REPORT 2014
The board of AREFS taide ja kulttuuri ry in 2014
Matti Karttunen - chairman
Jukka Tikka - vice chairman
Juhani Palonen - secretary
Lucien den Arend - vice-secretary
Marja de Jong - treasurer
During 2014 AREFS was operating at the old railway station of Hiirola.
In 2014 AREFS has been active in the field of art education
(Haukivuori, Hiirola, Rämälä), the 125 years celebration of the SAVO
rail and involved in the local community of Hiirola. These
activities are important for strengthening the cultural awareness of
the rural habitat in the region of Mikkeli.
Activities and programs
a. TÄMÄ ON MINUN TAKAPIHANI - THIS IS MY BACKYARD
This art education program with children and parents at the schools of
Haukivuori, Hiirola and Rämälä started in spring 2013 and ending in spring 2014.
children visiting exhibition ANIMALS in art museum Mikkeli
In spring 2013 AREFS has been awarded by Etelä-Savon
Kulttuurirahasto with a grant of 8000 EURO for the art project
TÄMÄ
ON MINUN TAKAPIHANI - THIS IS MY BACKYARD. In April 2014 this program
has ended.
Different groups of the participating schools have been at the inspiring exhibition ANIMALS in
the Art Museum of Mikkeli. Children were introduced to imagine how
the animals at the paintings, drawings and etches behave, sound, and
even think. This reflection goes further than telling about the
paintings and their painters. It demands a active attitude and
experimental mind. On two papers the children connected details with
the paintings and created new images out of a partly printed
painting.
Different subjects to invite children to reflect on their
environment
During winter and spring series of workshops have been arranged
in the schools of Haukivuori, Hiirola and Rämälä.
The complete overview of this program can be read in the
report THIS IS MY BACKYARD.PDF
b. SAVON-RADAN ryhmä
In 2013 AREFS taide ja kulttuuri ry has started to participate in
the annual celebration of the SAVON-RATA by having open doors at the
railway station in Hiirola.
In 2014 AREFS started cooperation with SAVON-RADAN ryhmä. This is a
collaboration group of railway stations along the railway in
Etelä-Savo. The group has started their collaboration in 2013 to
give attention to the heritage of old railway stations and to use
its meaning as a source for innovative cultural and economic
development in the field of art, technology, design and tourism and
all what is related to these fields.
The SAVON-RADAN ryhmä is looking for local, regional and
international collaboration to share their knowledge and
experiences, and to exchange their expertise. This will contribute
to challenge new conditions for living and working in the
countryside.
The group is working together in different compositions, depending
on the goal and the needed expertise.
SAVON_RADAN ryhmä has the intention to inform a wide audience about
the status and development of the railway stations along the Savo-rail
through publication on the internet.
On the website of AREFS a special part is created for this
initiative.
- See more at:
http://www.arefs.org/savon-radan-ryhma/savon-radan-index.html
c. Hiirola community program SAVON RATA 125 years
Children of Hiirola school painting about the railway. Left 0 class,
center 2nd class, right 3rd class.
In 2014 the SAVO-rail has its 125 year anniversary. This
memorable moment has been celebrated on October 4th at different
locations.
AREFS has been awarded by the regional Arts Promotion Centre with
2000€ to organize different activities in the village the
celebration concerning.
Children were painting about the railway and writing about imagining
to be 10 years old in 1889. The works show a high intensity of
involvement and new ideas how to visualize the subject.
Children
have been creating different works together. The younger ones the
installation GOODBYE and the older ones a long train. Both
installations were installed at the yard of the railway station.
a long train painted by children of the 3/4th class and the 5/6
class of Rämälä school.
A complete review on this community program can be seen the
pdf file SAVON-RADAN paiva report.
d. closing school Hiirola
In 2014 Mikkeli city decided to close the school in Hiirola. The
protest by parents and other villagers was ignored by the council
and the children are placed at the school in Rämälä.
During the last month of the school year 2013-2014 all children of
both schools have painted them selves to send their image to some
one at the other school.
