Impropankki – Art Tools for Schools is a two-year project (2025–2026) by Dance Company Off/Balance, aimed at developing a new, participatory model for arts engagement in schools across Central Finland. The project seeks to sustain and expand opportunities for children and young people in the region to experience contemporary art through school visits and workshops, while also creating practical and accessible tools for schools to guide and maintain arts activities beyond these visits. The project is funded by the Regional Council of Central Finland.
The project combines artist visits and workshops with long-term learning. Alongside performances and guided improvisation workshops, a digital resource platform—Impropankki—is being developed for schools to use independently. It consists of approximately 30 dance and theatre improvisation exercises, enabling teachers to incorporate arts-based activities into everyday school life without the need for external facilitators. This supports the continuity and regularity of arts engagement in schools.
Impropankki is developed in close collaboration with participating schools. The aim is to identify the most meaningful and practical exercises and tools for everyday school contexts, and to respond to the need to integrate art into teaching through active participation and creative practice. Both students and teachers have played an active role in shaping the exercises and the content of the online platform.
The development phase began in spring 2025 in two partner schools: Koskenpää School (primary level, Jämsä) and Nisulanmäki School (lower secondary level, Muurame). In autumn 2025, the material bank was finalised and produced for the online platform. In spring 2026, Impropankki is being tested more widely in ten schools across Central Finland. In addition to performances and workshops, teachers receive training in how to use the Impropankki platform independently.
The core goal of Impropankki is to create a dynamic and evolving artistic toolkit for schools—one that enables experiencing, creating, and learning through art as a natural part of everyday school life.
Impropankki is currently only available in Finnish.
Team
Project Coordinator, Choreographer, Dancer and Workshop Facilitator: Jukka Tarvainen
Dancer and Workshop Facilitator: Elina Häyrynen
Dancer and Workshop Facilitator: Katja Sallinen
Dancer and Workshop Facilitator: Mimmi Salo
Musician, Workshop Facilitator, Impropankki Music: Lauri Kallio
Filming and Editing: Antti Ahokoivu
Costume Consultation: Amita Kilumanga
Logo Design: Susanna Zographos
