Our operation and values
Annantalo is an arts centre for children, young people and families in Helsinki. Annantalo is a venue for art education, exhibitions and performances, events and workshops. Annantalo is also a venue for seminars and training courses that promote children's culture.
Art education
Art education at Annantalo includes learning the expressive language and techniques of art and being closely connected with the surrounding culture. Teachers at Annantalo are professional artists and/or art pedagogues. Each year, about 10,000 children and young people who live in Helsinki take part in education at Annantalo.
In the daytime, during school terms, the building is filled with school children who attend 5x2 art education. Cultural courses targeted at secondary schools and upper secondary schools mainly take place at schools and art adventures offered to day care groups at the premises of day care centres. In addition to art education, performances, exhibition tours and workshops are also offered to school classes and day care groups. Annantalo maintains the Kultus.fi network service targeted at teachers and day care professionals. Courses are organised in the evenings, on weekends and during vacations for children and young people who are involved with art.
Exhibitions and events
Exhibitions held at Annantalo have an objective that is related to art education and they are always somehow related to the world of children and/or young people. The artwork of our own art groups is also presented from time to time in the facilities. Book illustration exhibitions are held in the café.
In addition to individual events, Annantalo’s programme contains standard activities targeted at children and young people of various age as well as families and programme that is related to the events of the City of Helsinki. The spring festival at Annantalo includes performances of their own dance and theatre groups. In the summer time, the A●lava stage in the back yard opens up with versatile programme for young people as well as families and other residents of Helsinki.
Our values
The operations in Annantalo are organised both internally and in cooperation with various parties. The principle is to create a favourable atmosphere and conditions for children and young people to experience art and culture, and to be able to actively participate and see art and culture in Helsinki. The aim is that children and young people become competent operators within the city’s artistic and cultural life.
The values of Annantalo include accessibility, equality, child-orientation, openness and the presence of art. For administrative purposes, Annantalo is a part of the City of Helsinki Cultural Services.