Markus Raivio is Director of Kukunori and founded the Culture House movement.
In this blog, I would like to introduce an initiative from Finland – Culture Houses – that we are working on at Kukunori, an NGO in Finland.
Culture Houses offer young people aged 16-29 unique and empowering spaces to engage in meaningful activities, develop skills and foster community. They are based on a model called Functional Peer Support (GFP), which focuses on strengths (not diagnoses) and co-creating art and culture to promote self-confidence, resilience and social connection.
Culture Houses are usually physical but also online spaces where young people engage in peer-supported activities that align with their interests and passions. These spaces encourage collaboration, skill sharing, and creative expression. Trained peer supporters guide and lead various activities. The presence of trained mental health professionals or professional artists as facilitators ensures a supportive and safe environment. The goal is to create a shared community based on trust and respect, promoting a sense of agency and empowerment for all involved.
The success of the GFP model has led to the establishment of 20 Culture Houses run by eight different NGOs across Finland, and even in other countries. It is a franchise model which enables the expansion of these transformative spaces and allows for flexibility while maintaining the core principles of peer support, creativity and community engagement. Culture Houses are run in schools, by health and social care foundations, and even recently in prisons, see below.
Culture Houses create inclusive and welcoming spaces for diverse communities. By focusing on strengths and interests rather than mental health diagnoses, Culture Houses provide a break from traditional mental health care approaches and empower individuals to take charge of their wellbeing. Through collaborative activities such as music creation, theatre performances, and visual arts, participants experience a sense of achievement, enhanced self-esteem, and increased social connectedness.
The impact of Culture Houses on participants’ lives is significant. Approximately 60% of Culture House clients eventually enroll in a vocational school or find employment. These findings underscore the long-term social and economic benefits of investing in peer-supported community initiatives like Culture Houses.
Co-production is an integral part of the GFP-culture house concept. Partners and local communities are engaged in the planning, implementing and evaluating of the Culture House activities.
Culture Houses can also contribute to the objectives of promoting social justice and equity. Two recent projects engaged people in prison and former prisoners. By creating inclusive environments and offering opportunities for engagement, Culture Houses empower marginalised communities to reclaim their identities and challenge stereotypes. By recognising the potential for personal growth and social reintegration, Culture Houses can foster positive change, advocate for fair treatment, and contribute to the broader objectives of social justice within the criminal justice landscape.
These platforms combining art and mental health could be part of the solution to the pandemic of young people suffering from mental health challenges globally.
Some links to Culture Houses in different Finnish cities:
