Outsider Art Festival (OAF)

OAF brings together outsiders and insiders of the cultural scene. Artistic visions and collaborations are strongly reflected in the program. The season kicks off with an opening celebration at G Livelab on April 9th and continues with a special anniversary exhibition by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (PKN) punk band at Pertin Valinta gallery on April 25th.    “OAF turns five this year, and our company is celebrating its tenth anniversary,” says Sami Helle, founding member of Pertin Valinta and bassist of PKN. “It’s going to be amazing. It’s a lot of fun organizing events with our artists and partners,” Helle continues, inviting everyone to join. “The truth is, the future can’t be built without us outsiders. Nothing about us without us.”

The festival’s official opening will be celebrated on Night of the Arts, August 14th, at Leipätehdas area, Cultural Center Caisa, and House of Text. Art works will be exhibited at Caisa and Pertin Valinta galleries and Länsimetro. Short films screenings are a collaboration with Espoo Ciné, and the literary program is on at live venues as well as on Radio Helsinki. Pertin Valinta and Minna Records will co-host a concert on August 15 at the Caisa hall, featuring performances by Aatos Ketvel and Takay-Sin. On August 21st, Pertin Valinta and All Day team up for a concert curated by Cepan maailma (Cepa’s world) at Louhisali, presenting the hottest Finnish rap artists, Cepa, Vapaa Sana, good boys, and MC KOO. The festival program will be updated throughout the spring, and ticket sales begin at Easter.

Season Opening Celebration at G Livelab Helsinki on April 9, 2025

The magic of the Outsider Art Festival Experience is rooted in the combination of artistic visions, joy and meaningful encounters. “Collaboration, joy, and the courage to use one’s own voice are more important than ever,” says festival Director Heini Merkkiniemi. “Ensuring everyone has open access to engage and collaborate is crucial to the artists. At our season opening, we are thrilled to bring together amazing creators from the fields of literature and music,” Merkkiniemi says. “WSOY’s partnership with OAF is founded on the principle idea that everyone is equally welcome to participate in the production and performance of literature. Equality, diverse voices, and accessibility are at the core of our values, and through OAF’s literary program, we can promote them together with fantastic artists,” adds Jenni Haukio, Director of Community Relations and Responsibility at WSOY.

OAF invites everyone to the season opening celebration, offering a unique experience, by artists and mentors from OAF and WSOY, and the OAF Academy program supported by the Kone Foundation. The evening features discussion by Aleksis Salusjärvi, Jenni Haukio and Heini Merkkiniemi and artists Sanni Purhonen, Vapaa Sana, Kalevi Helvetti, and Cepa taking over the stage. The performances are complemented by a whiskey tasting provided by OAF and Kyrö Distillery’s catering team. The whole celebration culminates in a triple-Hammond organ fireworks by Salonen–Gustavson–Gröhn. Tickets are available from G Livelab and Tiketti.

OAF 2025 Artists Homa Shokri, Kaaos Company, Pekka Luodeslampi, LIPGLOSSBOY, Ksenia Voy Kheninen & Zherbin, Teatteriryhmä Vautsi, Eeva-Liisa Puhakka, Paula Huhtanen, Mika Mäkiranta, Neea Haapala, Veronica De Mannor, Iida Kilpeläinen, Otto Kasvio, Calvin Guillot, Silja Tusa, John Reis, RÄKÄlicious, Vapaa Sana, Jussi P niinku Pekka & Vähäsähkö, Milla Heart, Juuso Juntunen, Olli Huusko, Suvi Miettinen, Veikko Pohjalainen, Satu Kankaanpää, Nilas Lindell & Hanna Heino, Kaisa Leppikangas, Elisa Poutanen, Doreen Mwirigi, Samra Šabanović, Folk Extreme & Teatteri Neo, Haus & Nipsu, Hannes Renvall, Jari Nordström, Kalevi Helvetti, the Synergy Films collective, and OAF Academy artists Emil Nordman, Satu and Maima Tani, Ton Melnyk, Cepan maailma, and Ukrainian residency artists Ton Melnyk and Masha Ravlyk. Additional invited artists will be announced later this spring.

OAF 2025 Artistic Team Alex Siad (music journalist, DJ), Riikka Hänninen (Eucrea), Aki Roukala (Lördag), Maija Karhunen (freelancer), Anne Naukkarinen (Mad House Helsinki), Sanni Purhonen (Kynnys ry), Aleksis Salusjärvi (freelance journalist), Johanna Konttinen (Autismisäätiö), Jaana Miettinen (Studio Viis), Jani Leinonen (artist), Christine Langinauer (Amos Rex), Silja Pasila (University of the Arts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts), Satu & Maima Tani (artists), Tytti Rantanen (Espoo Ciné).

OAF productions are run by Pertin Valinta, the outsider art production house founded by the band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. Pertin Valinta is Finland’s first social enterprise established by persons with intellectual disabilities, with its proceeds supporting the employment of special-needs groups. OAF creates socially sustainable experiences, cocreated with artists by inclusive curation and event production principles. In addition to Helsinki and Espoo, OAF events take over Tampere and Oulu cities. In addition, OAF 2025 will host an international pop-up event in Tokyo in collaboration with the Finnish Institute in Japan. Previous international OAF events have taken place in 2019–2024 in New York City, Paris, London, and Berlin.

OAF 2025 main partners Autismisäätiö and Kukunori ry, Helsinki Festival, Cultural Center Caisa, KulttuuriEspoo, Taike, the Kone Foundation, WSOY, Kyrö Distillery Company, Espoo Ciné, Radio Helsinki, and Tiketti. Additional partners will be announced in the spring.