20 cultural operators selected for the Meanwhile Use Spaces for culture and art
Four city premises were available in the Spring 2025 open call, and for the first time, two corporate-owned sites were also up for grabs — a welcome opening for private sector collaboration.
In March and April, Tampere organised the sixth open call for the Meanwhile Use Spaces for culture and art. A total of 60 applications were received for the six available spaces. A record number of 20 operators were selected by a panel of experts.
The panel was able to reconcile the applicants’ schedules and space requirements, so that several operators were selected for almost all the Meanwhile Use Spaces.
The new site, “Kaupin virkatalo” can accommodate up to 7 operators in several rooms of the building at the same time, while the meanwhile use space in the Kuninkaankulma business centre, a photographer and a theatre group will alternate. In late summer, video installations will be shown in the “glass cube” of the Koskikeskus shopping centre. In the Pyynikki swimming hall premises, a street art office in collaboration with an art collective will run throughout the summer, and in the autumn an immersive performance will take over the space.
The Hiedanranta Visitor and Cultural Centre will be enriched with a wide range of performing arts, while a Centre for sustainable living of the Kalevan halli will be complemented not only by art but also by the circular economy themes.
The jury particularly appreciated applications where the planned activities were site-specific or particularly suited for the space in question. In addition, one of the aims was to bring diversity and added value to the communities already operating in the spaces. The diversity of art forms was also taken into account.
The applicants selected
Hiedanranta Visitor and Cultural Centre:Vilja Hynninen, dance artEmma Heinonen & working groupNäästi ry. Kanvas collective ry.
Kaupin virkatalo:Sini KallioSalla KuoppamaaSimon LlewellynAarni TujulaSilja TusaPetsamon omakotiyhdistys ry.Tulikollektiivi Flamma ry.
Pyynikki Swimming Pool business premises:Street Art Office ry.Hiekkalaatikko osk.Joni Salmela & working group
Kalevan halli:Second Hand Tampere ry.Sami Mikkonen & working groupSoila Saviainen
Koskikeskus shopping centre, exterior glass cube:VHS club
Kuninkaankulma business centre’s “Old Alko” / FinnparkKatri DahlströmAvanto Ensemble / Eetu Känkänen
The City of Tampere has developed a model whereby vacant premises are temporarily made available free of charge to cultural operators. The model has been in use since 2022 and has spread from Tampere to Turku. In Jyväskylä, a municipal initiative is currently open with the aim of introducing the model.
