Programs

Art & Science for Everybody

We produce and organize multicultural events, performances and experiences in which Art and Science offer children and their families possibilities to practice diversity and multilingualism.

Diversifying Children’s Culture in Finland

We do advocacy work, consultancy and event production for institutions dealing with children’s culture in Finland, supporting them in diversifying their programme; to that end we work closely with libraries and cultural centers. We also work to enrich Finnish libraries’ stock of illustrated books for children, by e.g.: increasing the amount of titles available in Spanish and Portuguese languages.

Program for Enriching the Collection of Spanish & Portuguese Children’s Literature in Finland’s Public Libraries

Since 2016, this program has enjoyed sustained cooperation with representatives from Ibero-American countries in Finland, including DIRAC-Chile, Alas y Raíces-México, DGLAB-Portugal, Camara del Livro-Brasil, and the Embassies of Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Uruguay, and Peru, as well as prominent Latin American authors and publishers. During this period, these collaborations have bestowed over 400 titles.

If you would like to collaborate with this program, please contact us at info@ninho.fi. 

Ninho Internship Program

The Ninho Internship Program provides students with opportunities to intern in various fields, including cultural and community projects, event production, and communications. This program allows interns to gain hands-on experience and contribute to work that fosters creative expression, communication, and engagement among migrant and multicultural communities within the children’s cultural sector. Read more

Platform and Exchange Program for Professional Artists, Cultural Workers and Researchers

We promote artists and scientists with different backgrounds and origins interested in sharing their work with a multicultural, plurilingual and intergenerational family audience. We facilitate an exchange program between local, multicultural and international artists working around children’s culture. Our most successful activities involve exchanges with writers, illustrators, and graphic designers in the field of children’s literature. We are also active in showcasing the work of underrepresented local  artists and scientists of multicultural backgrounds.

In 2016 we brought Isol Misenta (ARG) in 2017 Isidro Ferrer (ESP) in 2018 Yara Kono (BRA/PO) in 2019 we brought the work of Vicar (CHI) and in 2021  Paloma Valdivia (CHI).

Supporting plurilingual families and sharing information

Our work supports immigrant and locals raising plurilingual children with particular focus  and connections with those communities who speak Spanish and Portuguese  in Finland, but we are open to connections with other language groups. We are interested in plurilinguism and diversity from many angles.

Projects

Kolibrí Festivaali

Kolibrí Festivaali (https://www.kolibrifestivaali.org) is a multidisciplinary and multicultural, free and open art festival for children and their families. The Festival invites artists, scientists, and cultural activists of different backgrounds and origins, to make up an intergenerational and plurilingual program with no counterpart in the Nordic region. We’re celebrating 10 years of Kolibrí in 2025!

Lukupesä

A holistic program to support and develop plurilingual families’ reading practices in heritage languages and develop skills for reading mediation as key tool for wellbeing. Read more

PICNIC

Picnic are regular meetings for families with small babies and for the whole family. the meetings serve as spaces for peer support, sharing networking and having nice time together. Read More

Kolibrí Children’s Book Fair

 A  second hand market of children’s literature (some new books too), picture books and reading material in Spanish, Portuguese and English. The fair is usually arranged in conjunction with Kolibrí Festivaali and as pop-up events to raise funds for the association. We accept book donations!

KABOOKS!

Our 2024 new project KABOOKS! is a multilingual, musical reading journey for children and their families. We celebrate the richness of minority heritage languages, culture, and arts, bringing stories to life with live, improvised music. Storytellers and musicians who share the same heritage language will lead musical storytelling sessions, where children will discover love for reading, oral, and musical traditions. See full program

Día de Muertos – Family Day

Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) – Family Day has become one of the most traditional events at Kulttuurikeskus Ninho and now is part of Helsinki’s Cultural Agenda. Families come together to commemorate the departed, learn about the origins of this practice, and engage in various activities suitable for all ages. Read more

KolibrIDEA

A collection of cultural resources for the plurilingual childhood in four languages (ESP/PT/FI/SE). This  idea bank contains trends, activities and events which are mainly related to children’s literature, music, arts, sciences and other challenging ideas that families can make and enjoy at home. The project is funded by Ninho and TAIKE Read more

Building Spaces of Encounter

We want to support other communities to build safe and diverse spaces of encounter through culture and art; while supporting children, plurilingual families and diverse artists. We continuously work to share what we have learned (thanks Moniheli, Svenska Kulturfonden and Ninho’s members). Read more

Children’s Culture and Literature Network in Finland

A peer-to-peer informal network to connect actors working for more accessible, free, open and safer spaces for newly arrived and multilingual families in Finland. Get to know its goals, values, actions and why you or your organisation should be a member. Read more

If you want to become a Network member, just join the mailing list!