Final Years of the Pyynikki Hospital

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Tampere student housing foundation’s (TOAS) lease of the Pyynikki Kulkutautisairala (Pyynikki contagious diseases hospital) owned by the City of Tampere ends on the 1st of June 2009. The City of Tampere plans to arrange an architechtural competition in a couple of years comprising of the redevelopment of the whole of the Eteläpuisto (South Park) area. It’s not until then that the City will decide what to do with the Kulkutautisairaala and its grounds. Until that point the Kulkutautisairaala is threatened with being empty.

The Kulkutautisairaala has been deserted earlier also. In the 1980’s it housed homeless alcoholics. At the moment the house is underused and many surely dream about taking it over. Already now half empty, the deteriorating facade of the building is frightening because inside there’s no life. When the grounds and the building of the Kulkutautisairaala are unused it’s possible the area becomes repulsive, the windows of the abandoned house broken and the walls messed up.

The purpose will be to change the Pyynikki Kulkutautisairaala into The Contagious Arts Centre for 3 years. When Tampere City’s redevelopment plans are ready the Centre will stop operating. The Contagious Arts Centre wants the building to be open to everybody, to Tampere residents and tourists alike. An exhibition of the history of the house, art galleries, workshops, events and a summer cafe will be arranged in the house for the benefit of the public.

The art organisations of Tampere and the art commission of Pirkanmaa are beginning the CARE project, the purpose of which is to develop international residences and artist exchange programmes. At The Contagious Arts Centre there will be residence spaces for cultural
organisations and studios for artists. The mixture of living, working and public operations will produce a rich environment for creativity and networking.

For the purpose of reactivating the house a work group has been formed which includes artists working in Tampere, admirers of the building, cultural people and art associations from various fields. You can be involved in the planning and designing of The Contagious Arts Centre.
For details contact the work group by Email:
keskus (at) tarttuvataide.net

17.3.2009 — SM

Get Involved

If you want to support The Contagious Arts Centre

Sign the petition on the Internet
http://www.adressit.com/tarttuvan_taiteen_keskus

Tell people about the situation of the old hospital building and the art centre.

Write your opinions to local newspapers or on relevant Internet forums.

Send your ideas for the hospital building to our public Ideas page.

Join the meetings, informative events and other actions of The Contagious Arts Centre.