Espoo tests a new way of organising art education in day care centres
The City of Espoo will experiment with a new way of organising art education in the city’s day care centres during the operation year 2025–2026. Art education is organised for 5-year-old children in a total of 60 day care centres in all major districts of Espoo. With the trial, the city strives to make art education implemented by pedagogists in different fields of art available to as many children as possible.
The art education trial will begin in a total of 15 day care centres at the end of October, and in 45 additional day care centres later in the winter or spring. Teaching will be organised for children born in 2020 in eight-week periods, and the children will participate in art education during their day at the day care centre. The trial will reach approximately 1,000 children. One art form to be taught has been assigned to each day care centre. In total, there are seven art forms to be taught: visual arts, handicrafts, music, dance, circus, theatre and literary art. Teaching is free of charge for families.
The aim of the trial about to be launched is to provide an in-depth period of art education led by professional art pedagogists for as many children aged 5 as possible. Art education teaches children to express themselves artistically, promotes creativity and enriches art education organised by the day care centres. Studies have also shown that art education strengthens children’s language development and motor skills. The goal is to eventually expand the activities to all day care centres in the city.
“This trial is one way to start implementing the goal of the new Espoo story, Espoo is the capital of children and youth. Creative skills play an important role in ensuring that every child can succeed and unlock their full potential,” says Tiina Kasvi, Cultural Manager.
The free art education trial is implemented in cooperation with City of Espoo’s cultural services, Finnish early childhood education services, Swedish education and cultural services and eight institutions of basic education in the arts operating in Espoo.
In addition to art education implemented by early childhood education and care professionals, the City of Espoo’s Culture Call operating model that started already 2019, will continue to bring art and culture professionals to day care centres. A few educational institutions also organise paid basic education in the arts in some day care centres.