Inclusive Centres of Culture 2024-2026
Art and culture for everyone – engaging locals, attracting visitors
The Inclusive Centres of Culture – Collaborative and Inclusive Cultural Tourism Through Nordic Cooperation (ICCE) project, which focuses on improving the accessibility of cultural centres, was launched at the end of 2024. The project emphasizes inclusivity and aims to enhance the accessibility and attractiveness of cultural centres for diverse audiences. Key goal of the project is to identify barriers that prevent so-called non-visitors from engaging with cultural centres’ activities.
The core aim of the project is to develop cultural centres into vibrant meeting places that foster interaction between local communities and travelers. By strengthening cooperation between the tourism and cultural sectors, the project seeks to promote year-round tourism for both domestic and international visitors, highlighting the region’s cultural attractions.
The project is led by Lapland University of Applied Sciences, with the City of Rovaniemi as the Finnish partner responsible for developing the Korundi House of Culture. Swedish partners include Konstmuseet i Norr (Kiruna), Skogs- och samemuseet (Lycksele), Gold of Lapland (Västerbotten), and Umeå University, which will focus on the development of its Bildmuseet art museum.
The project duration is from November 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026. It is funded by the Interreg Aurora program, the Regional Council of Lapland, Region Västerbotten and Lycksele community. The total project budget is 760 722 €, of which 492 995 € is covered by EU funding.
The project partners met for the first time in mid-January at Korundi in Rovaniemi. The kick-off event aimed to deepen partnerships and address the project’s goals, implementation, and focus on sustainability. The meeting also examined the first development target: the Korundi House of Culture. The current state, challenges, and opportunities of Korundi were analyzed, and the partners shared insights and experiences on how to increase visitor numbers and make cultural services more accessible and inclusive for northern residents and travelers.
For more information: Project Manager Malla Alatalo, malla.alatalo(at)lapinamk.fi
ArtHop 2024–2027
ArtHop – Art activities as part of youth support services in Lapland, Finland
The city of Rovaniemi has been granted a three-year funding from the European Social Fund (ESF+) for the ArtHop project. In this project, the Rovaniemi Art Museum will organize free community art activities for young people aged 15-29 in Lapland who are outside of employment and education. The aim is to prevent social exclusion, promote activity in life, and strengthen inclusion. Additionally, the project will introduce educational pathways in the arts and culture sector.
ArtHop is implemented in collaboration with city of Rovaniemi’s outreach youth work and five municipalities in Lapland. The art activities can be commissioned by municipal youth workers, adult social workers, municipal cultural actors, or the third sector such as associations. The goal of the activities is to improve the accessibility of culture in the municipalities of Lapland and to develop cooperation between existing support services. ArtHop utilizes the results of previous projects by the Rovaniemi Art Museum.
The ArtHop project is divided into three operational periods. At the beginning of each period, ArtHop groups for young people are formed in the municipalities, which can continue throughout the entire project if they wish. During one period, young people participate in art activities designed by the art museum or other art professionals about 8-10 times. The content is planned based on the museum’s collections and changing exhibitions, as well as the wishes of the young people. The goal is for everyone to have an experience of participation regardless of previous art skills. The art activities support the well-being and inclusion and helps in discovering own skills.
The project will create two operational models:
Participatory peer support model: Young people who have participated in the groups can continue in the project’s art activities as peer instructors. Working as an instructor provides young people with work experience and skills needed in working life.
Permanent network of actors: The project will create a model for cooperation between the Art Museum, youth support services, outreach youth work, youth workshop activities, social services, and young people. The aim is to enable the activity and inclusion of young people living in remote areas.
ArtHop Project manager
Kaija Kähkönen
040 359 4702
kaija.kahkonen@rovaniemi.fi
ArtHop Project planner
Matti-Pekka Karikko
040 144 8810
matti-pekka.karikko@rovaniemi.fi
Power from Art
Power from Art was implemented in 2021-23 and it achieved a significant part of the project's goals within two years.
The content of the Power from Art project was based on the promising results obtained from the Flow from Art- project implemented in 2020. The follow-up project aimed at extending the remote service to other special groups as well, especially to groups within the scope of adult social work in addition to young people. The designers of the content of the follow-up project are a group of young people formed through investigative youth work.
The corona crisis increased the need for various services supporting rehabilitation. The Power from Art project responded to this need. The Rovaniemi Art Museum's remote workshop service included getting to know the art museum's exhibition and related workshop activities via a video connection.
Power from Art was implemented in 2021-23 and it achieved a significant part of the project's goals within two years.
The content of the Power from Art project was based on the promising results obtained from the Flow from Art- project implemented in 2020. The follow-up project aimed at extending the remote service to other special groups as well, especially to groups within the scope of adult social work in addition to young people. The designers of the content of the follow-up project are a group of young people formed through investigative youth work.
The corona crisis increased the need for various services supporting rehabilitation. The Power from Art project responded to this need. The Rovaniemi Art Museum's remote workshop service included getting to know the art museum's exhibition and related workshop activities via a video connection.
Based on the feedback surveys collected from the participants, the goals of the project were realized very well. The goal was to contribute to the well-being of groups outside of working life and to increase activity in one's own life with the help of art. Based on the feedback, participating in the remote workshops cheered up the mood somewhat for 50% and very much for 25%. Again, 41.7% would participate and possibly 58.3% would participate. 41.7% experienced the joy of success very much.
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