROGRAM: * PROCESSION OF THE AMERICAN AND FINNISH FLAGS The Star-Spangled Banner (USA) & Maamme laulu/Vårt Land (Suomi-Finland) (Printed words in the program; Finnish anthem may be sung in Finnish or Swedish) * WELCOME GREETING : Fred Mork, FHS Chairperson * FEATURED MUSIC : Heidi Saario & Erich Buchholz * SPEAKER : Irene Hjelt, Honorary Consul of Finland in the San Francisco Bay Area * SPEAKER : Andy Lundberg, Hall Manager “The State of the Hall” * FEATURED MUSIC : Heidi Saario & Erich Buchholz * POEM : Anita Erola, “Karelia Echoes Still” * KEYNOTE SPEAKER : Richard Hourula “ Early Days of Berkeley’s Finntown: It Wasn’t All Kahvia Ja Pullaa” * POEM : Anita Erola: “Independence Poem” * Acknowledgements & thank you’s * ENDING MUSIC : Finlandia Hymn (Jean Sibelius – V.A. Koskenniemi) Musicians : Heikki Koskinen, Rent Romus, Heidi Saario MENU * Smoked fish sandwiches on rye bread with salad * Berry cake & piparkakkus * Coffee, Tea, Wine, Martinelli, Juice for kids FOOD TICKETS at the Door: $20 adults, $15 students, kids under 10 free / $5 wine&beer, $3 nonalcoholic * Special Thanks to Finnish Heritage Society’s Cultural Committee and the many volunteers as well as Finnish Hall’s management for helping with food and the hall set-up web: www.finnishhall.org / facebook: www.facebook.com/finnishbhall Nice Noise: A Finnish Choir from Ostrobothnia, Nedervetil, Finland SPECIAL PERFORMANCE WEDNESDAY JUNE 11TH, 7PM - 9PM Singing songs of Finlandia, Där björkarna susa, Högt över havet, Stormskärs Maja, Mot okända hav. In Finnish: Rakkaus on lumivalkoinen, kaksi vanhaa puuta...The first ones are typical Swedish-Finnish songs, a part of our cultural heritage, the Finnish ones are love songs. In English we sing songs like: Fly on the Wings of Love, Wouldn't it be nice (Beach boys), Can't help falling in love, That's all right Mamma, Unchained Melody, Amazing Grace, Abba songs... We sing traditional songs, rock & pop songs.  Refreshments provided by the Finnish Heritage Society. Cost: FREE (Donations Accepted) The Finnish History of West Berkeley Richard Hourula describes the history of the Finnish community in West Berkeley . June 14th, 2:00 - 3:00pm, West Branch Community Meeting Room. Richard Hourula is an active member of the Finnish Heritage Society, a native of Berkeley, born to Finnish parents. His first career was as a journalist, and he later taught history in public schools then ESL to adults. To date, he has written two novels and is currently working on a third. In addition, Richard maintains a blog about films, teaching, politics, mental health, substance abuse issues, and fiction and humor pieces. He is happily married and has two daughters. West Branch Library, 1125 University Ave. Free. Wheelchair accessible. Vappu Spring Festival 2025! Sunday April 27th, 1pm - 4pm Finnish Heritage Society present the Vappu Spring Festival 2025! A celebration of Spring! Food, Speakers, Music, and more! FREE event admission including complimentary Coffee & tea BUFFET TICKETS - $20, Kids under 12 - $15 beer, wine, water, juice $5/$3 Produced by the Finnish Heritage Society’s Cultural Committee Many thanks to all the volunteers! https://www.finnishhall.org/hall ALL PROCEEDS HELP THE HALL’S ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT!!! Make a donation today! https://www.gofundme.com/f/berkeley-finn-hall-accessibility Independence Day Celebration!! Sunday December 8, 2024 The Finnish American Community celebrated 107 years of Finnish Independence! This year we celebrated with: * MUSIC FROM Pellava Choir, dir. Anne Castren * POETRY/PROSE BY Anita Erola & Richard Hourula * GUEST SPEAKERS Fred Mork, FHS Chairperson & Benn Karne, FAHA * KEYNOTE SPEAKER Mårten Mickos (Bay Area’s Finnish Honorary Consul) * Smoked fish sandwiches on rye bread with salad * Berry cake & piparkakkus * Coffee, Tea, Wine, Martinelli, Juice in containers for kids See Photos from this years Independence Day Celebration here: https://finlandiafoundationnational.pixieset.com/independencedayatfinnishbrotherhoodhallberkeleyca/ . Special thanks to Minea and the Finnlandia Foundation. Donations continue to be welcomed in helping us upgrade the hall for ADA improvements! All donations go through our Community Fundraising Partner Sense Object! *** gofundme.com/f/berkeley-finn-hall-accessibility *** This year we honored Duke Miao for his over 30 years of community service and stewardship to the Finnish Hall! Thank you Duke!…Special thanks to also to Fredrica Sumelius and the Finnish Heritage Society’s Cultural Committee for putting on such a great event! A Scandinavian Holiday Celebration Come celebrate with Sacred and Profane as we sing enticing arrangements of familiar traditional gems of Scandinavia. Friday 12/6/2024, 8 PM; Noe Valley Ministry, ​​1021 Sanchez St, San Francisco Saturday 12/7/2023, 4 PM; St Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley https://ticket