Pathways to Participation
At Malva, we aim to engage people across Päijät-Häme throughout their lives.
What would make you feel that the museum is a place for you?
Pathways to Participation brings together young adults aged 18–29 from across the Päijät-Häme region. Working with young participants and local organisations, we aim to better understand their experiences and improve Malva’s services to meet their needs.
Young adults navigate a wide range of circumstances as they find their way in the world. Their experiences matter to us, and we want to involve them in shaping the future of Malva.
What is Pathways to Participation?
Launched in autumn 2025, Pathways to Participation aims to foster young adults’ sense of belonging and involvement in cultural life, promote regional equality, and pioneer new approaches to museum services.
Throughout 2026 and 2027, Malva will explore young adults’ lives and their relationship with the museum through a range of workshops and digital tools. Art plays a central role in this process, offering an engaging way to explore different topics and express thoughts and feelings more freely.
Drawing on the ideas and insights gained throughout the project, Malva will introduce new services and ways of working that better respond to young adults’ needs.
In the spring of 2026, we took the museum beyond its walls, organising events in several municipalities and at unconventional venues. Through Malva Comes to Town, our touring outreach programme, we are exploring what matters in young adults’ lives and how they relate to our museum.
Inspired by these events, young participants curated an exhibition for Malva’s Cellar gallery entitled Pathways to Participation – Talentless [Youth] and the Cows they Care for. The exhibition attracted a record number of young adult visitors from across the Päijät-Häme region. It was on display from August 11 to October 4, 2026, culminating in a lively bingo event on October 2.
We want to continue listening to young adults and learning about their experiences and relationship with Malva. Later this year, we will publish an open online survey on this website to help us better understand their perspectives and needs. By taking part, you also have the chance to win fantastic prizes!
We will continue developing services for young adults until the project concludes in autumn 2027.
Come and connect with us at Malva! Keep an eye on our website and events calendar for the latest news and updates.
Past events
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In 2025, the project received funding from the National Heritage Agency of Finland as part of a grant programme supporting innovation in professional museums.
The grant programme supports initiatives that strengthen the social impact and significance of cultural heritage and the arts by introducing new practices. It also promotes the objectives of Finland’s Museum Policy Programme and the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ultimately, this work supports a more sustainable approach to cultural heritage across four dimensions: social, ecological, economic and cultural.
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We work with local partners to connect with young adults and shape the project around their experiences and needs. Our partners include:
- Young adults from across the Päijät-Häme region
- Municipal youth and cultural services
- Local artists and cultural practitioners
- Educational organisations
- Päijät-Häme Art Museum Association
- Päijät-Häme Regional Council
More information
