Artist module
In partnership with the Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP), the Social Responsibility & Design programme brings to Finland 5 international artists for six-week residencies. These artists will include British, German and French artists. EUNIC in Finland member organisations (including British Council and Goethe) will select the artists in co-operation with HIAP, Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, MAD Tanssimaisterit, and other local organisations.
The first 2 artists will come to Finland in April-May 2012 and the remaining 3 artists in October-November 2012. Local arts organisations and universities will help pair up the international artists with local artists to provide contextual support and international exchange. The artists will be linked to the integrated study programme through workshops and projects with the chosen communities and through lectures and seminars with the local organisations and universities. Artists will be expected to produce content for project’s on-line platform in the form of blogs and video-diaries.
Examples of Residency-projects
Young international designers meet elderly people
One main project within this module will be young designers working together with elderly people in the metropolitan area. The workshops will take place in several sessions and will result in fashion shows open to the public. Background: The European Year of Active Ageing with the aim to improve the everyday life of elderly people with activities in which they can bring in their own interests and experiences and to express their needs and wishes with regards to clothing and design.
FIT – freie internationale tankstelle
Since it was founded in 2002, the FIT - freie internationale tankstelle - has stood for art that is relevant to society: Art that uses aesthetics to communicate ideas of individual and societal concerns, art that is visionary in its conception. The mission of FIT is to reclaim the abandoned architecture of filling stations and to rebrand their original function as sources of fossil fuel. It is a vision of transformation. Where the stations of exhausted natural resources are transformed by the imagination of those who gather, in the spirit of collaboration, to produce a new fuel for humanity. To tap into an inexhaustable resource; the life force of human creativity. It is the mission of FIT to be all inclusive in its commitment to exploring the full spectrum of human and societal creativity, including those expressions not commonly valued by society.
FIT is interested in extended concepts of art, such as creating social sculpture that restore art to an active role in society. To explore and stimulate the artistic-philosophical content inherent in cultural and social activities. At FIT artist, people from the local area as well as scientists meet. The social sculpture FIT – initiated by the German artist Dida Zende – represents places where creative energies can be refuelled. After Berlin, Ludwigshafen/Germany, Kaufdorf/Switzerland, Miami/USA and Copenhagen/ Denmark, the next dependance opens in Helsinki/ Espoo in 2012.