ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Novia University of Applied Sciences Research and Development
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Table of Contents Year 2016 4 About R&D Jakobstad 6 Our Projects: Allegro School of Entrepreneurship
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Our Projects: NEW Music Theater
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Our Projects: Reply +
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Our Projects: The Digital Bridge
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Our Projects: Minnovation Lab
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Our Projects: Modern Business Development in Rural Areas
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Our Projects: AssociationBOOST
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Our Projects: TaideART
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Our Funding and Our Publications 2016
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Our Research and Development Personnel, 2016
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Novia University of Applied Sciences – Research and Development
Culture & Entrepreneurship Publisher: Novia University of Applied Sciences, Wolffintie 33, 65200 Vaasa, Finland © Novia University of Applied Sciences – Research and Development Editor: Linda Kass Layout: memento.fi Photography: Karolina Isaksson
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” — ARISTOTELES
2016 — The year our operations doubled 2016 was an intense year. Staff doubled, turnover increased drastically, and the number of external tenants making use of our facilities grew.
LINDA KASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITHIN CULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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At the end of 2015, the Department of Research and Development within Culture and Entrepreneurship received several positive decisions regarding projects. With that, 2016 began with the recruitment of more project managers. A doubling of the personnel from five to ten has, at the same time, demanded that over the year the department has worked on developing the sense of community within the team, and finding effective ways to introduce new people into our operations. Projects that continued from previously were “Allegro School of Entrepreneurship,” "NEW Music Theater," and "The Digital Bridge." Over the year, these projects have matured with intense activity. New projects also meant new, as well as old, cooperation. "Modern Business Development in Rural Areas" is in cooperation with development companies in southern Ostrobothnia and "Minnovation Lab" is in cooperation with Kyrkostrand-Jungmans' school in Jakobstad. "TaideART" is a project involving six other Finnish universities of applied sciences. In addition, we have begun the project "AssociationBOOST" with our close partner in Campus Allegro, Centria University of Applied Sciences. All of our projects are presented in greater detail in this annual report. Over the year, the department has invested in the further packaging of our competencies within business development and modelling. Since 2014, Novia UAS and Centria UAS have engaged in research and development cooperation within Campus Allegro under the name Allegro Ink. Within the framework of Allegro Ink, the Allegro Ink Experience was tested in the autumn. Companies within our network applied to take part in a 10-week-long coaching process to develop their companies’ activities. The production company Jokowski was chosen, and during the fall, the experiences were reported on Allegro Ink's Facebook page. Over the year, the department's project portfolio totaled 1 781 678 euros, an increase from the previous year's total of 980,000 euros. The goal is that the project portfolio will continue to grow, with a particular focus on international projects.
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Novia UAS's Research and Development within Culture and Entrepreneurship — the department that wants to change the world LINDA KASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITHIN CULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Research and development activities within Novia UAS are divided according to the five focus areas within the UAS; Sustainable Energy Technology, Bioeconomy, Maritime Simulation, Culture and Entrepreneurship, and Health and Living Conditions of Older Adults. OUR STATEMENT We believe in the power of culture to change the world. We work for creators who mirror society, make the unseen visible, and provide society with new stories and points of view. We also believe in the power of entrepreneurship to change the world. Will and courage are needed to create change. The will to try something new, and the courage to choose one's own path. We all have it, even if we need to practice it.
Culture and Entrepreneurship, which operates primarily in Jakob足 stad, has the third largest project portfolio. The atmosphere in the department is permeated with entrepreneurship, and a wish to develop and be developed. The department is a part of the nest of creatives that Campus Allegro contains, but we are 足simultaneously aware of being a part of a larger regional, national, and European development. We would be pleased to see that we bolster Novia UAS's good reputation, in both Jakobstad and Ostrobothnia, not to mention nationally and internationally. We are here for the cultural and creative industry. Our focus is on improving the business conditions for creative people. We 足develop足and spread new knowledge regarding development within the creative field. We offer platforms where cultural actors meet and develop together.
OUR VISION In 2025 we will have helped 10,000 creators to live on their talents, and through that change the world.
