Are you an artist with experience in working with children (age 0-6 years)? Do you want to help Helsinki´s art institutes to improve their work with diverse audiences, especially the youngest and their families?

Globe Art Point collaborates with Helsinki City Cultural Services in a project which invites children and their families to participate in the programs of art institutes. G.A.P. ry is now looking for artist who could help the City to reach families with diverse backgrounds.

 With an Open Call we want to find artists who would participate in a series of meetings and workshops with art institutes to meet and discuss together things they should consider when they want be more open to a more diverse audience and (very) young children and their families.

For the selected artists the project will start with a planning meeting in May/June 2019. In August & September there will be meetings & workshops with the staff of art & culture institutes with conversations and examples of good practices. Artists will receive an hourly-based fee for their work, paid by the City of Helsinki.

HOW TO PROCEED?

If you are interested in participating in the project please send us a motivation letter (max 1 A4) in a PDF describing your experience and motivation for this kind of work, your CV in PDF format and your contact information through THIS FORM the latest by 25.4.2019.

The selection will be made at the end of April by the project coordinator and the curators of Globe Art Point.

WHAT?

This process is part of City´s Kulttuurin kummilapset (Godchildren of Culture) project. In the project the City promises that every child born in Helsinki from 2020 on will have an artistic or cultural institution as a “godperson”, through which the child and his family will get a personal connection to art. This collaboration is to be continued until the child goes to school.

Participation in the cultural activities planned according to the child’s age contributes to the artistic development of the child and the well-being of the family, while providing the family with a connection to the society. This action implements the right of the child to art and culture (UNESCO).

HOW?

The parents of the child will receive the invitation letter sent by the children´s counselor (Lasten neuvola). Those wishing to participate will sign up for the project online. The art & culture institute will then send those families information about the events via e-mail. Families will book events suitable for them online. Events are free to attend for the families.

WHEN?

Children born in 2020 will become the children of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. From 2021 onwards, every year a new form of art will be added to the project.

In the project there will be included:

• Helsinki Art Museum HAM (and other art museums, such as Kiasma and Amos Rex
• Helsinki City Theater (as a partner with other theatres)
• Helsinki City Museum (in collaboration with the new Design and Architecture Museum, amongst others)
• Helsinki City Library (Oodi and Regional Libraries)
• Dance House and Cirko – New Circus Center (coordinating many contemporary dance and circus groups)
• Finnish National Opera and Ballet
• Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

The cities´ Children´s Councilors (lasten neuvolat) and Early Childhood Education are involved in this project and will communicate as experts.

BACKGROUND

The project is based on excellent experiences from the Helsinki City Orchestra’s godchildren activity, which began in 2000. The first godchildren of orchestra were in the years 2000-2007, and now there are children born in 2012 who will start school in autumn 2019. More than half of the age group, about 3400 children with their families, are involved in the project.

The project is led by the Cultural Services of the City of Helsinki.

More information from the Helsinki City´s designer Ulla Laurio:

email: ulla.laurio@hel.fi

tel: 040 149 3584