In the Culture and Health Platform projects, four artists engage with people through music, dance, and circus arts

 

The artists for the Finnish project call of the Culture and Health Platform have been selected. The call for projects ended on 31 March 2025 and received a total of 47 applications from all over Finland. The jury, consisting of experts from the Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences, selected four project proposals from among the applications to be implemented.  

Saaramaija Żórawski, music pedagogue (Master of Culture and Arts) and musician, will implement a community-based art workshop series titled  Ääneen Laulettu (“Sung Out Loud”) at the Cancer Center of Helsinki University Hospital (HUS).  

The aim of the project is to support young cancer patients. In the workshops, participants will process their experiences through music, creative writing, and artistic expression. The project seeks to promote the psychological well-being of young cancer patients and reduce their feelings of loneliness. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with an occupational therapist at HUS. 

Riina Kalmi, dance artist, will carry out the project Movement and Presence – The Potential of Dance in Care Environments in collaboration with the mental health and addiction services of the South Ostrobothnia Wellbeing Services County. 

The project aims to integrate culture-based well-being practices and dance into psychiatric specialized care, particularly within the eating disorder unit and inpatient psychiatric care. Additionally, the project will develop the use of dance and embodied methods as tools to support staff’s well-being at work. This project continues the successful collaboration Kalmi began with the South Ostrobothnia Wellbeing Services County in a previous project. 

Marjo Smolander, music pedagogue (Master of Culture and Arts), will carry out her project as an artist residency at several Rinnekodit locations in the Helsinki metropolitan area.  

During the residency, she will visit seven Rinnekodit units with her Participatory Kantele Concert concept, engaging with individuals both one-on-one and in groups. The activities include joint music-making, singing, listening to music, discussions, and music-inspired painting and movement. The aim is to increase musical participation and dismantle hierarchical roles between clients and staff through shared artistic experiences. The project is implemented in collaboration with the Diakonissalaitos, which owns Rinnekodit Ltd, a social enterprise. 

Lida Kuusisto, circus artist, theatre instructor (BA in Circus Arts), and Bachelor of Culture and Arts in Community Education, will implement the Aistisirkus (“Sensory Circus”) project in collaboration with Aisti ry in Turku. The project explores how circus arts can support well-being when designed for neurodivergent individuals and tailored to accommodate various sensory sensitivities. Social circus is used as a tool that meets individuals as they are and respects their unique needs. 

The project promotes equal access to recreational activities, increases understanding of the target group, and shares knowledge about circus as a tool for well-being with national autism and ADHD organizations. Aisti ry is an association that supports the well-being and community of people on the autism spectrum and those with ADHD, as well as their families, in the Turku region. 

Lida Kuusisto’s work is made possible by a €10,000 grant awarded to the Culture and Health Platform by the City of Turku as part of its flagship cultural initiative. The projects by Saaramaija Żórawski, Riina Kalmi and Marjo Smolander each receive €8,000 in funding from the Culture and Health Platform. 

All projects will be completed by the end of November 2025. The next project call will take place at the beginning of 2026. 

Taikusydän coordination center and Turku University of Applied Sciences serve as partners and the national contact point for all Culture and Health Platform activities in Finland. The project is funded by the European Union, Turku University of Applied Sciences, and the City of Turku. The international Culture and Health Forum will be held in Turku on 29–30 September 2025.