We want our region to become even more attractive, and our department to be involved in creating workplaces and employment. We shape positive conditions in the region with a focus on the creative industry, with the help of said creative industry. Often, the creative industry is mentioned as an industry of the future, however, economic development within the industry is slow. We want to join in shaping business conditions for the creative industry, allowing it to achieve its full potential.
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Year 2016 – a fruitful year for entrepreneurial education at Campus Allegro
SEBASTIAN WIDJESKOG PROJECT MANAGER
8 | Culture & Entrepreneurship 2015
The project "Allegro School of Entrepreneurship” helps educators in introducing entrepreneurship into their educational programs within all industries on campus. The project adapts and develops Campus Allegro's educational programs so that they might better meet the high demands placed on both today and tomorrow's job market. The project initiates a long-term, common effort for entrepreneurial development at Campus Allegro. The year 2016 was a fruitful one for the project. During the spring of 2016, around 30 students participated in the course "UF-Startup," where they work as business owners over an entire school year. During the autumn, a new course began with a total of 35 students and five teachers. People who study, among other things, business, photography, art, and music, participate in the course. In addition, the participants came from Finland, Africa, Asia, and the USA. During the fall, an expo for young entrepreneurs was arranged in Campus Allegro. Visitors and exhibitors came from nearby universities of applied sciences, as well as from secondary schools. The winner of the best business idea was the company SAM UF from the art program at YA! Vocational College of Ostrobothnia. The title "best showcase" went to Lentus Films UF from Sursik School. Both companies received a prize of 100 euros. During 2016, the 1.5-year-long team coach education for the staff at Campus Allegro continued, in cooperation with Tiimiakatemia in Jyväskylä. Around ten participants from Campus Allegro have taken part in the program, where participants receive new tools for education, based on learning by doing and the students' own responsibility for their learning. The program has already resulted in new tests and experiments, in forms such as a company incubator for photography students, as well as a room for dialogue, which is a counterbalance to the traditional classroom environ ment. In addition to the team coach education, two days of
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professional development have been arranged for the teachers at Campus Allegro. The themes for these days have been motiva-
tion and entrepreneurship, and the lecturers have been Christoph Treier, Eva Forsman, and Sebastian Widjeskog. Over the year, Novia UAS's music education program has shown particular interest in entrepreneurial development. During the fall, the pilot project Novia Music Profile (NMP) was initiated. The idea behind the pilot is supporting the students who want to focus on developing their musical career during their studies. During the school year 2016–2017, NMP has four students, coached by Sebastian Widjeskog and Mats Granfors. Several significant steps forward have been noticed, particularly in the students' attitudes. The participants have become braver. They
dare to think bigger, and initiate contact with key actors within the industry. Great plans are being made, and, in all likelihood, we will hear more about Novia Music Profile in the future.
The year has been an inspiring one, with visions, discussions, and plans for an even more entrepreneurial future for the educational programs at Campus Allegro.
When the project ends in December 2017, it is expected to result in the educational programs having been developed so that they,
in addition to the program’s specific qualifications, also contain a wide set of entrepreneurial skills. The hope is that the teachers’ competency regarding entrepreneurial development will have been strengthened, and that they will have received support to
develop entrepreneurial elements in their educational programs. In addition, a broader range of courses has been established for all students under the trademark “Allegro School of Entrepre-
neurship.” At the end of the project, its lessons, experiences, and new educational concepts will be made available, so that other educational organizations can make use of them.
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The
year has been an inspiring one.
THE PROJECT SO FAR The project began in March 2015. The initial phase of the project has focused on forming contact with teachers, listening to wishes and needs, and initiating activities based on those. The material from the interviews with the teachers is collected in an article regarding the development of a more entrepreneurial learning environment. During 2015, a 1.5-year-long team coach education has been initiated for the staff at Campus Allegro in co-operation with Team Academy in Jyväskylä. The education gives the participants new tools for teaching that build on experiential learning and the students taking responsibility for their own progress. In connection to this, a new teaching space has been created in Campus Allegro, one which supports an increased dialogue between students, rather than lectures by the teacher. During academic year 2015-2016, the project has already offered an inter-institutional set of courses at Campus Allegro, where one of the courses is “Team entrepreneurship” (9sp) in which the students work as entrepreneurs for a year. For next academic year, exciting pilot processes for entrepreneurial development in separate educational programs are planned. In all likelihood, we will hear more about these experiments in next year’s annual report.
Participants in Novia Music Profile visits Radio Rock, here together with radiovoice Laura Vähähyyppä. Photo: Mathias Lillmåns
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NEW MUSIC THEATER Showcases in Focus The project NEW Music Theater aims to create new sustainable production processes for musical theater and provide young promising composers, dramaturgs, and librettists with a platform where they can develop their art.
ANNIKA MYLLÄRI PROJECT MANAGER
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Background The project NEW Music Theater aims to create new sustainable production processes for musical theater and provide young promising composers, dramaturgs, and librettists with a platform where they can develop their art. Novia UAS was granted 3-years of project support for musical theater from the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland with the purpose of challenging and developing the field of Finnish musical theater. With this project we hope to break the boundaries of what musical theater can be and make way for new forms of musical theater in Finland. The project period is 2015–2017. This project is led by a steering group consisting of professionals within the fields of musical theater, theater, and music. These members are: the dramaturgs Marina Meinander and Anna Simberg; Opera Director Erik Söderblom; Professor in Theater Arts Dick Idman; Director and Choreographer Jakob Höglund; Director Åsa Salvesen; composers Sebastian Fagerlund, Patrick Wingren, and Marcus Fagerudd; Project Initiator and Opera Singer Sören Lillkung; and Opera Singer and Project Manager Annika Mylläri. Elin Westerlund also served as project manager for part of 2016. Novia UAS and its research and develop ment department act as lead partner. Partners of the project during 2016 were Novia UAS’s Music Department, Aalto University, and Wasa Teater.
The Doers During the spring of 2015, following an open application period, the project's steering group approved 16 young and promising composers and writers through a careful selection process. Criteria for inclusion in the project were interest in new forms of musical theater, creativity, and potential. The participants'
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We hope to break the boundaries of what musical theater can
�
be and make way for new forms of musical theater in Finland.
kick-off day was arranged in August 2015 during the Helsinki Festival followed by a September seminar in Campus Allegro. The final project participants were Sebastian Hilli, Maria Kallio, Eero Paalanen, Ulriikka Heikinheimo, Miika Hyytiäinen, and Sauli Zinovjev. For the pilot project at Aalto University the steering group chose Composer Robert Kock and Dramaturg Tobias Zilliacus. All of the earlier participants were welcome to continue in the project by providing advice and feedback to the chosen participants and taking part in seminars, showcases, and performances. The task at hand was to create a 20-minute showcase performance with the help of personal mentors and a production team for a May 2016 showcase festival in Campus Allegro.
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The Inspirers In addition to mentoring by members of the steering group, participants were given the opportunity to work with internationally known individuals in the world of musical theater. Director Wouter van Looy (Muziektheater Transparant/Belgium), Prima Ballerina Minna Tervamäki, Composer Jesper Nordin, and Director Sven Sören Beyer from Phase7 in Berlin all participated in project seminars.
The Events The first stage production was a Shakespeare-inspired musical theater piece Tragedi produced at the Aalto University Theater Department, premiering March 22, 2016 with Jakob Höglund as the director. The main event of 2016 was a Showcase Festival in Campus Allegro on May 20-22, 2016. Director Erik Söderblom served as the artistic director for the Showcase Festival. The invited audience, inspirers, and theater professionals were able to see four showcase productions, with a feedback session directly after each performance. SHOWCASE ONE: Arachne by Sebastian Hilli & Maria Kallio SHOWCASE T WO: Syrjä by Sauli Zinovjev SHOWCASE THREE: mii by Miika Hyytiäinen SHOWCASE FOUR: The Sculptor by Eero Paalanen & Ulriikka Heikinheimo The Showcase Festival also included an open seminar with a panel discussion: ”MOUTH CLEANSING!” with Sven Sören Beyer, Director Johanna Freundlich, Director Georg Malvius, Actress Terhi Suorlahti, Dean of Opera School in Stockholm Wilhelm Carlsson, Director Samuel Harjanne, Producer Niklas Rosström
The Future After the successful Showcase Festival the NEW Music Theater project will continue through 2017. The final participants applied for a development grant by presenting a project plan. At the end of September 2016 the steering group selected two of the showcases to receive support for further development. Sauli Zinovjev, with his production Syrjä, and Miika Hyytiäinen, with his production mii, are now able to further develop their original ideas. All six of the final project participants will be able to receive stage performance support in the event of collaboration with a theater or production house being confirmed before August 1, 2017.
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REPLY+ An effective startup process for companies within the Ostrobothnian game industry Project partners: -Novia University of Applied Sciences (Lead partner) -Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK Ltd, University of Applied Sciences (Project partner) -Åbo Akademi University (Project partner)
TOBIAS BJÖRKSKOG PROJECT MANAGER
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During 2015, Novia UAS researched the prerequisites for a stronger game industry in Ostrobothnia. The results laid the foundation for the project Reply+, and can be summarized through three common flaws within individual companies or game initiatives in Ostrobothnia. One of the weaknesses is lacking competence in transforming innovations that reach beyond a single industry into profitable products, for instance, business modelling in digital markets, and branding of the company and its products. Another weakness is that the user/customer rarely has a central role in the product development. And finally, the third weakness is a failure to understand how one designs a product with the help of user-centered design.
Reply+ The project Reply+ began in March 2016, and will be completed in March 2017. The project bolsters and speeds up the startup phase for companies at the interface between technical knowledge and artistic competence in Ostrobothnia. Companies that fall into this category particularly well are those working with game development. Novia UAS's part of the project regards focusing on modern business development. Modern business development deviates from traditional business development tools such as the creation of a business plan, customer surveys, and product development strategy, since these have been shown to work much more effectively with established companies than companies that are in their startup phase. Business modelling in the project builds on new theories of business development, and provides simple tools for how companies, even from the start, can build efficient ways to develop their business towards both profitability and flexibility. Åbo Akademi University's part focuses on a user-centered design that builds on the creation and testing of a design strategy, as well as user profiles, task profiles, and environment profiles. Based on this mapping, the companies create a clear picture of who the user is, what needs the user has, what the user will accomplish by using the product, as well as in what environment, and under what conditions, the user uses the product. In a user-centered development process, the product is tested iteratively on the target group at an early stage. Design decisions are made with test results as a base, and the design strategy as goal. VAMK has, through the design center Muova, access to expertise within the branding of companies and products. Branding makes it possible for startup companies to initiate the strategic construction of their brand, and productization right from the start. The methods used in t he project will create prominent brand values that will develop both the products and the company.
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Expected project results During the project period, a startup process for crossover innovations is created. The startup process is recorded, with a focus on three parts; product development rooted in user-centered methods, development of a profitable business model, as well as the building of a strong brand for the company. When the project is completed in 2017, the tools will be presented in a digital manual on the homepage www.replyplus.fi.
Highlights from 2016 The project began with a kickoff, where the project partners met six companies from Ostrobothnia that were interested in participating in the development of the tools created by the project. During 2016, a total of 12 meetings were arranged with the first four game development companies, where the tools were tested. They were then further developed after each meeting. A homepage for the tools is currently being developed, and will be ready for testing in January 2017. The rest of the companies that take part in the process will test and iterate the tools via the online guide that has been created on the homepage. In November, several game companies also participated in "Vaasa Game Days," where they exhibited both prototypes and finished games. Vaasa Game Days is an event open for everyone who wants to test out new games.
Astalo Games showing their game �Street Heat� at Vaasa Game Days event 2016.
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Business modelling in the project builds on new theories of business development, and provides simple tools for how companies, even from the start, can build efficient ways to develop their business towards both profitability and flexibility. .