This can make a difference in bringing together two groups of
children.
making a row together - paintings by all classes (0 to 6) of the
schools in Hiirola (top) and Rämälä (bottom)
To see the process by the children at the
school in Hiirola see the web page
To see the process by the children at the
school in Rämälä see the web page
e. international cooperation
USA
Lauren Hinchman and Nikki Gamrath of the Principia College
(education department) were visiting AREFS to discuss the
possibilities of a program for education students.
It is the planning that a group of 18 education students from
Principia College Illinois USA will spend eight weeks in Finland in
March and April 2016.
The purpose of the program is to get to know the Finnish education
system and the cultural background. Lauren and Nikki emphasized
sustainable work and place based arts/ sense of place in arts.
Finland is interesting as a destination because of our close
relationship with the nature. Lauren and Nikki are also interested
in the contrast of the rural and urban environments and how people
relate to nature. The main focus of the program will be how artists
can collaborate with schools and work with school children.
The group will stay for one or two weeks in Etelä-Savo and a program
will be made by AREFS, Etelä-Savo Arts Promotion Centre in
cooperation with the school in Rämälä, different artists and art
organizations in Mikkeli and Savonlinna.
Portugal
A group of 4 Portuguese teachers (3 kindergarten teachers and 1
primary school), which are working at “D. Lourenço Vicente” School
Grouping- in Lourinhã-Portugal are planning a visit to our region is
looking for professional expertise and practice in the field of art
education .
(to enlarge the artistic skills of art teachers in relation to art
education).
The planning for their stay is 2-9 May 2015.
Lithuania
A group of artists from Lithuania is interested in the activities of
galleries, art centers and artists from other countries. They expect
to find some relations for cooperation. I would like to know what
possibilities and conditions are to organize an exhibition in our
region. AREFS is looking for possibilities to invite this group to
Mikkeli to make an exhibition, have meetings with artists and art
organizations.
Sweden
With the Swedish organization ART&TECHNOLOGY AREFS is building on a
Finnish contribution for international artists to participate in
this program.
Russia
With the Wanha Koulu Vehmaskylä AREFS is working on a program for
art, culture and nature in rural Finland. The first activities have
taken place in summer 2014.
Netherlands
From the beginning AREFS collaborates with the Dutch foundation in
the field of art education and publications in this field.
Both organizations are interested in developing new ways in
embedding art and culture in the school curriculum. Through an
exchange of expertise and views they are able to offer interesting
and inviting programs for artists, art teachers and teachers of
elementary school and free time programs.
Norway
The international museum of child art in Oslo has selected some art
works from the collection to use in their publication about "Daddy
World Wide".
f. lasten maaseutu - children countryside art program - magic of
nature
During one week in August 2014 a group of Russian youngsters
worked in Wanha Koulu Vehmaskylä
In the field of art and culture programs Wanha Koulu in
Vehmaskylä is a partner of AREFS. At this location groups are able
to stay and have workshops, lectures, etc art, nature and culture
concerning. During August 2014 a group of Russian youngsters participated in
a youth art camp in which art, nature and language were combined.
More about this program on the web page
lasten maaseutu - children countryside
g. THE NEXT STATION artist-in-residence program
In spring 2014 an old train wagon is placed in the yard of the
railway station. It is the intention to change it into a space in
which an artist can stay for a short period.
The wagon needs to be repaired and transformed during 2015.
The wagon is an E-type wagon from 1927. This short version (12-13
meters) was in use until 1970. The wagon of Hiirola is half of the
original one and has a balcony.
During the event on October 4rth visitors were very interested in
this object and the future plans of it.
h. ART & TECHNOLOGY - collaboration program
Art and Technology AiR cooperation with Sweden
The development of the Swedish art program Art & Technology is
going very well. The participating of AREFS in this program is still
in progress. The association is looking for partners in the Mikkeli
region to join the
i. celebration 125 year SAVON-RATA
On the yard of Hiirola station different art works and installations
were placed.
