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1. Fostering equality and young people involvement through cultural activities

2. Combating discrimination and poverty through cultural activities

Fostering equality and young people involvement through cultural activities

Young people’s equality is supported by associations and the initiatives arising from various cultural fields. Break the Fight! and the Finnish Youth Circus Association are given as examples of actors promoting young people’s equality in the cultural field.

Break the Fight!

Break the Fight! – Breakdance against bullying is a business model launched by the Arja Tiili Dance Company in 2014. The concept offers hip-hop culture-inspired education and activities for youth workers, artists, schools, and businesses.

The Finnish Youth Circus Association 

The Finnish Youth Circus Association (FYCA) has strengthened the accessibility of circus for immigrants, people with special needs, and people in rural areas, through projects carried out with the support of the Ministry of Education and Culture and private funding. In FYCA, circus is also approached through the idea of ‘social circus’. The concept refers to viewing circus as an artistic tool that can, for example, prevent social exclusion. FYCA organises education and events about ‘social circus’ for educators in the circus field. In 2019, the Finnish National Youth Council and Youth Sector (FYCS) (then known as Allianssi) granted the Youth Work Methods award to Sirkus Magenta for its ‘social circus’ work.

Evaluating the impacts of participating in cultural hobbies 

Lastly, the 2024 ‘Experienced impacts of cultural hobbies’ (Kulttuuriharrastamisen koetut vaikutukset, in Finnish) report aims to highlight how engagement with cultural hobbies promotes social inclusion, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. The questionnaire is not specifically targeted at young people, but it was sent to the members of the Finnish Youth Circus Association, the Youth Association of Finland, and Young Culture (in addition to the Amateur Theatre Association of Finland, the Finnish Folk Music Association (in Finnish), and the Finnish Wind Band Association. The report was coordinated by the Citizens’ Forum. Of all respondents, 24.1% were 15–28-year-olds. The 2024 survey stated that the most significant social impact identified was the effect cultural hobbies have on reducing loneliness and social exclusion. 

The report showcases the results of a questionnaire-based study that examines the kinds of impacts cultural hobbies have on people. The questionnaire is structured around a rating scale (from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree) and includes claims such as:

1.    I feel like I am building a better society through my hobby.
2.    I feel like I belong in the group.
3.    I experience bullying or exclusion in my hobby.
 

Combating discrimination and poverty through cultural activities

There are no measures that specifically target young people. Culture for All is a service operating nationally in the field of arts and culture, promoting cultural services that are inclusive and that take diverse audiences into account. The service is run by the Association for Culture on Equal Terms. The service offers information and support to operators in the cultural field to improve accessibility and knowledge of diversity.