ARToulu art area
A new ARToulu art area is coming to Oulu as part of the European Capital of Culture Year 2026.
The neighborhoods along the Oulujoki estuary will transform into a multifaceted art area as numerous artworks will be installed into the urban landscape. Visual artworks will captivate, surprise and delight in densely populated neighborhoods as well as in urban nature.
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The art area is composed of seven city neighbourhoods along the Oulujoki estuary. Orientation map of the area: kartta.ouka.fi/IMS/?mid=dsrba
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Open Call for performances and ephemeral art situated in the public, urban spaces of Oulu
ARToulu art area is organising a national open call for performative artwork which can be performances, or other interventions in urban spaces. The artwork should take place in public spaces where the audience, such as local residents, or passersby, will be able to encounter the art coincidentally.
From this call a maximum of 10 artworks will be chosen. The open call will be curated by artist Nestori Syrjälä. The deadline for this call is October 13th, 2025.
This call is intended for professionals working in visual and performance art, in Finland. These ephemeral artworks will complete the selection of art for the ARToulu art area.
What is the art area?
Along the Oulujoki river is a popular walking and biking path, along the archipelago route, from the city center to the Nallikari seashore, and back along the opposite side of the river. The ARToulu art area is formed by seven city neighborhoods along the river’s estuary. The areas stretch from the city center to Pikisaari, Hietasaari, Toppilansaari, Toppilansalmi, Meri-Toppila and Tuira.
Art will be brought to nature and residential areas – close to the people as part of a living urban culture. Art will pop out and surprise us in unexpected places, making our daily environment interesting and extraordinary as we let art sprawl out in urban spaces. We plan on installing dozens of artwork in the neighborhoods along the Oulujoki estuary in a distinctive art area.
The art area artwork will be shown for the duration of its individual lifespan, and hopefully some of the art will continue to delight the residents and visitors even after the European Capital of Culture year. We hope that the neighborhood residents will embrace the artwork as their own and that visitors from afar find joy in coming to look for art and happening upon it unexpectedly. The art area will be accessible 24/7 and throughout all the seasons by environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
The artwork for the art area will be announced in 2026. These pieces will be selected through an open call geared towards professionals of visual arts. The selection committee will pay special attention to the originality and surprise quality of the proposed artwork particularly regarding the way that it will be integrated into its environment. The art area should reflect the multiplicity of the visual arts and challenge the notions of art in public spaces. The art area residents will participate in and influence some of the artwork.
The ARToulu art area is part of the European Capital of Culture 2026 programme. The Oulu Artists Association’s Exploring ART project is financed by the Oulu Cultural Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the Oulu Artists Association.
Open Call
The European Capital of Culture year 2026 opens a new ARToulu art-area where art will pop up and surprise you in unexpected places. Dozens of artworks installed around the city will change the face of the Oulujoki estuary’s seven city neighborhoods, turning them into interesting and distinctive art areas. Some of the artwork will remain a permanent part of the cultural landscape, while other work will be an ephemeral experience.
Several permanent, or semi permanent artworks were chosen in the beginning of 2025. Now we are organising our third open call for the art-area, this time for performance and ephemeral artworks to complement the ARToulu art-area selection. The open call is intended for visual and performance professionals living and working in Finland. The deadline for this call ends on Monday the 13th of October, 2025.
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture for the year 2026. Oulu and the entire northern Finland will be filled with culture, art, and events in the coming years. Northern Finland will rise to the world map in an unprecedented way as Finnish and international cultural experts create something new in cities, countryside, and nature. It is a journey spanning several years, culminating in the year 2026. ARToulu art area is part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and cultural climate change.