Uniarts Helsinki opens its artistic events for up to 50 people, teaching continues to take place primarily remotely
The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland has decided to ease some of the COVID restrictions concerning public events from 1 to 15 February. This means that we, too, can ease some of our restrictions on performances and events and allow max. 50 people in the audience.
Teaching at our university continues to be organised primarily remotely until 27 February, apart from contact teaching that is absolutely necessary. We recommend our staff to work remotely if it is a suitable option in their respective work duties.
For teaching and learning to continue uninterrupted, it is essential that the restrictions imposed are taken seriously. It is particularly important that everyone comes to the university facilities wearing a face mask and only when they have no symptoms. In group situations, the use of FFP2 masks is recommended, and these masks are available for pick-up from campus info desks. Wearing a mask is an important protective measure against the omicron variant of coronavirus, which spreads easily.
Summary of the changes:
- Max. 50 people can be admitted in the audience of artistic events during 1–15 February. Each audience member must have a pre-determined or assigned seat. There must be sufficient space between seats.
- Teaching continues to be organised primarily remotely until 27 February, apart from contact teaching that is absolutely necessary.
- The remote work recommendation will continue until 27 February, but on-site meetings (such as development days, team building sessions, training seminars) can be arranged if a supervisor so decides if a remote meeting is not practical due to the nature of the event.
Impact of the restrictions on the university’s activities
Facilities
Uniarts Helsinki’s facilities will stay open to enable crucial contact teaching and artistic activities and other work duties that require on-site attendance.
Artistic activities
On Helsinki campuses, max. 50 people can be admitted in the audience of artistic events during 1–15 February. Students and staff of Uniarts Helsinki as well as people joining the audience from outside the university community are counted in the maximum number of 50 people. However, the maximum number does not include the performers and staff members or students who are necessary for carrying out the performance.
The Helsinki Music Centre will stay closed until 15 February (not including the university’s facilities). Performers’ close friends and family are given the opportunity to attend concerts and events. Further information on max. audience capacities in halls and instructions for arrival are provided by the producer of each event.
Each audience member must have a designated (either numbered or personally assigned) seat in the audience, and people must be seated sufficiently far away from each other, e.g. by leaving one empty seat between other audience members. The academies’ production teams will provide more information on organising performances.
Public events to be arranged in the Kuopio and Seinäjoki Units or elsewhere outside the Uusimaa region will follow the regulations that are valid in the region. Further information is available from the academies’ production teams.
Exhibitions at the Academy of Fine Arts can be arranged as planned. The maximum number of visitors in the galleries at the same time is 10 people at Project Room and 30 people at Kuva/Tila.
Teaching and studies
Teaching is organised primarily remotely until 27 February, apart from contact teaching that is absolutely necessary.
At Uniarts Helsinki, a significant part of the teaching is necessary to be organised on site. Necessary on-site teaching is defined to be teaching that cannot be organised remotely without substantially compromising the key competence requirements.
The courses already published in the Study Guide are arranged as stated. If changes occur due to new restrictions, students of the specific course in question will be notified separately.
Other work
We recommend our staff to work remotely if it is suitable in terms of work duties. The remote work recommendation is in force until 27 February. We can, however, assess the need to lift the remote work recommendation before the end of February if the national recommendation changes before this date.
Meetings and seminars are recommended to be held remotely. If meeting up remotely is not suitable due to the nature of the event (e.g. team development days, recreational days, training sessions), the supervisor can make the decision on on-site meetings as long as safety measures are followed. In this case, all participants are required to wear face masks even when they are able to comply with the recommendation on safe distances.
We have updated our instructions concerning staff’s absences due to sickness and quarantine situations during COVID. You can read our updated guidelines in full on Artsi.
Travelling and hosting international guests
Uniarts Helsinki follows the travel restrictions issued by the Finnish Government. As regards work and study trips abroad, the key is to determine whether the trip is crucial and well-justified in terms of learning objectives. Careful deliberation of the necessity of domestic trips, too, is needed if the trip involves staying in an accommodation or transitioning via a place where the risk of infection can be particularly higher.
We follow the recommendation issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare on getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travelling abroad for work or studies. When planning the trip, the destination country’s requirements concerning e.g. vaccinations, testing and quarantine must also be taken into account.
Welcoming foreign visitors is possible in accordance with the Finnish Border Guard’s instructions. Instructions related to the entry into Finland (e.g. testing and quarantine) will be issued to the traveller on a case-by-case basis when they fill in their information on the Finentry website.
Face masks
Students and staff must wear face masks in the university facilities if there is no health reason that prevents it. FFP2 masks must be worn in group gatherings, and they can be picked up from info desks.
Use of face masks is also required during artistic rehearsals and practice and in other work situations.
Use of home test kits in teaching
We have updated our instructions concerning procurement and distribution of home test kits. Read our updated guidelines on Artsi.
The voluntary use of home tests is possible in connection with contact teaching that is classified as crucial. Home test kits can be acquired and distributed within the academies and the Open Campus for courses and artistic working groups when it is not possible to maintain safe distances and to wear face masks with consideration to learning goals. Home tests are meant only for students.
Library
The library is open, but we have restricted face-to-face interaction with customers. If needed, library customers can contact the staff by phone in the library premises. Check the Arsca home page for location-specific customer service hours.