The second round of Helsinki's participatory budjeting OmaStadi, implemented almost entirely digitally, demonstrated that a more diverse group of residents was involved than in the first round.

A city is a community formed by city residents, and the role of the city administration is to answer their needs and ensure their conditions for success. Changes in the community and its operational environment require the administration to adapt to the new circumstances. In the present article, we will locate areas of activity on which cities of the Helsinki metropolitan area should considering focussing in order to manage their relationship with the urban activists in an ideal way.

City officials have long striven to manage Helsinki’s reputation and visual appearance through place-making and marketing communication. In the 2000s, these actions have been grouped under the umbrella of “city branding” – a practice that has become increasingly popular throughout the world in the context of global intercity competition.

A significant social change is taking place in civil society in Helsinki and neighbouring cities. Activities based on networks and peer-to-peer production are emerging due to the internet and social media, inspiring new forms of agency. This leads to changes in civil society and thereby also changes in cities and how they are planned and developed.

Cultural participation in Helsinki is a little studied topic.

The digitisation of cities can open up unforeseen opportunities from which we must learn to benefit, says Timo Cantell, new editor-in-chief of Kvartti and director at City of Helsinki Urban Facts since April.

From consumption to co-production; from large-scale to small-scale; from café culture to street food; from 'looking up to Berlin' to leading the way? During the past couple of decades, urban culture in Helsinki has developed on an unprecedented scale.

Imagine a city where public decision-making is easy for all to follow and comment on using any digital channel. A solution to this challenge is being sought in Helsinki, which has long been working to unlock the data reserves related to municipal decision-making.