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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

Break the Fight! – Breakdance against bullying is a set of art education actions launched by the Arja Tiili Dance Company already in 2014. The action includes open art workshops in schools for 6th–9th graders and professional dance performances. The workshop tour 2017-2018 in four municipalities outside the capital region was funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Thanks to the well-working workshop model, and to the efforts of making the need for development visible thanks to research studies (see the evaluation study edited by Sofia Laine by the Finnish Youth Research Society, the study was partly funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture) as well as the funding received from the City of Helsinki, the “Break the Fight” action will continue its work to reduce school bullying in East Helsinki during the period 2018-2021.

Combating discrimination and poverty through cultural activities

The Government Programme (2019-2023) emphasises (as did the previous one) the importance of wellbeing opportunities offered by the Culture field. The goal is to bring culture closer to everyone by increasing the amount of art on show in places that are easily accessible to all, such as public spaces and institutions. Access to culture is carried out by incorporating it into children’s and young people’s daily lives, such as activities offered before, after and during school days. One of the main actions is a regular nationwide survey on free-time activity wishes (for more information, visit Youth Wiki/Finland 8.3 National Strategy). The emphasis on accessibility highlights that a lack of funds, nor any other factor, need not  become an obstacle when it comes to participating in cultural activities, and that wellbeing opportunities for wellbeing offered by the cultural field ought to be recognised.

Culture for All is a service, which operates nationally in the field of arts and culture and promotes cultural services that are inclusive and take diverse audiences into account. The service is run by the Association for Culture on Equal Terms. The service offers information and support for operators in the cultural field in order to improve accessibility and knowledge of diversity. It collaborates at the development stage towards the inclusion of diverse audiences not only with art and cultural institutions but also with different audience groups. In 2019 a project called “Avaus - Opening. Becoming an agent in the field of arts and culture in Finland” was realised. The idea is to support the participation of artists and cultural workers of non-Finnish origin or background in the Finnish arts and culture scene. The project is carried out together with the Center for Cultural Policy Research Cupore and Globe Art Point, and it is supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Agency for Education.