The Book of Oulu is the story of two hundred children in Oulu about their home city
In the Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo’s first production, Oulu’s children control voice and space: their stories, experiences, and dreams of their home city will be presented. The book will be published, and its exhibitions will open on January 16, 2026, as part of the Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo’s and Oulu2026’s opening ceremony.
The Book of Oulu project brought together two hundred children widely from the Oulu region and a group of multidisciplinary artists. The project has its basis in Andy Field’s and Beckie Darlington’s concept. In their work, Field and Darlington want to create playful and new ways in which adult and children can speak, think, and imagine together:
“Children still teach us the meaning of play and fun. They remind us that fun is encountering the world openly and with sincere curiosity”, Field and Darlington explain.
Through the project, children stepped up to reality and imagination. They told stories, dreamed, revealed, regretted, and joked around. Imagination was just as allowed as the truth, and vice versa. Most essential was the children’s own perspectives of their home city Oulu – they took the roles of the guides and storytellers.
“The Book of Oulu is not a book made by children for children, the book is for everyone with a child-like mindset, and especially for adults. Seriousness should be set aside while reading the book, but the contents should not be taken lightly. That is the catch of the book. It depicts Oulu as it is seen by children, and what Oulu could be if they got to decide”, Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo’s Producer-Curator Meri Kallio describes.
The book and the exhibition work together
The Book of Oulu concept extends from the publication of the book with exhibitions and a media artwork.
The Book of Oulu’s stories are brought to life by the versatile illustrator who has published multiple children’s books Johanna Ilander. Ilander took inspiration from the stories and dreams of the children. The Book of Oulu’s illustrations form an exhibition in Kotilo – you can sit down to read the book surrounded by the original illustrations. A media artwork has also been ordered from the artist Joel Karppanen. Karppanen wants to create space for friendliness and empathy with the multi-part artwork. The interactive artwork lives and is formed during 2026 to resemble the citizens. Karppanen works closely with children in creating the artwork.
The Book of Oulu encourages people to feel joy, to wonder and to work together. Simultaneously, it invites the smaller and bigger, newer and older friends of the Children’s Cultural Centre to join together. Play is important for everyone, and childhood can always be found again!
The Book of Oulu:
The Book of Oulu project includes 200 third and fourth grade pupils from the Salonpää, Metsokangas, Teuvo Pakkala, Rajakylä, Kello, Talvikangas, and Martinniemi Schools, as well as from the Svenska Privatskolan.
The Book of Oulu is based on The Book of Your Town concept by the British artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington.
In Oulu, the Book of Oulu is unique and includes exhibitions and a media artwork on top of the published book.
The interactive artwork is created by artist Joel Karppanen. Karppanen’s artwork highlights children as one layer of Oulu’s generations.
The book is illustrated by illustrator Johanna Ilander who gives the children’s creations a visual form. Ilander’s illustration exhibition is one part of the project.
The book will be published and the exhibitions will open on January 16, 2026, as part of the Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo’s opening ceremony and the Oulu2026 gr