Malva: Pathways to Participation – Talentless [youth] and the cows they care for

Asikkala, Lahti, Padasjoki, Kärkölä, Heinola, Orimattila, Kauppatori, Malva…

This community-driven exhibition highlights the experiences of young adults living in the Päijät-Häme region. Malva provides a platform for them to share images and words about issues that matter to them – from everyday life and local identity to their relationship with the art museum. Visitors are invited to explore the perspectives that emerge – and start to glow!

The exhibition is based on material gathered during events organised by Malva. As the exhibition took shape, several themes emerged: identifying with others and understanding different perspectives; exploring the world through visual and art-based processes; humour and self-irony; and the human need to create, connect, and belong.

The exhibition was created in collaboration with participants in Malva Comes to Town, a touring outreach programme that visited municipalities across the region during the spring and summer of 2026. It forms part of Malva: Pathways to Participation, a broader project that explores young adults’ relationship with museums through an open, participatory approach. Funded by the Finnish Heritage Agency, the project promotes regional equality for young people aged 18–29 in Päijät-Häme by strengthening their inclusion in the art museum and developing services that better respond to their needs and interests.