Carnivals in Finland and Brazil – A Documentation Project

Digitizing the Samba Carnival into a VR experience and making more photo collections accessible

“Carnivals in Finland and Brazil” is a documentation and digitization project that preserves the Finnish samba tradition for future generations. The project covers the history of samba school activities from the 1980s to 2026 and examines how samba has traveled from the Rio Carnival to Finland – and back.

The project collects interviews, photographs, and archival material, which will also be used to create a VR experience. It brings the Rio Carnival within everyone’s reach and tells of its historical background and various traditions, including those in different Brazilian cities. The topic is further illuminated through material filmed and recorded by Helinä Rautavaara in Brazil between 1963 and 1971, which is now being digitized.

The project’s key partners are the Finnish Samba School Association (SSKL) and its member schools, current and former samba enthusiasts, Verge Media Oy—the creator of the virtual experience—, and Communication Pro—the provider of the content management system.

The project’s implementetion is supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture.