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Erasmus+ Pilot Project Launches Between the Free Art School and Myndlistaskólinn í Reykjavík

The two-year Erasmus+ pilot project, funded by the European Union, aims to establish a network of painting-focused art schools across Europe. The initiative includes teacher exchanges between Finland and Iceland, student study trips between Helsinki and Reykjavík, and various collaborative activities involving students, teachers, and administrators.

The project officially began in February with the first teacher exchange week. Icelandic artist Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir taught the third-year class at the Free Art School in Helsinki, while Finnish artist Aura Hakuri led the painting group at Myndlistaskólinn in Reykjavík.

Photo: Aura Hakuri’s course in progress, Reykjavík, February 2024.

 

For the second exchange, Finnish painter and teacher Aki Turunen will travel to Iceland, and Icelandic artist Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson will visit the Free Art School as a guest instructor.

In April, the third-year students from the Free Art School will embark on a week-long study trip to Reykjavík, including studio practice, gallery and museum visits, and a planned excursion to the Icelandic countryside. Upon returning, students will organize an exhibition based on their on-site works and sketches, and present a seminar about their experiences to classmates back in Helsinki. This allows students from all years to gain deep insight into the partner school's practices and Iceland’s visual arts scene —as well as develop seminar organizing skills through visual and verbal communication.

The project will build long-lasting international connections among painting students and faculty from both pilot schools, expanding both artistically and institutionally across Europe. It seeks to strengthen cross-border skills and expose students to traditional painting methods in a broader context.

Guest instructor Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir with the Free Art School’s third-year students. Credit: Virppi Sysilehto.
 

Both the Free Art School and Myndlistaskólinn í Reykjavík are small private institutions actively collaborating on pedagogy and curriculum. The project will produce student exhibitions and educational materials discussing Icelandic painting traditions.

Project details
Coordinator: Free Art School
Duration: 1 September 2023 – 31 August 2025
Funding: €60,000 from the European Union (Erasmus+)
Further information: European Commission Project Card; Erasmus+ details via the Finnish National Agency for Education
Disclaimer: The content of this publication reflects the authors’ views only. The EU and EACEA are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.