Public Art
Turku has a rich and diverse tradition of public art. The City of Turku Art Collection includes a substantial number of works of public art. Across the city, in outdoor settings such as the riverside, parks and public squares, there are almost one hundred sculptures from the collection on permanent display. In semi-public indoor spaces, including libraries, daycare centres and schools, there are more than 80 public artworks. In addition, around one thousand works of art have been placed in municipal premises throughout the city.
WAM serves as the City of Turku’s expert on art in new building and infrastructure projects undertaken by the City and its subsidiary companies. Public artworks are commissioned as part of these projects in accordance with the one per cent for art principle.
The priorities and commissioning principles guiding public art in Turku are outlined in the City of Turku Public Art Programme.
Why is public art commissioned?
Public art brings enriching experiences, sparks curiosity and inspires conversation in the places where people live, work and spend their time. It also offers diverse perspectives on the history, identity and stories of the city. Because it is situated in shared public spaces, art is accessible to everyone and can be encountered as part of everyday life.
Public art encourages people to explore their surroundings, whether through cultural walks, sculpture trails or simply by discovering new artworks in familiar places. In schools, daycare centres and other municipal facilities, artworks also play an important role in arts education.
Public art enhances the quality, attractiveness and sense of safety of the built environment. It contributes to vibrant and welcoming neighbourhoods while strengthening the appeal of the city as a whole. At the same time, it reinforces Turku’s reputation as a city of culture and visual arts.
How is public art commissioned?
Most public art in the City of Turku is funded through the one per cent for art principle. This means that a proportion of the investment budget for a construction project is allocated to the commissioning of art. Although the City of Turku does not currently have a separate decision requiring the application of the one per cent principle, it is incorporated into the City’s project planning guidelines for new buildings and facilities. WAM acts as the art expert in projects funded under this principle.
Temporary and permanent public artworks can also be realised with support from the Turku Beautification Fund. Each year, the Fund’s coordinating group submits a proposal on how the annual return should be used, and the City Board decides which projects will be carried out by the end of April.
The City of Turku Art Collection may also accept donations of artworks that can be displayed in public spaces. Proposed donations intended as public artworks are assessed according to the same criteria that apply to all acquisitions for the collection.
How are artists selected?
The method used to select an artist for a public art commission depends on the nature and scale of the project. Each commission begins with the specific site and the community that will live, work or spend time alongside the new artwork. Artist selection is discussed by the project’s art working group, which brings together representatives from the construction project team, designers, future users of the space and WAM’s art specialists.
Artists may be selected through a variety of processes. Common approaches include open competitions, invited competitions, parallel sketch commissions involving several artists, portfolio calls and direct commissions to an individual artist or artist group. In some cases, different methods may be combined, such as a portfolio call followed by parallel sketch commissions. Through these processes, we aim to ensure that as many professional artists as possible have the opportunity to apply for public art commissions.
Information about open competitions and portfolio calls is published separately on the City of Turku website.
Conservation and care of public art
WAM is responsible for the care and maintenance of the public artworks in the City of Turku Art Collection. This includes routine maintenance, conservation work when required, and measures that help ensure the long-term preservation of the artworks.
Caring for public art involves more than the physical upkeep of the artworks themselves. Preserving documentation and archival materials related to the works, as well as actively communicating about current projects and collection artworks, is also an important part of collection management.
Have you noticed something that needs attention?
You can help us care for Turku’s public art by submitting feedback. Please let us know through the City’s feedback service if you notice issues such as graffiti, damaged artwork labels or any other concerns relating to public artworks.