Open art competition for the new building of the Oulu Central Police Station and Oulu Prison
15.1.–15.4.2025
The State Art Committee, which is attached to the Finnish National Gallery, organises a public art competition in cooperation with Senate Properties. The aim is to find ideas for an artwork to be sited on the exterior wall of the new building of the Oulu Central Police Station and Oulu Prison. A total of 15,000 euros will be awarded in prizes.
The competition site is the first integrated facility for police station and prison in Finland, located at Johdintie 15, Oulu. The aim of the competition is to find ideas for a site-specific and permanent public work or series of works to be realised on the exterior wall of the new building (Käräjäsali), thereby creating a distinctive identity for the building. The work may be composed of multiple parts and realised using a variety of methods. Entries must take the distinctive character of the site into consideration.The artwork must support or enhance the values and social role of the police, keeping order and preventing crime.
Assessment of the entries will focus on artistic quality, viability of implementation, and development potential. After the competition has been decided, the State Art Commission will decide which proposal will become subject of further development and implementation. A maximum sum of 100,000 euros (VAT 0%) is reserved for the implementation of the work. This includes the artist’s fee and the cost of materials and production.
The competition jury comprises the members of the Finnish State Art Commission. The jury will endeavour to reach a decision so that the prize winners can be announced on Thursday, 29.5.2025, on the Finnish State Art Commission website. The aim is to implement the selected work or set of works during 2025–2026.
Competition website: www.valtiontaideteostoimikunta.fi/Oulupoliisi-taidekilpailu/
The competition period will end on Tuesday, 15.4.2025, at 23:59 hours Finnish time (UTC +2).
More information:
Finnish State Art Commission, Finnish National Gallery
Riitta Ojanperä, Chairperson, riitta.ojanpera@kansallisgalleria.fi
Eija Aarnio, Senior Producer, eija.aarnio@kansallisgalleria.fi
The State Art Commission acquires works of art for properties built by Senate Properties and University Properties of Finland Ltd. The State Art Commission is appointed by the Ministry of Education and Culture and operates under the auspices of the Finnish National Gallery.
Image: UKI Arkkitehdit Oy and Lukkaroinen Arkkitehdit Oy