The activity tour Literature and Visual Arts Meet shows examples of visual art from different eras and style trends. Maarit Lampinen guides Mänttä-Vilppula 9th-graders in assignments. Photo: Serlachius, Suvi Rauhala

Children and young people are honoured guests at Serlachius

Susanna Yläjärvi, Information OfficerA school class visit to Serlachius may be the first museum visit in a child’s or young person’s life. Museum educators Anni Niekka and Maarit Lampinen consider it important that the visit creates a good memory and perhaps the spark for a future visit.

Serlachius has been involved from the beginning in organising for 8th-grade school classes Art Testers visits, which began in autumn 2017. Around 100 groups of Art Testers visit Serlachius every year. Over the years, nearly 8,000 groups have visited the museum.

“It’s wonderful that an entire age group is offered the opportunity to experience art and culture at least once in their lives. Not all young people would necessarily ever have the opportunity to do that,” says Niekka.

For some of the young people, culture might remain a permanent part of their lives; not all of them, perhaps, but the experience may take root in their minds. Serlachius sincerely hopes that the Art Testers programme, which is due to come to an end after the next academic year, will continue in the future.

Wish for Art Testers to continue

Serlachius’s pedagogical team plans a new programme aimed at young people for each Art Testers application round. As well as looking at art, the programme always includes something for the visitors to do: a workshop, a mystery game or problem-solving tasks.

This year, young people will use word cards to search for different moods in the multi-layered paintings of Viljami Heinonen’s exhibition Somewhere in Between. Anni Niekka smiled with satisfaction as a group of boys stopped in front of each work and discussed them animatedly among themselves.

“Sometimes young people have even argued about what they saw. One sees an elk in a painting, another a horse. As a guide, I give to this a rather boring answer: ‘Both of you are right, because in art there is no right or wrong answer.’ It depends on each individual’s personal interpretation of what they see in the work.”

An important part of the visit is the feedback reviews that visitors provide directly on the Art Testers website. Over the years, Serlachius has received thousands of reviews. They are monitored carefully and taken into account in the development of new programmes.

“One Art Tester mentioned in their review that the exhibition had a profound impact on them and gave them a lot to think about and a sense of strength. Moments like this are touching. “It’s rewarding when a teenager leaves the museum positively surprised,” says Maarit Lampinen.

Programme changes according to age group

In addition to Art Testers, hundreds of schoolchildren visit Serlachius every year on bus trips sponsored by the museum. It is well known that school budgets are tight. By paying for the trips, Serlachius is able to offer museum visits to people other than 8th-graders.

Most of the programmes planned by Serlachius for children and young people can be tailored to suit a particular age group. The programs are always linked to school curriculums and to early childhood education plans for children under school age.

“The programme is always matched to the visiting group. We take into account age and development level, skills and special needs. Both preschoolers and students can engage with the same topic; we simply expand the content and perspectives, and make the working methods more demanding for older visitors,” says Lampinen.

Teachers and early childhood educators appreciate the work the museum offers and their feedback is positive. Many teachers would bring their pupils for visits much more often if their budgets allowed.

Responsibility is a natural part of our work

Social responsibility is integral to all of the museum’s audience development work. It starts with the museum’s interactions with children and young people, which are always respectful. Young visitors are valued guests of the museum, which listens to and respects their opinions; no-one need be embarrassed.

“We adhere to the principles of a safe space and do not tolerate discrimination or bullying from anyone. We will also bring this to the attention of visitor groups and intervene in inappropriate behaviour. We emphasise that it is the responsibility of each of us,” says Niekka.

Environmental education themes, for example, are highlighted in most programmes without seeming forced.

“We often use recycled materials in our workshops. We also talk about this openly and proudly. Using recycled material is not so much about saving money, but rather about saving nature and the environment,” continues Niekka.

Preserving our shared cultural heritage is also a responsibility, which is one of the most important tasks of museums. Preserving a valuable art collection, conservation, and maintaining museum conditions are also discussed in this context.

The World of Forest tells of the many facets of the forest

The story of Serlachius’ forest industry and the art collection’s forest-themed works offer an easily accessible way to relate the many meanings of the forest to Finns. At Serlachius Headquarters, The World of Forest, aimed at children and young people, offers experiential moments and activities related to forest nature and art.

In The World of Forest workshop, visitors can deepen their own experience by, for example, making paper. Using a wire former, children can make their own sheet of paper and take it home with them.

In addition to school and early childhood education group visits, every year the pedagogical team organises many different events for children and families as well as children’s visual art camps during the summer and winter holidays. Collaboration with the Tampere Region Art Teachers Association has already resulted in two visits and a diverse exhibition of students’ work in the museum’s pedagogical space.

The Art School found on Serlachius’ website is year after year one of the most popular online content items. It offers an accessible and practical way to study basic concepts of visual art and issues related to the creation of an artwork.

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