Annantalo renovation

Let's play! - Annantalo 2040

Helsinki’s own children and youth art centre, Annantalo, will be renovated in the early 2030s, and now the city residents – including children and young people – have a chance to influence its future.   

Annantalo is a multidisciplinary arts centre for children, young people and families and it is the largest children's culture operator in Helsinki. The construction works of the Annantalo renovation are scheduled to start in 2032.  The reasons for the renovation are essentially related to the physical facilities and the technical lifespan of the building, such as improving its accessibility and modernising the facilities. Major renovation projects also provide an opportunity to plan and develop the services offered. This is why Annantalo wants to engage in a dialogue with its different user groups, current customers and partners, and also potential future customers about their needs in the future. 

Our goal is to make Annantalo a source of pride for children and young creators of the city and an even more beloved place among the children’s culture sites in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area – while honouring the building’s cultural history and its spirit. 

What is the aim of the renovation? 

Development areas and objectives initially identified for the reform include ​ 

1. Creating inviting, customer-oriented and functional spaces for arts and culture. The focus of the renovation will be on the perspective of children, young people, families and the adults accompanying children and young people. The aim is to maintain Annantalo's position as the largest provider of children's culture in Helsinki.  

2. Improving accessibility, for example at entrances or to make it easier for people with prams, wheelchairs or several children to get around. 

3. Preservation and safeguarding of cultural and historical features. The beautiful Annantalo building is part of the history of Helsinki and its people, their shared cultural environment.​ 

4. Designing flexible multipurpose spaces Annantalo’s practices will continue to actively create space for all kinds of art, both old and new traditions and changing content.  

​5. Ergonomic and practical workspaces for both Annantalo personnel and our partners working on the premises.