Finland’s first regional artist for outsider art begins work

Outsider art refers to art that is created primarily outside the educated art world. In Finland, the forms of outsider art include special art, ITE (“self-made”) art and mental health rehabilitation art. The new regional artist will work to bolster the status of outsider art, as well as that of special art and artists, together with national and international actors. This is the first time that the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) has appointed a regional artist for outsider art.

Esa Vienamo has considerable work experience in the field of outsider art, both in Finland and internationally. Vienamo has been active in the implementation of regional projects that have received key project funding from the Finnish Government. He also has broad networks and a good understanding of the ongoing changes in social and healthcare reform and regional administration.

“I am interested in how outsider artists could gain more visibility within their own local environments or public spaces, even in unexpected places. Ideally, artists in need of special support can play an active role in realising their own artistic abilities, both in terms of content and even financially. We already have good examples of this,” Vienamo says.

“The opportunities for people in need of special support to work professionally as artists vary greatly throughout Finland. This is an injustice that I would like to begin to rectify together with actors in the art sector and those working with people with disabilities. All talented artists deserve the chance to demonstrate their abilities, both in Finland and internationally. It would be interesting to initiate a nationwide campaign to increase the role of art in the work and daily activities of people with disabilities.”

Vienamo began working at Taike’s regional office in Pori on 1 April 2019 and is responsible for the Satakunta and Uusimaa regions. This position is part of the ongoing development programme for the use of art to promote wellbeing. His term as regional artist is for five years.

Further information:

Johanna Vuolasto

Special Advisor

Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Kouvola

t. +358 295 330 870

[email protected]