Prominent art at Aalto University
Aalto University promotes visibility and impact of art and creativity both in society and at our own campus. Aalto University uses one percent of building costs to fund art.
Renewing society by art, creativity and design
Aalto University promotes creativity in all disciplines and communities. One of our strategic targets is to renew society through art, creativity and design. We are a forerunner in combining world-leading art and creative practices with research and education.
Culture shapes our identities, aspirations, values and relationships. It also shapes the cities and living environments, and the lifestyles we develop.
Art, design, fashion, cinema, architecture, visual communication and games are crucial elements of everyday life and society.
Art, creativity and design reform society: they challenge, question and produce new understanding.
The creative industries also generate growth and attractiveness. Already in Europe, the creative and cultural industries account for almost 5% of the GDP, making it the third largest sector in the European economy. Countries that invest in their creative sectors show a clear competitive advantage and offer long-term GDP growth.
We believe that the cultural and creative sectors should be integral, not separate, parts of the economy and society, as then the entire creative human potential and imagination is in use. This results in experience-driven and functional designs as well as in systemic solutions to wicked problems.
Aalto University has positioned high-quality artistic practice at the same level as research and education, and this profound multidisciplinarity makes us unique. Art, design and creative practices are not something that are added on to other disciplines and practices at a later stage: at Aalto University they are quintessential elements in each student’s studies and each researcher’s work, thus shaping the future in a fundamental and co-creative manner.
Aalto University’s Art and Creative Practices is the strategic initiative for increasing the visibility and impact of art and design in education, research and society - as well as on our own campus in Otaniemi, Finland.
Unfolded
Aalto University UNFOLDED magazine focuses on contemporary issues dealing with creativity, experimentation, and transdisciplinary co-creation.
Design Inside
Renewing societies requires world-leading design-based practices. The Design Inside initiative ensures we will have the world-class ability throughout Aalto to shape and explore the world around us.
News
Koneen Säätiö Grant for the Centre for Text Margins
Significant Koneen Säätiö grant awarded to the project led by Associate Professor of Visual Communication Arja Karhumaa and their team.
Summer School Alum Story: 'Creativity is a language that doesn't need words'
Driving change and new perspectives as part of the Radical Creativity course by Aalto University Summer School.
Can the impact of performing arts be measured? Researchers record applause and CO2 levels in Kapsäkki's UKK musical
The UKK musical, produced by Music Theatre Kapsäkki and Greta Production, is a vibrant cabaret about Finland’s political history during the era of President Kekkonen. Its impact is now being studied scientifically. The research, conducted in collaboration with Aalto University's MAGICS infrastructure, Greta Production, and Kapsäkki, measures audience and performer experiences through innovative methods, including various sensors and surveys.
On the waves of creativity exhibition at Heureka 26.9.–26.12.2024
Hop on the waves of creativity! On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, opens an exhibition showcasing the creativity of research at Heureka. On the waves of creativity exhibition is on display 26.9.–26.12.2024. The exhibition was produced by Aalto University in collaboration with Heureka.Events
Read more about art, design and creativity
ClimATE Events Programme 24.10. - 21.11.
ClimATE is an expanded exhibition and events programme at multiple sites and spaces across Aalto University’s Otaniemi campus, showcasing research, prototypes and works of art as well as workshops, readings and screenings that discuss climate change and food systems.
A visual artist wielding more than a hammer
Aalto University’s fifth Artist in Residence Matthew C. Wilson explores the entangled nature of ideas.
Fragile Water exhibition highlights vulnerability of water resources
Water resources are limited and vulnerable in many places in the world. Design students and water researchers joined forces to visualise sustainable water solutions in the Fragile Water exhibition.
Artist-in-Residence Pilvi Takala (2018): Art with your own body by misbehavin
In the Artist-in-Residence position at Aalto University, the purpose of art is to arouse questions in a cross-disciplinary manner.
Väre’s public art collection examines equality
Collection was published with “Global Equality” as its art concept.
The radical percent
Percent art will bring wellbeing, travellers and new ideas to the campus, says Art Coordinator Outi Turpeinen.
Juuso Tervo wins 2018 Manuel Barkan Memorial Award for art education
Aalto alumnus and postdoctoral researcher recognized for excellence in art education research
Art in Väre by Vice President Anna Valtonen
Art gives us an opportunity to rethink all forms of knowing and doing. To be able to experience great art in our premises – to have this opportunity to rethink on a daily basis – is a privilege.
Aalto galleries and exhibition venues
How can we make space for unexpected ways of looking at the world? Galleries and exhibition venues are co-produced spaces for action, bringing together the knowledge, content, vision, and passion of different agents.