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The Digital Bridge – a virtual competence center within photography and digital image processing With a focus on the future's markets, a digital learning platform is created to develop competencies among the photographers and image processors of today and tomorrow. The Digital Bridge is a Nordic competence center that offers education in professional image processing and business modelling within visual communication. The project period is year 2015-2018, and the result will be a virtual learning platform aimed at professionals and students within photography and image processing. The project has received Erasmus+ funding, and is carried out in cooperation with Fotoskolan i Stockholm (Stockholms Folkuniversitet), and Medieskolerne Media College in Denmark.
EMMA WESTERLUND LECTURER IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE DIGITAL BRIDGE
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Development of competencies for an industry in constant flux In a society where we increasingly communicate with pictures, the need for professional visual communication competence becomes important. The job market within photography and visual communication is no longer what it used to be, and the amount of permanent positions decreases within many fields, while they, on the other hand, increase in others. The need for pictures remain, or even increases, but the job market looks different now, and will be even more so in the future. Professional photographers and image processors need continuing opportunities to receive competence development for the future's broader and more complex job market. We live in a society where picture consumption is a given part of everyday life, and the demand on qualitative content and imagery is high. The tempo is rapid, as are the digital technical demands.
The project's background and objectives The photography program at Novia UAS is situated in Campus Allegro, and has 20-years of history. The educational program has identified a need for a Nordic competence center for visual communication; one with expertise within functioning field-specific business models, and advanced technical know ledge. That is why Novia UAS initiated the project The Digital Bridge in 2015. The project's virtual teaching environment will consist of two main parts; one which offers an advanced education within digital image processing, and one that focuses on inner and outer entrepreneurship for actors within photography. Novia UAS is responsible for entrepreneurial development within the project. The main headings of that part are self-leadership, idea development, communication, entrepreneurship, laws of the industry, and the Nordic photographic scene (associations, financing models, scholarship systems, galleries/institutions, and networks). Different experts are responsible for each area. Some of the Nordic countries' foremost experts within the field are responsible for the digital expertise and teaching modules within image processing; Stefan Ohlsson and Eva-TerÊz GÜlin at Projektor in Stockholm. The project began in the autumn of 2015, and during 2016, the project has taken off. Content production for both portions, entrepreneurial and image processing technology, has begun. Two multiplier events have been held, one in Stockholm in April, and one in Viborg in Denmark in September. Both of them focused on image processing and commercial photography. The material that has been produced so far has also been practically tested by teachers and students within each cooperating school. A homepage presenting the project is still under construction, and yet another is multiplier event is planned to be held in January 2017, hosted by Novia UAS. The theme of the seminar is entrepreneurship, and the future's visual communication.
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MINNOVATION LAB — Innovational work through new eyes The project Minnovation Lab was born of the need for new inspiration and guidance in the development of businesses' innovational work. Today innovation is no longer solely the realm of advanced special competence; rather, it craves interdisciplinary processes. Minnovation Lab is a tool for companies' innovational work, with an unexpected new twist – an obvious one in hindsight.
SABINA FORSBACKA PROJECT MANAGER
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Who are the most creative people you know? Who thinks outside the box and lets loose new ideas and approaches? Children, of course! The older we get, the more we are molded by society. Getting out of the famed box becomes increasingly difficult the more we carry with us. Why not get help from school children? These children, who are creative so effortlessly, can help companies receive new input. Minnovation Lab connects businesses and creative children, helping industry renew itself. Innovational work in small and mid-sized companies is today no longer a luxury, but rather a necessary, competitive advantage. Innovation cannot be defined as something technical, or a specific development of a product or service. Today, innovational work means creatively developing business activities to meet the challenges and needs of the future. This regards everything from branding and new business models, to inventing new products and taking hold of the market of tomorrow. In the project Minnovation Lab, the limitless creativity of school children has been used to solve companies' real innovation challenges. Today, school children are expected to work closer to society, in symbiosis with societal development. Not only does industry benefit from Minnovation Lab, and children's limitless creativity and eagerness to explore, but schools benefit from Minnovation Lab in their daily activities. Working with creative learning in school, where the student is trusted to create tangible surplus value for someone else, secures school reform that is both needed and demanded. Minnovation Lab is a two-year-long development project that began in April of 2016, and is headed by Novia UAS. Sabina Forsbacka serves as project manager and innovation coordinator. Minnovation Lab is primarily funded