NINHO is looking for multidisciplinary duos with ideas and a shared interest in co-creating 7 artistic experiences for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers in non-dominant heritage languages. The languages represented in the selected proposals will be chosen as follows: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, Filipino, Hindi, Kurdish, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Finnish Romani, Karelian and Sámi languages.
What is MIE?
MIE is a Multilingual Interactive Encounters for Early Belonging and Wellbeing, is a polyphonic and exploratory artistic journey for babies, toddlers, and their families. MIE brings words and stories to life through music, songs, movement, sensory exploration, play, and other artistic expressions, creating welcoming encounters where togetherness and the richness of languages, cultures, and artistic traditions can flourish.
NINHO is looking for artistic ideas that are open to experimentation and can develop through dialogue with families, communities, and cultural partners. The selected duos are not expected to present a finished work at the application stage.
Who can apply?
NINHO welcomes multidisciplinary duos where at least one artist is fluent in one of the listed non-dominant heritage languages and has a personal, cultural, or family connection to the language and/or the communities that speak it.
The language should be an integral part of the proposed artistic experience, rather than simply a language of translation. We are particularly interested in artists who can bring their linguistic and cultural knowledge into the co-creative process and help create meaningful encounters with families and young children.
What are we looking for?
We are especially interested in multidisciplinary duos whose artistic sensory and participatory practices may include, among others:
- music and songs;
- storytelling and oral traditions;
- children’s literature and poetry;
- movement, dance and performance;
- other forms of artistic expression suitable for early-age audiences.
NINHO welcomes artists with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and encourage proposals connected to the non-dominant heritage languages listed above.
The co-creative process
The selected duos will enter a supported co-creative process with NINHO, families, community members, and cultural partners. Ideas will be developed, tested, reflected on, and refined through dialogue with the intended audiences. The MIEs will be developed as approximately 35 minute family encounters designed for babies or toddlers, and their caregivers. The process will lead to a pilot and premiere in spring 2027 in Helsinki, Vantaa, and Espoo.
The selected duos are not expected to present a finished work at the application stage. We are looking for ideas that are open to experimentation and can grow through the co-creative process.
What selected duos can expect
Each selected duos will receive €800 per artist for the co-creative development, piloting, preparation, and premiere of the 35 minute MIE. The payment will be by invoice.
Selected duos will also participate in an hybrid introductory training:
- Professional training: Co-Creation, Early Childhood and Inclusive Artistic Practices.
The training will support artists with practical approaches to co-creation, working with young children and families, and creating inclusive artistic encounters. The hybrid sessions will comprise a total of 6 hours.
NINHO will facilitate the development and piloting of the MIEs, after which 5 of the 7 selected duos will be invited to give an additional performance. Each artist in the selected duo will receive €200 performance fee.
Timeline
The selected duos will develop their MIEs through the co-creative process during 2026–2027.
- Application deadline: 22.10.2026, 23:59
- Pre-selection Duos Interview: 5.-6.11.2026
- Final Selection: 12.11.2026
- Professional Training: 17.-28.11.2026
- Pilot sessions: 21.2.-21.3.2027
- Premier: 3.-10.4.2027
The first premier in April 2027 will take place in Oodi Library, Helsinki. The premiers are in collaboration with cultural centers, libraries, and other community spaces.
Other dates and places will be confirmed later depending on the duos and cultural institutions’ agendas.
About NINHO
Kulttuurikeskus NINHO ry is a migrant-led cultural organisation committed to developing inclusive, multilingual, and participatory children’s arts and culture.
Through co-creation, NINHO builds bridges between artists, families, communities, and cultural institutions, with particular attention to non-dominant heritage languages and culturally diverse audiences.
This project is supported by Niilo Helander Foundation and the Uusimaa Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation (Suomen Kulttuurirahasto – Uusimaa).
More information: info@ninho.fi