Children’s Culture Week (Lastenkulttuurin juhlaviikko) is an annual, nationwide festival in Finland dedicated to children’s arts and culture. Each year in May, the week showcases how children and young people are not just audiences but creators and contributors in cultural life. Though the Children’s Culture Week only happens in Finland (for now!), it carries a message with global resonance. It shows the importance of young voices in the arts and the inclusion of children and young people as active participants in artistic and cultural life.
A Nationwide Celebration
The festival takes place across the country, with festivities this year running from 12–18 May 2025. Throughout the week, local events are organised by children’s cultural centres, libraries, museums, schools and other cultural organizations in towns and cities around Finland. It is a celebration for everyone: a time to shine a spotlight on children’s arts and culture and offer a rich variety of arts experiences to children, young people, and their families.
From puppet theatres and circus shows to workshops and family concerts, the programming during Children’s Culture Week is diverse. Most activities are free of charge, lowering the barriers so that all families can take part. This means children from all backgrounds can enjoy performances, exhibitions, storytelling sessions, and other creative activities without cost. The open, accessible nature of the week reflects an inclusive spirit where everyone, from babies to grandparents, is welcome to celebrate arts and culture together in their community.
Children’s Voices for Arts and Culture
In spring 2025, leading up to Children’s Culture Week, the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland launched a slogan campaign to give children and young people a voice in advocating for the arts. In collaboration with schools and cultural centers around the country, they were invited to create original slogans in support of arts and culture. The response was enthusiastic. For example, youngsters from Luckan Raasepori (a cultural center in Raseborg), Axxell vocational school in Karjaa, schools in Sipoo, and participants at a youth well-being fair in Kaustinen all contributed creative slogans of their own.
“Don’t give up now… I think I see an art piece”
– young person from Karjaa
Some of the slogans from the campaign will be transformed into eye-catching stickers, both digital and physical, to spread the word. Children’s slogans will become Instagram stickers that anyone can use on social media, as well as real stickers. A child might spot their own words on a sticker shared online, their thoughts connecting with a wider audience. This grassroots initiative not only focuses on the voices of children and teens, but also embodies some of the Association’s core values of accessibility, participation, and seeing children and young people as active participants in culture. In practical terms, it shows the power of including children in cultural advocacy. When given the chance to participate, children and young people are ready to speak for the arts and leave their mark.
“Culture – you’ll notice if it’s missing”
– young person from Kaustinen
Art and Culture for Every Child and Young Person
These efforts are part of the Association’s broader mission to strengthen children’s role in arts and culture. The Association of Children’s Culture in Finland works to ensure that every child, regardless of background or region, can actively engage in the arts.
By involving children in planning and creative tasks (like the slogan project), the festival supports young people’s right to be heard. At the same time, the coordination of dozens of events by member cultural centres, libraries, and other actors in the field around Finland shows the strength of the professional network supporting children’s arts and culture. The Association brings these professionals together, providing a platform where their work can reach a wider audience and have a greater impact on children’s lives.
You can read more about Children’s Culture Week: www.lastenkulttuurinjuhlaviikko.fi/en
