City of Kotka Art Prize 2024 for Taidetila Kanvaasi

17.12.2024 | Kotka City Council has decided to award the 2024 City of Kotka Art Prize to Taidetila Kanvaasi. The amount of the prize is 1 000 euros. The decision was made on the proposal of the Welfare Committee.

The City Council is concerned about the increasing challenges faced by young people in the area in terms of coping and mental health. With the Arts Prize, the City Council wants to highlight the wide-ranging welfare benefits of culture and the arts. The positive effects of taking up art are not only related to learning about the arts, but also to practising social skills and teamwork, among other things.

The low-threshold, free art club activities of Taidetila Kanvaasi, which has been open from 2021, support these aspects in a professional and accessible way. Located on the ground floor of the Toivo Pekkanen School, the Taidetila Kanvaasi clubs are free leisure activities at their best. Kanvaasi organises 2-6 clubs per week, with around 30 young participants per week. In addition, 2-3 artists work in the studios every day. The Kanvaasi also organises various events and workshops, with attendance ranging from 50 to 1,000 people, depending on the event.

The City of Kotka Art Prize is awarded in recognition of a significant artistic achievement or activity, and is chosen on the basis of nominations from residents to the Welfare Committee. A total of 47 nominations were submitted by Kotka residents via an online survey.