This is how the Sanginkontu Art Trails were born

The Association for Rural Culture and Education brings site-specific environmental art to three villages along the Oulujoki and Sanginjoki rivers. The works are part of the Oulu2026 Capital of Culture programme.

The Sanginkontu Art Trails are located 10–20 kilometres east of the centre of Oulu, in the countryside north of the Oulu River. There are a total of twelve art checkpoints in three villages – Sanginsuu, Sanginjoki and Lapinkangas – for which the artists have created site-specific environmental artworks using different methods.

The art trails have been carried out by the Association for Rural Culture and Education (MSL) in cooperation with the SLS Village Association and Sanginkontu ry. The artworks are designed to last for about ten years. From the beginning of 2027, the works will be taken care of by the village association and Sanginkontu ry.

It is easy to make a day trip to Sanginkontu Art Trails from the center of Oulu. It is also possible to get acquainted with the art works with the help of a digital guide map.

Sanginkontu Art Trails in a nutshell

  • Sanginkontu Art Trails is part of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year
  • The art trails are located in the area of the villages of Sanginsuu, Lapinkangas and Sanginjoki, east of the centre of Oulu
  • The art trails invite you to move around in nature, search and find
  • The entity consists of site-specific environmental artworks implemented in the area and the paths and roads connecting them
  • The artworks are inspired by the location, the nature, history and stories of the area
  • You can arrive at the area by bike, car or bus; You can move from one art checkpoint to another on foot, by bike or on skis
  • There are resting and resting places near the art checkpoints
  • Villagers, local communities and entrepreneurs are encouraged to develop programme services that utilise Sanginkontu Art Trails, as well as café and accommodation services that serve the public
  • The artworks have a ten-year life cycle, so they will remain a delight for those moving around the area even after the anniversary year
  • The digital guide map serves visitors, hikers and tourists
  • Videos presenting the artworks can be found on YouTube channel.
Sanginkontu Art Trails on the page of Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture

Sanginkontu was born by the joint efforts of three villages

The wish to have an art route in the landscapes of their home villages was born from the villagers and the village association. Together with the Association for Rural Education, a four-year plan was drawn up. Its aim was to produce site-specific works of art for the villages that draw inspiration from the characteristics of northern nature and culture, as well as from the stories and history of the area.

The planning of the locations of the art checkpoints and the compilation of the story tradition were carried out at the villagers’ joint planning events. The villagers also participated in workshops and volunteer work that helped in the production of the works, as well as in artist meetings.

The network of art checkpoints was given its own name, Sanginkontu (‘Sanki shire’) derived from the local nomenclature. Sanginkontu is an area on the outskirts of home, with its own villages, in its northern home region. It’s a good place to live, it’s pleasant to return to, and you can invite visitors there.

Four-year project path towards Sanginkontu (in Finnish)
The locations of the artworks are being planned. Photo, Riitta Johanna Laitinen
Villagers at the workshop planning evening. Photo, Riitta Johanna Laitinen.

Children and young people have also been involved. In the drama workshops carried out with the pupils of Sanginsuu village school, the relationship with the landscapes and stories of the Oulu River region was deepened. Under the leadership of Sanna-Maija Karjalainen and with the support of volunteers, a fairytale play for the whole family, Dream of the Sea, was completed. It was presented at the closing ceremony of Sanginsuu school, when the school, dear to the villagers, was closed down.

Photos from the fairy tale play Dream of the Sea. Photos, Sanna-Maija Karjalainen.

The artists for Sanginkontu Art Trails were selected through an open portfolio call made in two stages. Applications were received from a total of 86 artists or artist groups. Presentations of the completed artworks can be found on the website sanginkontu.fi.

Selections in the first call for artists

  • The old forest ranger’s barn in the Loppula Nature Centre area in Sanginjoki: Satu Suvanto, Huoma.
  • Boat launch site by the Oulujoki River in Sanginsuu: artist couple Kati Leinonen and Tuomas Mujunen, Flow of Time.
  • The forest slope of the Sanginsuu parish house: Eero Markuksela, Pavilion.
Artist Satu Suvanto was chosen to create ‘Huoma’ in the Loppula barn in the village of Sanginjoki. Suvanto participated the villagers in workshops and included memories and stories collected from them about the surrounding nature and the area’s forest ranger tradition as the material for his work. Photo, Riitta Johanna Laitinen.
Photographer Kati Leinonen and architect Tuomas Mujunen designing their work The Flow of Time on the shore of the Oulu River. Riitta Johanna Laitinen presents plans for clearing vegetation from the Sanginsuu boat launch. Photo, Raija Kallioinen.
With visual artist Eero Markuksela, we gathered to imagine the location of his work on the slopes of the Sanginsuu parish house and admired the landscape opening up to the riverbank. Photo, Raija Kallioinen.

Selections for the second artist call

It was decided to implement six artworks along the illuminated fitness track of Kiekonlenkki in Sangisuu village. On a field trip in November 2024, some of the artists visited the locations. Photo, Riitta Johanna Laitinen.
The first work to Sanginkontu Art Trails, ‘The River Dragon’, was created in the summer of 2023 as a collaboration between the pupils of Sanginsuu village school. Under the guidance of visual artist Pia Hentunen, the children of the village painted Aimo Laitinen’s wooden sculpture as a power animal glowing with colours. Photo, Riitta Johanna Laitinen.

In addition to the portfolio search, two documentary works

Sanginkontu Art Trails is part of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year

Oulu is the European Capital of Culture in 2026, together with 39 northern municipalities. There are world-class experiences on offer from near and far, and in between. Culture, art and diverse events are experienced in cities, villages and nature. It is a multi-year journey that will culminate in 2026.

Sanginkontu Art Trails have been completed as part of the content of the Oulu2026 Capital of Culture year. The network of works of art is a great opportunity to get to know the history, stories, nature and art of the Oulu River delta and visit village sites near the city of Oulu.

The artworks have a ten-year life cycle, so they will remain a delight for those moving around the area even after the anniversary year. From the beginning of 2027, the village association and Sanginkontu ry will be responsible for the maintenance of the works.

The project is implemented by the Association for Rural Culture and Education together with the Sanginsuu-Lapinkangas-Sanginjoki village association and the Sanginkontu ry association. The project is funded by the Oulu2026 Foundation, the Council of Oulu Region, Oulun Seudun Leader action group, the Finnish Heritage Agency and the Keskitie Foundation.

Location of the art works

Warmly welcome to Sanginkontu Art Trails!

The organisers of the Sanginkontu art trails

The art trails have been designed in accordance with the principles of sustainable development

We would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters