Maiju Loukola named vice dean for research at the Academy of Fine Arts
Maiju Loukola will begin her position as vice dean for research at Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts on 1 August 2026.
Maiju Loukola (Doctor of Arts, Aalto University, 2014) has worked for five years as a lecturer in artistic research in the Academy of Fine Arts’ doctoral programme. She has extensive and diverse experience in teaching, as well as in research, doctoral education, and artistic research at the academy.
Loukola’s research focuses particularly on site-specific art in relation to divisive places, cases, and politics in different environments, especially in urban spaces. She is responsible for the Academy of Fine Arts’ research focus area on spatial practices.
“For me, it is important to ensure the freedom of art and research and the conditions for focused work, while also supporting the presence and participation of artist-researchers in society—not as separate actors, but as an integral part of it. Strengthening artistic and research activity within this tension is highly motivating,” Loukola describes.
The position is a fixed-term (three years) and part-time (25%) appointment. The current Vice Dean for Research is Mika Elo, whose term will end on 31 July 2026.