by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development through Leader, Aktion Ă–sterbotten. The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, and Jakobstads handelskammarfond also assist in financing the project, as do local businesses. In an introductory mapping of the need for innovation with the businesses, the project's innovation coordinator identifies the businesses' tangible innovation challenges and, alongside the businesses, these are compiled as tasks that can be further worked with in school. In school, a pedagogical model based on Design Thinking is used, where the students get to know the business client, form an opinion of the customer, juggle ideas, test them, develop them, and compile a result for the client. We do not know beforehand what kinds of results the client will be given, but there is potential for innovation. In the work with Minnovation Lab, the students' knowledge of their own competences is strengthened through cooperation, where everyone can work with the tasks on their own terms. This results in the project providing surplus value to industry, not only by the tangible innovations created, but by Minnovation Lab fostering future employees and bolstering the competencies and knowledge that will be demanded from tomorrow's adults. The concrete results that we already can see in Minnovation Lab are just the beginning. Culture & Entrepreneurship 2015 | 23
MODERN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS New input to the rural development companies
THERESE SUNNGREN-GRANLUND, PROJECT MANAGER
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Modern Business Development in Rural Areas is a development project with Kristinestads Näringsliv as lead partner and both the development company Dynamo in Närpes and Novia UAS as project partners. The project is funded by Leader, Aktion Österbotten. Southern Ostrobothnia is a small region that during the last few years has been marked by industrial shutdowns, the decline of major employers, high emigration, and a lack of higher education and research and development activities. At the same time, the region is known for its enterprising spirit, and there are several entrepreneurial families that for generations have worked, at times literally, to put food on their own table and others'. The project was initiated when it was felt in Southern Ostrobothnia that there was a need to renew and develop business consulting in the region, and through that, support business activities. Due to the challenges that business ownership in Finland faces today, efficient methods and tools are needed to achieve maximum effectiveness and growth among companies. In this context, cooperation with higher education is essential in order to receive new input, which is why cooperation with Novia UAS began. Starting a new business is about developing something new under extremely uncertain circumstances. Even if the business idea in itself is not very novel, nobody else has developed this exact idea, in this context, under these conditions, before. The most common tool for business development, the business plan, is built on classic leadership theories for already established companies. Businesses with a history to look back on, which is something that new companies do not have. This means that the business plan in this context contains only guesses about things that one cannot possibly have a firm grasp of yet. When established companies want to increase their growth, the tool for that has also been to write plans, such as for internationalization, growth, and marketing. These tools are not used in, and do not support, day-to-day operations. As an adjunct to these plans, a so called Lean Startup Revolution has begun among entrepreneurs. New types of tools, concepts, and models for business development have been developed, which are tangible, easily understood, and effective in developing the company. At the same time, this presents an adjustment for already established businesses and development companies. Which tools are the most effective ones? How do they work for businesses in the rural parts of Ostrobothnia? Can these tools provide better results than traditional tools for business planning? Within the project Modern Business Development in Rural Areas, the target group for the development companies in Kristinestad and Närpes are businesses in the region, both those already established, and those individuals considering starting up a business. Novia UAS's objective is to create new tools and concepts for the development companies.
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Starting a new business is about developing something new under extremely uncertain circumstances. Even if the business idea in itself is not very novel, nobody else has developed this exact idea, in this context, under these conditions, before.
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Within the project, new models for business development and consulting are tested, while being developed within an Ostrobothnian context. Concrete measures have been taken by, for example, mapping the needs of regional business owners, which later resulted in a workshop where the business owners learned how to use tools to find more profitable customers. While this has been done, Novia UAS's R&D department has interviewed development companies in Finland and Sweden, in order to learn about their most significant challenges. The answers were both interesting and radical, and showed the need for a common forum, where people could encourage and inspire each other to find new development areas. As a direct result of these interviews, the Project Development Workshop was arranged in Jakobstad in November 2016, with representaBrainstorming during the Project Development Workshop in Jakobstad, November 2016.
tives from development companies as the main target group. Above all, the participants, who often arrange further education and workshops for their customers, appreciated having their own forum where they could focus solely on their own work and its development. During the workshop, new and lasting cooperation and networks took form, which are already developing beyond the project.
