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 […]
OAF Talks brings the art world’s outsiders into the spotlight
OAF Talks is Outsider Art Festival’s discussion series, giving voice to the festival’s artists, curators and artistic mentors. Expect conversations and interviews spanning multiple art forms. You are warmly invited to join the discussion. During the festival, OAF Talks events will take place both on-site at festival venues and online. OAF × Runokuu Talks: Aatos […]
OAF Recommends: An Art Trip to Uusimaa region
Outsider Art Festival OAF recommends an art trip to Uusimaa region this summer! Below are the festival team’s top picks for July–August: Hyvinkää’s Middle of Nowhere ITE Art Park has just opened a new exhibition “Middle ITE vol. 2.” It brings together 29 self-taught artists and presents nearly one hundred works, including pieces by Jussi […]
OAF 2025 and Internationalization
Internationalization is an important part of Outsider Art Festival. OAF provides a platform for international cooperation and the festival has also proven to be an interesting destination for cultural travellers in Finland. Development is carried out in program and project level cooperation with a wide international network of actors and funded by the Finnish Government, […]