NACER – Northern Art, Community and Environment Research

Full-Time Teacher

Faculty of Art and Design

Timo Jokela leads the NACER research team. He is Professor Emeritus of Art Education at the University of Lapland, former Professor of Art, Design and Culture and Director of the Arctic Sustainable Art and Design (ASAD) Network at the University of the Arctic. His theoretical research, art and art-based development projects focus on the relationship between northern cultures, art and nature. Jokela has been responsible for several international and regional development and research projects in the field of art and art education. Jokela has presented her art in several exhibitions in Finland and abroad.

Professor

Faculty of Art and Design

Mirja Hiltunen is Professor of Art Education and Head of the Department of Art Education at the University of Lapland. Her research and art focuses on critical art-based practices in social justice issues in the context of contemporary art education in the North. She is particularly interested in site-specificity, performativity and socially engaged practices. She is one of the leaders of the Northern Art, Community and Environment Research Group. She has presented numerous international research papers and published her work in art education journals, books and art exhibitions.

Associate Professor

Faculty of Art and Design

Maria Huhmarniemi is an associate professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lapland. She is dedicated to art and research that promotes cultural sustainability in the Arctic region and to the promotion of Arctic art and art education. She has created socially and environmentally engaged art and has been a pioneer in developing art-based methods to address societal needs. Huhmarniemi is also an Associate Professor of Social Pedagogy at the University of Eastern Finland. She is Deputy Director of the Arctic Sustainable Art and Design Network and is responsible for the Arctic Arts and Visual Culture Education special groups.

Elina Härkönen works as an art educator in the Faculty of Art and Design. She is also coordinating the international master’s programme of Arctic Art and Design. Her research interest is on cultural sustainability in university art education in the North. The framework for her study is especially on the Arctic Sustainable Arts and Design (ASAD) -network’s participatory and community-based intensive courses arranged for university students in collaboration with local communities. Place-specifity in all making is close to her heart. In her research, artistic inspiration comes from northern handcraft traditions and natural materials. She is interested in examining the technics of traditional crafts and implementing them into her art projects. Art as participation and processes interest her in art making.

University Lecturer

Faculty of Art and Design

Annamari Manninen works as a lecturer in art education (focus on media education) at the faculty of Art and Design, University of Lapland. She has a background as a teacher of visual art in upper secondary school and art school for children and youth. Her research has focused on teachers and pupils perspectives on identity, contemporary art and using online learning environments.