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ASSOCIATIONBOOST — The importance of belonging Wanting to feel needed and appreciated is human nature. Most people enjoy feeling part of a community, where they can socialize with other like-minded people and strive towards a common goal. This longing lies behind many of the associations that exist in modern society. Today there are associations for most imaginable activities, from culture to sports, and everything in between. Sometimes the activity does not particularly matter, as long as it is done together. THERESE SUNNGREN-GRANLUND PROJECT MANAGER
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Today, there are about 135,000 registered associations in Finland (Finnish Patent and Registration Office, 2016), out of which about 80,000 are active. Almost 15 million people are registered as association members, meaning that every Finn is a member of three associations on average. In other words, associations have a significant influence on society.
Structural changes in society, cultural shifts, aging members, as well as difficulties getting individuals to commit, are factors that today force associations to look for new activity models and new ways of operating. It is often taken for granted that associations should be responsible for certain services in society, without considering the countless hours of voluntary work required. In the increasingly stressful pace of life that many people have today, what happens when people do not feel that they can prioritize associations? How will society be able to progress, if we take all this voluntary work for granted, but forget to value the people who are passionate about their associations? The project AssociationBOOST strengthens and develops associations and other non-profit organizations in the region, so that through increased strategic thinking they will find a sustainable operational model. By clarifying the vision and objectives of the organizations, scarce resources can be used in an optimal way. Alongside the associations participating in the project, tools and business models are developed, which assist the associations with activity planning, marketing, and member recruitment. This is done through lectures, workshops, and networking meetings. The associations are encouraged to actively reflect
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on their own activities, what needs for development exist, and in what way the association can be taken to the next level. The primary target group of the project are associations active in the Swedish-speaking parts of Ostrobothnia, and other organizations that do not aim to earn profit, but work to promote civil society. The project is mainly directed at board members, and those employees who are responsible for the day-to-day operations. AssociationBOOST began in May 2016, and during the first project year, an analysis of what associations in Ostrobothnia need to develop was made with the assistance of interviews with associations and other actors within the Ostrobothnian third sector. Based on the interviews, it was determined that the three areas that need the most support are strategy, internal communication, and external communication. In order to support associations in their work with strategy and communication, forms and tools were created and later tested during
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By clarifying the vision and objectives of the organizations, scarce resources can be used in an optimal way
AssociationBOOST has hosted a series of workshops where associations have had the chance to develop their strategy, communication, and branding.
an introductory workshop series in Campus Allegro in the autumn of 2016. The feedback from participating associations was positive, and based on this experience, the tools will be further developed, and tested again with new associations during an additional workshop series during the spring of 2017. The project will result in a model for operational development within associations, as well as a manual to be distributed electronically to all organizations that are interested in developing. The manual will be completed and published in the spring of 2018. AssociationBOOST is undertaken as a co-owned project between Centria UAS and Novia UAS. Both universities of applied sciences are situated in Campus Allegro, and have a previously established cooperation through Allegro Ink. Business development is a catchword for Allegro Ink, and expanding activities to include the voluntary sector is a natural step forward. Centria is the lead partner of the project. The project is funded by Leader, Aktion Ă–sterbotten.
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TAIDEART Earning logic and models for artists The importance of creative industries has been clearly emphasized during the contemporary economic transition. Using the knowledge, products, and services provided by creative industries has become a significant competitive factor in many fields of business. Art making and creative processes are not directly linked to the skills required for the productization and marketing of art, nor to the application of functioning models and practices. However, these skills are an essential prerequisite for success in the field of fine arts.
EVA FORSMAN PROJECT MANAGER
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… a creative process.
