Restoration through Environmental Art: A Feasibility Study for Peatland Sites

The aim of the project is to explore how ecologically restorative environmental art could serve as a new form of post-use for former peat production areas. In addition, the project will develop a plan for implementing environmental art in a former peat production area in Joutsa. The project will also assess the conditions for environmental art residencies.

This is a follow-up project to the JTF-funded “Peat and Innovations” project implemented by Humak in 2025, which explored the potential of peat production municipalities in Central Finland (project included Saarijärvi, Karstula, Multia, Keuruu and Joutsa) in the fields of culture, tourism and recreation.

The purpose of the Just Transition Fund (JTF) is to reduce the negative impact of the climate transition by European Union. In Finland, the JTF measures are based on the objective to halve the use of peat as energy by 2030.

An open call for artists to the Suosymposium and the environmental art residency

Project steps:

– We are assembling a collective of experts from the creative industries as well as the environmental and peat sectors. We are recruiting artists for the collective through an open call organized in collaboration with the Haihatus Art Center in Joutsa.

– We will gather with the collective for The Suosymposium (Peatland Symposium), where members will learn from one another about themes in the creative and environmental fields, explore former peat production areas, and collaboratively brainstorm environmental art suitable for these sites. The Suosymposium will be held at the Haihatus Art Center.

– Based on these ideas, we will develop a new JTF project plan to implement nature-respecting environmental art in Joutsa.

– We will publish a preliminary study report discussing the potential of ecologically restorative environmental art as a form of continued use for former peat production areas, as well as the prerequisites for environmental art residency programs.