Art-based services

The work community has the opportunity to get to know the field of art, artists and their work in connection with the activities organised by the artists and the workplace. The project operates diversely in several areas of visual arts and in different parts of Helsinki. The activities in the communities are open to everyone, equal and increase well-being at work. The project's activities are constantly being developed by experimenting and thinking about new ideas, as well as by listening to the wishes of the audience.

For artists, the project creates opportunities to develop their professional skills, networks, creativity and promotes the artist's livelihood opportunities. In addition, the project makes it possible to build new partnerships and strengthen old ones. The service model benefits artists economically, socially and culturally. The activities also enable the exchange of know-how with other actors in the creative sector. Participation in the project builds cultural awareness and competence and increases producer and developer skills.

The Helsinki Artists' Association is known for its high-quality and reliable artistic, educational and exhibition activities for a long time. The project seeks new, high-quality and sustainable art services in the Helsinki area. In addition, the new service model also produces information on artists' professional activities and the utilisation of artistic activities in the business sector and when developing the living environment (e.g. event production).

From January 2022, art-based services were marketed to companies and other organisations. The aim was to add new, high-quality services to the field of art that utilise the professional expertise of artists, create new partnerships in business life and other work communities, and boldly open doors to new perspectives on how art activities can be included in everyday life and free time.

Pink Eminence, a marketing and communications company focused on culture, was involved from the very beginning in setting the direction for the planning and mapping of the project and participated in discussions with partners.
In April 2022, the first art-based services were put to trial.

The first to take place were studio visits to the Cable Factory's ateliers. The ateliers of Katja Tukiainen and Maaria Märkälä, where visitors could get acquainted with their art and work.

(Atelier visit | left, Katja Tukiainen | right, Maaria Märkälä, kuva: Tuula Rajavuori)

"On 29.4.2022, the staff of the Finnish Museums Association visited the studios of the Cable Factory organised by the Helsinki Artists' Association. Together with a group of about 10 people, we visited the workspaces of Katja Tukiainen and Maaria Märkälä, where we got acquainted with their magnificent works under the guidance of the artists. The afternoon was crowned by delicious coffee cakes from the Hima&Sali restaurant conveniently in the premises of the Artists' Association. The visit was a much-needed refreshing boost in the midst of the spring rush and everything worked great. Many thanks to the Artists' Association and Katja Tukiainen and Maaria Märkälä for an inspiring afternoon!"

In May, Jussi TwoSeven guided the staff of the Helsinki Events Foundation to the secrets of graffiti in Suvilahti.
(Graffiti workshop, photo: Eija Saarivirta)

(Graffiti workshop, photos: Jussi TwoSeven)

In May, artist meetings were also organised in connection with the exhibitions. Saija Koponen at Gallery Katariina and Sirkku Ketola at HAA Gallery. The meetings were related to Mieli's (Mental Health Finland) event held in the last week of May.

In autumn 2022, the Vappu Rossi portrait workshop took place in October, which the Finnish Cultural Foundation commissioned for its event.

The Heavenly Drawing Hours workshops led by Satu Kalliokuusi and Ville Räty's Let's be Creative lecture took place in autumn 2023.

(left,  Heavenly Drawing Hours  | photo: Eija Saarivirta, right, Let's be Creative | photo: Johannes Kaira)

Project work packages: 

TP1. Creating an art service concept for corporate and public actors
TP2. A sustainable service package for the visual arts that enables, for example, exhibition, training and art brokerage
TP3. Integration of sustainable arts services into companies' operating environments and communities 

The main partner was Pink Eminence.

The project was supported by the City of Helsinki in 2021–22 and the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2022–23.