RÖRD – Art meeting place for children

A vibrant meeting place where art is experienced with the whole body

The RÖRD project aims to create a cultural meeting place for children and young people in southeastern Skåne, where contemporary art can be experienced through play, co-creation, and sensory experiences. By allowing children to touch, explore, and participate actively, the project seeks to break the adult-driven norms surrounding art experiences and instead give children the freedom to experience art on their own terms.

The background to the project is that children and young people in rural areas have limited access to art and culture, especially in environments that are adapted to their needs. At the same time, research shows that aesthetic and artistic experiences have health-promoting effects and strengthen children's identity, belonging, and well-being. RÖRD aims to meet this need by offering a physical place where generations meet through art, beyond screens and digital isolation.

The project's goals are to:

• create an accessible, interactive, and inclusive art environment for children and families,
• develop new methods for how contemporary art can be experienced tactilely,
• strengthen the relationship between children, adults, and cultural institutions,
• contribute to social sustainability and increased place attractiveness in the region.

RÖRD targets children and young people and their families from all parts of society, including children in socio-economically disadvantaged areas and with special needs. Children actively participate in the design through workshops and a reference group. All activities and exhibitions are free and adapted for the children.

The project is run by the non-profit association Konstverk i Bruk in collaboration with Tomelilla municipality, schools, and local cultural actors. When the project concludes, RÖRD will have established a new art meeting place in Tomelilla with over 3,000 visitors and more than 10 participating artists – a vibrant place where children's rights to art and creativity are at the center.

The board's assessment

Decision date: 2025-09-17

Total selection criteria: 560 points

The board's justification: The board believes that this project, specifically aimed at children and their families, creates a meeting place where young people can participate in shaping the meeting place on their own terms. Here, children will be given the opportunity to experience art in a child-like way. ”See but do not touch” does not apply within this project; here, children can be children and both feel and contribute to the design of the various artworks! The fact that the project also has the potential to become a tourist destination for families with children (and others) creates additional synergy effects within the tourism industry.