Story of Kotilo – children's culture finds a new home in the Central Library Saari
It feels amazing that the long-lived dream of separate facilities for children’s culture is coming true! Separate facilities have been planned for years, and Kotilo is the result of long development work. The plans became concrete along with the Capital of Culture application, and now the Children’s Cultural Centre will open in the Central Library Saari’s fourth floor in January of 2026.
Oulu’s Children’s Cultural Centre has operated at Cultural Centre Valve since 2003. Its operations have been developed by children’s culture specialists with love, especially in the fields of literary art and film education. We have organized hobby activities, developed culture education at schools and daycare centres, and hosted events. Now, changes are coming: from now on, Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo operates in the Central Library Saari which makes year-round activities possible in a new way. Simultaneously, it changes all of our work.
What about the name Kotilo? It was not named at a corporate meeting, but the name came from the imagination of children. Over 200 children between ages 4–12 from Oulu participated in naming workshops and votes. In March of 2024, the name was announced at the Oskari Gala. The adults who participated in the process were especially impressed by the reasonings behind the name Kotilo:
Kotilo includes the words “koti” (Fin. home) and “ilo” (Fin. joy). The words bring happiness and safety.
By decision made by children, the institution is now called Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo. The name is expressed charmingly in Kotilo’s visuality, which was created in cooperation with advertising company Luova Työmaa.
What can you do at Kotilo?
Children’s culture is above all culture created by children themselves. It can also be produced by culture specialists and shared with children; it can be anything from visual art to dance! When I tell people (adults) about the Children’s Cultural Centre, they often get impressions based on their own experiences. Based on our own childhood experiences, hobbies and interests, we have our own conceptions of what children’s culture is and how it should be offered by culture centres. One wants children to be able to loan instruments, other wants a stage for dance performances, and third wants an arts classroom.
Kotilo does not offer all artform opportunities alone. Culture providers and other municipal culture institutions, culture operators, associations and artists will also produce children’s culture. Our target groups at Kotilo are children between ages 0–12 and their families. Also, people of all ages are welcome to explore our experiential exhibitions, and the Central Library Saari includes facilities for all ages.
Kotilo’s art educators’ areas of expertise are especially literary art and film education. Other artform opportunities are provided via our partners and Kotilo’s residence artists. As part of our event operations, you can see shows and participate in workshops without advance registration. At Kotilo, you can explore art made by children. We highly value children’s opportunities to create art and participate in exhibitions. School and early childhood education groups are an important demographic, and Kotilo will surely become familiar to Oulu’s children through school and daycare visits. We offer children and families a great facility to enjoy and spend time in together.
Kotilo in 2026
In 2024, Oulu was chosen into the UNESCO Creative Cities media art network. Media art is a new area of expertise for the Children’s Cultural Centre on top of literary art and film education. Kotilo’s gallery includes high-quality video equipment that make it possible to present media art. Next year, Kotilo’s operations will be launched by the Book of Oulu art project that gives Oulu’s children the voice and space to tell their stories, share their experiences, and express their dreams about their home city. Book of Oulu will also include the media artwork created by artist Joel Karppanen. Later in the spring, the Lumotut Sanat Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary and an exhibition based on Jukka Itkonen’s poetry will open.
Cooperation with artists is part of Kotilo’s Capital of Culture programming. Our goal is for our residence artists can continue to create art with children in Kotilo. The final goal is not the most important to us, the destination is: Kotilo’s values are children first, equality, art, and experientiality. Experientiality means shared art experiences with children. Experiences are born in stories and children’s imaginations. Kotilo’s capable staff support this journey and ensure that children can participate and share their experiences of art and culture.
Towards the future of Kotilo
The coming year is practice for the future. During 2026, we will explore our space and develop our activities with the staff of Saari and other cooperation partners. The Capital of Culture year challenges us in creating new things in promoting children’s culture. We listen to the experiences of children and families about Kotilo’s activities.
I hope that Kotilo will become a place for Oulu’s children where they can explore the wonderful world of art through play and imagination. For families, we offer a space and experiential environment for spending time and being inspired together with children.
We invite you to play and be creative – welcome to Kotilo, starting from January 16, 2026!