The Open Art School teaches creativity in art and life through painting.
An artist’s life should be characterized by balance and a pursuit of genuine creativity, as well as the skills to express it. Learning art is best supported by a pressure-free environment, according to Kalasatama Open Art School.
As its name suggests, the school is open to everyone, says the school’s lead teacher, painter, and meditation instructor Nagashila. There is no selection process for those wishing to attend; instead, the school trusts prospective students’ own choice to study art.
A four-year program in creativity
The Open Art School was founded in 2008 and was located in Lauttasaari during its first years. In 2016, the art school moved to Kalasatama, where the former premises of the Museum of the Moving Image—which had been vacated from the building owned by the Finnish Artists’ Association’s Atelier Foundation—proved to be suitable for the school’s needs, located on the courtyard side.
Nagashila explains that what sets the Open Art School apart from other art schools is that the curriculum includes philosophical reflection on life. In addition to art studies, the school offers a space that inspires wisdom about life, as well as meditation instruction for those interested. “Our teaching is not just about the superficial commodification of art, but also about understanding the purpose of life and the deeper meaning of art through creativity,” he says.
The art education offered by the school also encompasses creativity oriented toward life, as the role of art has always been to respond to the challenges posed by existence. “Instead of fast-paced project-based thinking and an emphasis on the individual, I would like to see broader perspectives in today’s art education: a deeper insight into the direction of life, while also teaching artistic expression and creative processes,” Nagashila explains.
“Our teaching is not just about the superficial commodification of art, but also about understanding the purpose of life and the deeper meaning of art through creativity.”
— Nagashila, visual artist, meditation teacher, and lead instructor at the Open Art School
The school’s art curriculum focuses on painting: there are five teachers, one of whom is a printmaker and sculptor, and the others are painters. The school’s curriculum consists of three years of thematic instruction followed by a fourth year of independent painting. Meditation classes are also offered for those who wish to deepen their creativity through this practice.
Studying from Different Perspectives
Nagashila emphasizes that the Open Art School is suitable for students from diverse life situations and backgrounds, regardless of their views or age.
The school’s lead teacher has observed that people generally enroll in the Open Art School for two different reasons: there are those who know they want to become artists, and those who are seeking ways to deepen their understanding of creativity and use art to respond to life’s challenges. “Our school awakens creativity and the artist in both groups,” he says.
Students can study full-time while working, as classes are held on Thursday and Friday evenings as well as on Saturdays, and students can work in the school’s facilities around the clock. The academic year is divided into fall and spring semesters, and an exhibition of graduating students’ final projects is held during the last two weeks of May.
The Open Art School’s Fall Salon, which opens annually during the Night of the Arts, showcases works by artists who have graduated from the school. This curated exhibition, which is open to all, features at least one work from each artist. At the same time, the Fall Salon marks the start of the school year, as classes begin in the second week of September.
The Open Art School is located at Vanha talvitie 9 (on the courtyard side). Information on course registration and tuition fees can be found the school’s website. The next graduation exhibition will take place in May 2026. You can also follow the school’s events on the school’s Facebook page.
Open Art School_draft /Annika