Left installation 'goodbye' by children, 2nd left portraits by
Iranian artists Behrouz Rae and Fereshte Moosavi, 2nd right secret
garden by Mariëtte Cordes, the Netherlands, right installation
suitcases children Hiirola and dog by Yildiz Guner, Turkey.
on October 4 2014 over 200 people were visiting the event at
Hiirola station
This year the railway station of Hiirola has been part of the
annual railway event at the first Saturday in October. On that day
an old train drives between Haukivuori and Ottava and stops in
Hiirola too. This year it was possible to combine this event with
open doors in the station and through public information over 30
persons from Hiirola were attending the event.
Next year the Savo track will celebrate its 125st anniversary and
different stations will be involved in its celebration.
A complete review on this community event can be seen the
pdf file SAVON-RADAN paiva report.
j. other activities
In May all the participants of the art education program TÄMÄ ON
MINUN TAKAPIHANI - THIS IS MY BACKYARD received a certificate of
AREFS.
As the school in Hiirola is closed in June children at the school in
Hiirola received the book TÄMÄ ON MEIDÄN LUONTOMME - THIS IS OUR
NATURE with their name in it.
It was not possible to organize an atelier route during summer 2014.
k. planning publication THIS IS MY BACKYARD
As the applications AREFS has made in 2013 and 2014 have not been
awarded it was not possible yet to start with editing of this
publication by lack of financial possibilities.
In 2015 AREFS will start new applications for this purpose.
l. promotion
promotion material during 2014 -banners on fabric
postcards children of the 1st class in Haukivuori - left Lyydia
- right Matti
postcards by children of the school in Hiirola - left nuppu (3rd
class) - right vil1 (1st class)
During 2014 the following promotion has been printed:
1. 2 postcards with child art - 125 years railway - Hiirola
2. 2 postcards with child art - 125 years railway- Haukivuori
3. 11 banners for railway stations Haukivuori (5), Kalvitsa (2),
Hiirola (2) and Otava (2)
4. magnets with an image of the railway station in Hiirola
5. certificate for participants in the program THIS IS MY BACKYARD
6. time table old timer train on SAVON-RADAN päivä
m. meetings
During 2014 the board has had a meeting 1 time.
n. financial review:
A financial report about 2014 will be ready in spring 2015.
During 2014, about 40 copies of the book THIS OUR NATURE are sold.
The Hiirola community program for SAVON-RATA 125 years has been
awarded by the Arts Promotion Centre Etelä-Savo with 2000€
Haukivuoren Aluejohtokunta has contributed 500€ for the banners and
postcards Haukivuori concerning.
An application to
Etelä-Savon Kulttuurirahasto is not awarded.
At the end of 2014
1 application is still running.
In 2014 43 persons are member of AREFS.
155 persons are following AREFS on Facebook
During 2014 the board has had 1 time a meeting.
Financial support in 2014:
Community program Hiirola SAVON-RATE 125 years was awarded with 2000€
Promotion SAVON-RATA 125 years in Haukivuori was awarded with 500€
From the USA AREFS has received a contribution for their program of 140€
o. PLANNING 2015
Related to the goals of AREFS taide ja kulttuuri ry and its
activities in the past we are developing a various program in the
field of art, art education, cultural heritage and rural
development. It is our intention to involve local communities in
participating in the program parts.
In 2015 AREFS is planning the following activities and programs:
1. Art lessons on the internet based on the programs of last years
2. Art workshops at the school in Rämälä
3. Cooperation with Wanha Koulu Vehmaskylä in the field of art and
culture activities
4. International cooperation in the field of art education and
artist-in-residence
5. Preparing the publication TÄMÄ ON MINUN TAKAPIHANI - THIS IS MY
BACKYARD
6. Cooperation with the the regional group SAVON-RADAN ryhmä
AREFS is applying for grants at different locations to be able to
finance the planned activities.
See more about membership and
membership
fee on the contribution page of AREFS
PDF file with
the report 2014
PDF file with report THIS IS MY BACKYARD 2013-2014
PDF file with report SAVON-RADAN päivä 2014
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