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Porvoo Art Factory is a cultural and events centre in a former factory building in the centre of Porvoo. The Art Factory has several different actors, the most important of which in this student project were the City of Porvoo and its subsidiary Porvoo Event Factory Oy Ab.

The Aalto University student team worked with the Art Factory to analyse and develop its operations and attractiveness. The multidisciplinary team mapped current practices, investigated visitor experience and conducted interviews with key actors and stakeholders of the Art Factory. The team consisted of Ella Nikulainen (School of Arts and Design), Aino Soinio (School of Science) and Ada Tola (School of Business). The academic supervisor of the project was Hanne Savolainen, doctoral researcher from the School of Business, and architect.

Sustainable business development

The Art Factory offers a wide range of cultural events, art exhibitions, films, meeting and event facilities. The student group was tasked with finding out how the Art Factory could improve the customer experience of its visitors, attract a wider audience and develop its business in a sustainable way. In addition, the student group created a number of possible scenarios for the future of the Art Factory.

The students used a variety of research methods, including visitor surveys, interviews and regional market analysis. The purpose of the study was to support the students' work in building scenarios.

The project focused in particular on strengthening the vision and strategy of the Art Factory, promoting financial sustainability, brainstorming on the use of the building's space and improving cooperation between different stakeholders. The students also identified opportunities for new activities and actors that could enrich the cultural offer of the region.

As a result of the project, the students produced a report with a concrete solution that could be implemented immediately. In particular, the report looked at the profitability of Porvoo Event Factory Oy Ab, a subsidiary of the City of Porvoo, the possibilities for increasing the occupancy rate of the premises and the possibilities for developing the Art Hall at the Art Factory.

‘It was interesting to analyse how the operating models we designed for the Porvoo City subsidiary could be put into practice in a profitable way. One of the insights of the project was the great potential of the under-utilised premises of the Art Factory - making better use of them could bring significant additional income and increase the cultural offerings of the Art Factory,’ says the student team.

According to Hanne Savolainen, the project's academic supervisor, the Art Factory project was a good illustration of how many things affect the running of a public cultural centre and how challenging it can be to achieve financial balance. ‘However, the students were able to skilfully find workable solutions that take into account the numerous constraints.’

‘It was very necessary for Aalto University students to do this project, because without researched data it is difficult for us to make decisions based on reality.  We will use the study to create a vision for the future of the Art Factory and a renewed operating model,’ says Anders Lindholm-Ahlefelt, Managing Director of Porvoo Event Factory Oy Ab.

A great learning experience for students

The project gave students valuable experience in real-life project management, multidisciplinary collaboration and pressure management. Students also learned about business analysis and its application to practical design work, especially from the perspectives of space optimisation and service design. In addition, the project developed the students' communication and negotiation skills as they worked with different stakeholders and presented their solutions to the commissioned representatives of the City of Porvoo.

The management of the City of Porvoo and the Art Factory took on board the students' recommendations and will use them as part of their future development work.

‘This report will not remain in a desk drawer. The students' work will have a concrete impact on the future planning of the Art Factory,’ says Fredrick von Schoultz, Deputy Mayor of Porvoo.