Activities // Open Calls

Participatory Public Artwork for the entrance of Children's Museum at Tiima, Oulu, Finland

We are looking for an artist who is both a visual creator and a pedagogical facilitator: someone capable of transforming children's ideas, imagination and creativity into a compelling public artwork for a new museum environment. 

The City of Oulu invites one visual artist from the CreArt 3.0 network to take part in a two-week residency in Oulu, Finland, to create a participatory artwork together with children from the English Speaking Playschool of Oulu.

The resulting artwork will become part of the new Museum and Science Centre Tiima, opening in the European Capital of Culture Oulu in October 2026. The artwork will be installed in the entrance staircase and lobby area leading to the new Children's museum, outdoor play area Adventure Factory and Makerspace, outdoocreating a welcoming and inspiring environment for young visitors and their families.

Tiima is a special and unique museum and science centre where science, art, and history meet. It brings together VISIO, Tietomaa, the Oulu Museum, and the Children's Museum under one roof, offering exhibitions and events. https://www.tiima-oulu.fi/en/ 

The Residency Project

The selected artist will design and facilitate an artistic process involving children aged approximately 3-6 years from the English Speaking Playschool of Oulu.

The project aims to create a meaningful, playful and inclusive artistic experience in which children's ideas, creativity and visible contribution become an integral part of the final artwork.

The residency combines artistic practice, participation and art education. Therefore, we are seeking an artist who is also comfortable working as a pedagogical facilitator and who has previous experience working with children.

The working language of the residency is English.

The kindergarten staff will participate in and support the workshops and creative activities.

Artistic Approach

Applicants are invited to propose their own methodology for working with children.

The proposal may be based on, for example:

Option A: Collaborative On-site Creation

The artist works directly with children in Tiima and day care center and creates the artwork together with them through workshops, creative sessions and hands-on making. 

Option B: Artwork Developed from Children's Contributions

The artist provides the children with themes, tasks or creative exercises before the residency workshops. The children produce drawings, stories, shapes, textures, ideas or other material that becomes part of the final artwork. The artist then develops and completes the final work based on these contributions.

In both approaches, the children's contribution should remain clearly visible in the completed artwork.

Applicants are encouraged to include playful, imaginative and age-appropriate methods for engaging children of different ages and abilities.

The artist may also propose warm-up activities, introductory sessions or creative assignments that help establish contact with the children before the main workshops begin.

Site and Technical Requirements

The artwork will be installed in a public indoor museum environment. Due to the safety requirements of Museum and Science Centre Tiima, all materials used in the final artwork must comply with applicable fire safety regulations and be suitable for permanent or long-term installation in a public building.

Applicants are therefore expected to propose only non-flammable or appropriately fire-rated materials and methods. Preference will be given to solutions that can be directly implemented on existing wall surfaces or through approved museum-grade materials.

Possible approaches may include:

• Wall painting using approved paints and coatings
• Fire-rated vinyl graphics or adhesive wall installations
• Other non-flammable or fire-certified materials suitable for public interiors

Applicants should clearly identify the proposed materials and include an estimated material budget as part of their project proposal.

The artist may utilize all surfaces of the space as part of the artwork, including walls, floor and ceiling. 

The artwork may form a single unified composition or extend across multiple surfaces, making use of the architectural features of the space. The work does not need to be limited to a two-dimensional wall piece; it may also take the form of a spatial installation that embraces the staircase and lobby as a three-dimensional environment. Any protruding elements of the artwork must not compromise the safety or accessibility of movement in the said spaces. 

Artist Profile

The call is open to professional visual artists who:

• Are born in or currently reside in one of the CreArt 3.0 network cities
• Have previous experience in participatory, community-based or educational art projects
• Have experience working with children
• Are interested in public space, participation and creative learning processes
• Are able to facilitate activities in English

We particularly welcome proposals that combine contemporary artistic practice with play, imagination, storytelling and collaborative creation.

Residency Period

Residency period: 16-29 November 2026

Opening event: 27 November 2026

The artist is expected to be present in Oulu throughout the residency period.

As participation depends on the artist's proposed methodology, applicants are invited to suggest an appropriate number and size of workshop groups.

There are a total of 63 children in the daycare. According to the plan, 20+ children will participate in the activity. The children can be divided into small groups, and the work can be done over several days. The group's own educators will also participate in the activity. 

Financial Conditions

The selected artist will receive:

• Artist fee: €1,500
• Accommodation in Oulu
• Travel costs to and from Oulu
• Production support for approved material costs

Applicants should include an estimated materials budget as part of their proposal.

Application Documents

Applications must be submitted in English and include:

• CV (max. 2 pages)
• Portfolio (selected examples of previous work)
• Copy of passport or ID card
• Proof of residence or connection to a CreArt city
• Project proposal (max. 2 pages), including: 
  • Artistic concept
  • Methodology for working with children
  • Preliminary vision for the artwork
  • Estimated workshop format and participant group size 
  • Technical requirements
  • Estimated material budget

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the basis of:

• Artistic quality
• Experience with participatory and educational practices
• Feasibility of the proposal
• Quality of engagement with children
• Suitability for the Children's Museum environment

Application Deadline

11 October 2026

The selected artist will be notified after the evaluation process. Results will also be published through the CreArt 3.0 communication channels.

This residency brings together four partners with a shared interest in creativity, participation and learning: the European CreArt 3.0 network, the Children as Artists in Oulu initiative, the English Speaking Playschool of Oulu and the new Museum and Science Centre Tiima. Together, they invite an artist to create a public artwork that celebrates children's imagination and makes their creative contribution visible in one of Oulu's newest cultural spaces.

 

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