Artists for OAF 2026 have been announced!
We are thrilled to reveal the artists for the 2026 Outsider Art Festival! Hailing from all corners of Finland, this year’s OAF artists represent the incredible world of outsider art across visual arts, music, literature, film, and performing arts. The festival’s program is shaped and selected by an artistic working group made up of outsider […]
OAF 2026 – HOPE: Outsider Art Festival Gathers as a Counterforce in a Cooling Climate
Outsider Art Festival OAF 2026 takes place in August, 20.8.-30.8.2026, at a moment when the social climate has grown harsher and support structures for those left at the margins of society are eroding. Cuts to public funding and weakening resources across the NGO and cultural sectors directly affect the artists and cultural workers who need […]
Pertin Valinta x Tiketti Gallery Launches in March
Pertin Valinta x Tiketti Gallery Launches in March! The joint gallery programme will include four exhibitions during the year. The Encounters exhibition series will be produced inclusively through collaboration between insider and outsider artists. The aim is to highlight unexpected encounters and multidisciplinary practitioners from different artistic fields. Tiketti and Pertin Valinta began their collaboration […]
Open call for OAF 2026 working groups!
OAF is looking for employees and interns in the arts and culture sector for communication and event production tasks and working groups. Come and create unforgettable festival experiences with us! The OAF festival will be held in August, starting on the Night of the Arts on August 20th. OAF is the Friend Festival of Helsinki […]
OAF Open Call 2026 now live!
OAF 2026 applications are open November 3–30, 2025! OAF is a multidisciplinary art festival that will be held in August 2026 as part of the Helsinki Festival. OAF brings together artists working in the margins with international art audiences and cultural actors. The festival has been described as wild, mind-expanding, bold, equal, inclusive, and joyful. […]
OAF Tokyo pop up 29.11.-26.12.2025
Imagine Everyday! Outsider Art Finland on the 29thNov – 26th Dec, is a showcase for Finnish outsider arts organised in collaboration with HERALBONY, Pertin Valinta (Pertti’s Choice) and the Finnish Institute in Japan. This unique collaboration features Outsider Art Festival (OAF) events around Tokyo, inviting everyone to imagine a more inclusive, diverse and sustainable future. […]
Photos from OAF 2025
Outsider Art Festival was celebrated in Helsinki and Espoo from August 14 to 24, 2025. While waiting for next year, you can take a look at a photo compilation of the festival events here. Below you can also read the festival team’s highlights from the wide-ranging program: The OAF Opening, celebrated on the Night of […]
Take part in planning OAF 2026!
Outsider Art Festival OAF would like to thank everyone for the amazing festivals that concluded last week!! A huge thank you to the artists, partners, working groups, volunteers, and of course the audience! We would be extremely grateful if you could take a moment to fill out the festival audience survey here. It only takes […]
OAF 2025 award winners are Nilas Lindell and Hanna Heino
The 2025 Artist Award and four honorable mentions were presented at the festival’s opening ceremony. The winners of the OAF 2025 Award are Nilas Lindell and Hanna Heino from the OAF Literature Program. The OAF Award is a €1,000 working stipend and an Elvis statue by Satu Nekala. The award was presented by Jenni Haukio, […]
OAF Opening is celebrated on the Night of the Arts 14.8.!
OAF Opening fills the old Elanto Leipätehdas block with outsider art on the Night of the Arts 14.8.2025 between 3PM to 11PM! At the Cultural Centre Caisa, you can see an outsider art exhibition, various performances, music acts and an installation combining ceramic sculptures and noise. At The House of Text, OAF will organize a […]