Rector of Uniarts Helsinki Kaarlo Hildén: Building peace requires art, research and willingness to see what connects us 

13.11.2023 News

People at Uniarts Helsinki are currently deeply worried about the growing number of civilian victims in the Middle East, the escalation of the humanitarian crisis and polarisation of the discourse concerning the conflict.  The rector of the University of the Arts, Kaarlo Hildén, emphasizes that art and artistic research have their own important role in shaping the dialogue between values, attitudes and cultures.

“Uniarts Helsinki condemns all violence, especially war crimes and terrorism against civilians. Uniarts Helsinki, too, has people in its community who have loved ones, colleagues or other networks in the conflict areas. Sadness and distress over one’s loved ones is always justified, regardless of which side of the conflict they are,” Rector of Uniarts Helsinki Kaarlo Hildén writes. 

In recent weeks, Uniarts Helsinki has drawn attention to building a safe learning and work environment, for example by reminding the community of counselling support offered by the university chaplain and mental health services and of the responsible use of email lists. 

“On a general level, the demand that the university would take a clear stance on societal issues is not simple. Inherently, we are a community with a plurality of values and opinions, and we must safeguard each member’s opportunity to study and work in a safe atmosphere. Often, it is not possible to establish a single position as a university, and we do not have a process to do so. Universities have had and will have an important role as communities, as third-party spaces where differences of opinion are not only tolerated but supported”, Hildén says.

“Our mission as a university is to approach crises through a set of values rooted in research-based information, art and education, which can advance the building of peace. We approach this task with determination. Art and artistic research have their own important role in shaping the dialogue between values, attitudes and cultures,” Hildén emphasises.