Dear fellow creators of art and culture for children and young people, the wait is finally over, and we are delighted to introduce you to Annantalo's concepts Creator to Creator and the activities that have been jointly developed by and for professionals in the field of art!
The Creator-to-Creator model has been co-developed at Annantalo to offer professionals in children's and youth art and culture inspiration, collegial support, exchange of ideas and development ideas for their own work and the professional field. Annantalo is being developed as a centre of expertise, and through Creator-to-Creator activities, Annantalo aims to open up as a meeting point for professionals in children's and youth art and culture. We want to offer interdisciplinary activities in the form of various types of art meetings, opportunities to network, participate in peer training, share and produce information and knowledge about art.
The initial ideas for the Creator-to-Creator concepts were hatched in two open meetings at Annantalo in October 2024 and May 2025. At these meetings, various arts and culture professionals brainstormed content and formats for the meetings. The ideas flowed freely and were so numerous that they could easily have formed the basis for weekly meetings!
Each Creator-to-Creator meeting is based on an operating model in which participants take turns leading the meeting and being responsible for its content. Annantalo handles the day-to-day aspects of meeting production, such as communication, registration, and facilities. Annantalo pays the instructor preparing the event a fee based on the municipal collective agreement.
Based on last spring's ideas, we have created concepts for four different types of events where participants can share, explore, meet and discuss children's and young people's art and culture in an experimental, safe and collective way. We estimate that we can organise a maximum of 20 such events per year, i.e. about 10 meetings per spring and autumn term. All meetings require advance registration and are free of charge, except for the self-financed Morning Coffee meetings.
Art Talk
The Art Talk (Taidekeskustelua) concept includes an introduction to a specific theme, followed by a discussion. The introduction can be given by an expert or take the form of a joint reflection on a theme related to children's/young people's art. Let's get together with other creators in a relaxed but focused atmosphere to talk about art!
The Halfway Club (includes AH! moment) – a stage for showing
The Halfway Club is an artistic and experimental platform where you can show other participants something that is unfinished or in need of brainstorming. This could be, for example, an unfinished work of art or an art education exercise or method in development. The activity includes an AH! moment, which means that you may gain a brilliant insight when you reflect on problems and share observations together!
Meet the unknown! - to begin from the beginning
Come and try out an art form that is unknown to you. The art form may be completely new to you, or you may already be a little familiar with it. Each workshop is led by an instructor who is professional with the art form in question. So, if you are a saxophonist and would like to know how a circus artist teaches the basics of juggling, you could participate in a workshop led by a circus arts professional. You don't need to know anything or be skilled; just come and be amazed and get to know other artists and their art forms.
Morning coffee
Morning coffee meetings are lighthearted and easygoing get-togethers at Annantalo's café Napero. Come and start your day with other like-minded people who are interested in art and culture for children and young people, just like you, over a hot cup of coffee or tea! You pay for your own morning drink and there is no need to register in advance.
Birthday brunch of ideas for the next season
In addition to the four main concepts, Annegården organises meetings twice a year to brainstorm ideas for the next season's content. We will also discuss what the Creator-to-Creator model needs to develop further and be of use and enjoyment to us. At these birthday brunches, held once in the spring and once in the autumn, we draw up a draft ‘timetable’ for the next season.
More information in autumn 2026! Keep following this page.
Contacts: Susanna Metsälä, Senior Planning Officer for Arts Education, susanna.metsala(at)hel.fi, +358 (0)40 631 8144