Art Testers

Art Explorers is Finland’s largest cultural education program, which brings all of Finland’s eighth-graders and their teachers into contact with the arts each year. Through the program, young people visit one or two high-quality arts venues across Finland during the school year.

Field trips may include visits to the theater, the opera, concerts, art museums, or other cultural events. Tickets and transportation are arranged for school groups so that participation is not limited by where students live, their school’s resources, or the students’ own interests.

At the heart of Art Testers is the idea that art belongs to everyone. The program encourages young people to engage with art even when it feels unfamiliar, difficult, or new. The purpose of the visits is not to provide ready-made answers, but to offer tools for putting their own experiences into words: what did I see, what did I feel, what did I think, and would I go again?

After the art visits, the young people evaluate their experiences. Their feedback provides a broad and unique perspective on how young people experience art today. At the same time, these evaluations help art institutions and artists develop their audience engagement efforts and content aimed at young people.

The Art Testers initiative is coordinated by the Finnish Children’s Cultural Association. The program was launched in 2017 at the initiative of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and its goal is to strengthen young people’s equal opportunities to experience art, form their own opinions, and participate in cultural life.