The Center for Educational Research and Academic Development in the Arts (CERADA)
Our research is connected to topical social themes, such as democracy, equality, social responsibility and well-being.

Our research is connected to topical social themes, such as democracy, equality, social responsibility and well-being.
The Center for Educational Research and Academic Development in the Arts (CERADA) is one of the three focus area centres of Uniarts Helsinki. Its focus is on research into arts education and research-based development of higher education in the arts. The research carried out in CERADA therefore responds to the demands for development in arts education and higher education in the arts, as well as professional development for artists and arts teachers. CERADA’s vision is to be a well-connected, internationally acknowledged, high-quality research centre that impacts society in its own focus area.
Here you’ll find news about our research as well as descriptions of some of our research projects.
Finnish children will have a free hobby during the school day thanks to funding from the government of Finland. Behind the scenes the art education researchers together with different cultural organisations have worked actively to make the dream come true.
The research initiative funded by the Academy of Finland’s Strategic Research Council (2015 – 2021) explores how the arts can meet the social challenges of the 2020s.
Research project (2020-2022) by Susanna Hast and Maryam Bagheri Nesami develops artistic proposals for resistance and reparation of damage while testing the boundaries of self expression without overt exposure.
The research project funded by the Academy of Finland (2015 – 2020) creates an international network of music teacher educators and a hybrid space for reflection and planning.
This research project (2019-2022) by Tuulikki Laes explores music learning and performing as ways of promoting ageing identities.
Learn more about our projects.
Read a rotating selection of our excellent researchers and their work.
Westerlund leads two research projects funded by the Academy of Finland. She is also responsible for the music education doctoral studies.
López Íñiguez’s research focuses on how to renew learning and performance practices among (under)graduate musicians.
Anttila is a founding member of CERADA and involved in CERADA’s operations both as a member of the management team and as a researcher.
The project collects and disseminates information on the practices, research and policies in the field of arts and cultural education in Finland.
Making radically diverse arts and artistic research propositions with post-qualitative methods.
Research centre CERADA’s blog offers news and views about how research into arts education can have an impact on society.
Gert Biesta, visiting professor at CERADA, talks about his research in the video lecture What’s the point of education? The lecture is now available to watch online.
A video of Professor Fitzpatrick’s lecture Toward a More Generous University at CERADA’s Researchers’ Meet on September 14th, 2020 is now available to watch online. Fitzpatrick talks about the social and political crisis in universities and the radical thought of saving the university with the means of generous thinking.
The registration for the conference will open in December 2020.