Interview with artistic mentor Heidi Bäckström: “Art is [..] a burn to be creative, to express oneself through art and to share ones work with others.”
OAF and Mad House Helsinki are producing together the performing arts program. Mad House Helsinki’s press officer Laura Tolvanen interviewed Heidi Bäckström, our artistic mentor of the performing arts. Laura: What themes do/did you feel are important for mentoring? Heidi: “The Outsider Art Festival has discipline specific mentors, who reinforce the work of curators with […]
Outsider art is taking over the Espa stage on Helsinki day 12.6.
A diverse group of makers in culture and outsider art are taking over the Espa stage on Sunday 12.6.2022. The program is curated by Pertti’s Choice and encompasses a large variety of music and performances. The highlight of the day’s program is the British Drag Syndrome collective. This British group is performing on a summer […]
The first international OAF residency artists are coming from Sweden
The Outsider Art Festival has the pleasure to offer a residency for artists from abroad to work in Finland. This year’s guests are two artists from Sweden. Their names are Marianne Schmidt and Malin Karlsson. They usually work as artists at the Inuti studio in Stockholm. In art, Schmidt and Karlsson explore general and social […]
The OAF 2022 is published!
Outsider Art Festival is conquering Helsinki again on 12.-21.8.2022! OAF 2022 offers a diverse art program with more than 20 events all around Helsinki and online. The OAF festival guides lead the audience to singing karaoke in Karelian language on the Kansalaistori Square, to art exhibitions at Helsinki Art Museum HAM and Pertti’s Choice Gallery […]
Presidents and opened doors
Satu Nekala is a self-taught visual artist and musician from Tampere. The sculptures of presidents Satu made are showcased in the OAF group exhibition, which is her first exhibition. Mika Leminen, the OAF communications assistant, asked a few questions from Satu. Who is your favorite president?Satu: “Tarja Halonen, because she was the president of all […]
Obscene comedy, winning of fears, and deep consideration
Outsider Art Festival’s movie programs curators for this year are Niklas Nyholm and Joonas Nyholm and the mentor is Jukka Kärkkäinen. Mika Leminen, the OAF communications assistant, interviewed the Nyholm brothers. Niklas and Joonas Nyholm are chefs but there’s a lot more in their lives. Their hobbies include literature, history, roleplaying games, music, mythology, and […]
Outside of standards and norms
OAF music programs curators Miika Turunen, Sani Valoranta, and mentor Maria Mattila aka Mara Balls are corresponding to this year’s artist selections. Also, John Cafiero (USA) and Richard Phoenix (UK) have been international mentors. OAF communications assistant Mika Leminen interviewed Sani Valoranta. Sani Valoranta is a musician and a music student who studies music production […]
Giving everyone a chance: True Equality campaign
In this article True Equality campaign is presented. There are also thoughts about equality from the campaign partners. True Equality is a campaign started by Pertti’s Choice and Kyrö Distillery Company. The campaign’s basis is that everyone gets to equally work in culture and restaurant fields, building the fields up again. True Equality campaign challenges […]
OAF is looking for performers
Outsider Art Festival is looking for performers for Open Stage event. The event is held on the 19th of August 2021. The application is open until 11th of July 2021. We are looking for pop-up style performances and one show can last up to 15 minutes. Apply here. More information: outsiderartfestival@gmail.com
Thoughts from OAF festival organizers
OAF communications assistant Mika Leminen interviewed the festival’s organizers about the new Outsider Art Festival. OAF is organized by the Outsider Art Finland network partners, Pertti’s Choice, Autism Foundation Finland, Lyhty, Kukunori, Taike and Donkey Hotel. Festival organisers celebrate the first edition of OAF, a vibrant collection of artists and art forms and wish to […]