TaideART is a joint project of six Finnish universities of applied sciences, which together research methods of creating successful business models and products out of artistic work. With the help of pilots undertaken in conjunction with working life, involving businesses, municipalities, and NGOs; and with different branches of art, the project develops methods of the realization of ideas in the fields of arts and culture. With the knowledge gained from previous projects regarding artist employment, one of the main objectives of the project is a modernization of the teaching of professional skills within UAS art education programs. The project is divided into six working packages, of which the cooperating partners (Turku UAS, Lapland UAS, Saimaa UAS, Satakunta UAS, Tampere UAS, and Novia UAS) are responsible for one area of development each. 1. From Art to Business 2. Communication Tools and Methods for Artists 3. Business Skills a.k.a. This Is How I Can Earn with My Art 4. Digital Solutions and Skills 5. New Roles of an Artist 6. Client Based Artistic Work Novia UAS is working with client based approaches within the field of arts, where the client is placed within several contexts; economic, social, and cultural. The project is looking at how artists participate in modern society. What products are produced? Why are they important? In what contexts can they be placed? By researching contemporary collaborations with attention paid to the relations produced, the project places artistic activities within the entrepreneurial context as an attempt at defining and communicating artistic work. Using a theoretical approach to case studies, the project places artistic practices as a part of economics and society. With a broader approach to entrepreneurship, artistic practices are turned into strategies through which self-organized models for collaboration are discussed in the educational manual created by the project.
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Funding and publications 2016 Archipelago Business Development
562 250 euro
New Music Theatre
442 500 euro
Allegro School of Entrepreneurship
223 964 euro
The Digital Bridge
94 295 euro
Minnovation Lab
90 304 euro
TaideArt
86 467 euro
REPLY+
68 634 euro
AssociationBoost
54 173 euro
Allegro Living Lab
51 991 euro
Additional projects and funding
107 100 euro
Total value of the project portfolio:
1 781 678 euro
EU funding
916 897 euro
Private funding
419 191 euro
Own funding
363 120 euro
Local governmental funding
82 469 euro
Publications
T.Björkskog ”Finns det en framtid för spelindustrin i Österbotten” Företagsnyckeln 1/16. J.Elfving, L.Kass & S.Widjeskog ”Entrepreneurial Learning among Art Students: From Necessity Entrepreneurship to Opportunity Entrepreneurship” Conference paper, 3E Conference –ECSB Entrepreneurship Education Conference Leeds, UK May 2016. S. Forsbacka “Så här stärks elevens egna kompetenser” Läraren 14/16. S. Forsbacka “Minnovation lab – innovationsarbete med nya glasögon” Företagsnyckeln 2/16. L.Kass “Modern affärsutveckling boostar kreativa industrin” The Journal of the Economic Society of Finland 1/2016. L.Kass “Att skapa flow i stressen” Jeppis Weekly December 22, 2016.
Productions T. Sunngren-Granlund, participation in the group exhibition "Here's to us!" at Energiverket in Jakobstad. September 2016. T. participation in Konstrundan Open Studios in Jakobstad. September 2016. 34Sunngren-Granlund, | Culture & Entrepreneurship 2016
Our staff LINDA KASS Research and development manager within culture and entrepreneurship +358 44 780 58 14 linda.kass@novia.fi
TOBIAS BJÖRKSKOG Project manager, Reply+ +358 44 780 58 83 tobias.bjorkskog@novia.fi
KATARINA DAHLIN Research and development assistant +358 44 780 58 84 katarina.dahlin@novia.fi
SEBASTIAN WIDJESKOG Project manager, Allegro School of Entrepreneurship +358 44 780 58 85 sebastian.widjeskog@novia.fi
EVA FORSMAN Project manager, TaideART +358 44 780 58 17 eva.forsman@novia.fi
ANNIKA MYLLÄRI Project manager, NEW Music Theater +358 44 780 58 05 annika.myllari@novia.fi
SABINA FORSBACKA Project manager, Minnovation Lab +358 44 780 58 89 sabina.forsbacka@novia.fi
THERESE SUNNGREN-GRANLUN Project manager, AssociationBOOST and Modern Business Development in Rural Areas +358 44 780 58 87 therese.sunngren-granlund@novia.fi
Culture & Entrepreneurship 2016 | 35
ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Novia University of Applied Sciences Research and Development www.novia.fi