Cultural field multi-professional joined Metropolia to explore new dimensions in expertise

Elo Perttola, a multiprofessional in the cultural field, began her studies at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in the English-language Master’s Degree Programme in Creativity and Arts in Social and Health Fields in August 2022. The plan is to complete the studies in about 1.5 years alongside work by the end of 2023.

Elo has a background that includes a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from Metropolia, studies in drama education at the open University of Jyväskylä, studies in physical theatre in Finland and abroad, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Services. She has gained work experience as a freelancer and in various projects and initiatives related to cultural production, working as a performer, director, and project manager. Her special area of expertise is theatrical clowning.

Elo needed an official Master’s degree to open new career opportunities. With years of work experience in the cultural field, she felt it important to gain a theoretical framework to support her skills. The goal was also to learn new creative work methods that could be broadly applied with different groups and in various contexts.

Cultural well-being builds a better society and a socially sustainable work culture

The studies, which combine theory and practical work methods, have taught how creativity can support the health and well-being of individuals and groups. Metropolia is a pioneer in cultural well-being, creating pathways to creativity and cultural well-being that promote sustainable development and build a more socially sustainable future. One example is the Master’s degree in Creativity and Arts in Social and Health Fields that Elo is completing.

“Through my studies, I have added more tools to my professional toolkit, and I can apply them with various groups and individuals. On both individual and group levels, creativity gets activated through creative thinking, writing, and physical expression. Nurturing creativity is vital as it strengthens resilience and supports people and communities holistically,” Elo says.

Elo’s hope is to get involved in larger projects after graduation, such as becoming a cultural well-being expert and working on project-based tasks at an international level. Teaching and training also interest her in the future.

“With my degree, I can deepen my expertise and have the opportunity to utilize creativity and art to enhance experiences of community and thereby people’s social sustainability,” Elo explains.

Studying a familiar subject can provide new dimensions

Elo describes the best part of the studies as gaining new dimensions by studying a familiar subject. “It has been easy to work with the teachers, they are always ready to help and very approachable. The sense of community in the studies is evident as everyone in the group is like a teacher and an expert in their field. Multidisciplinarity is constantly present in daily student life and enriches the study experience,” Elo appreciates.

Elo values the multidisciplinary networking opportunities that have come with their studies, both domestically and internationally. As an example of international networking, she mentions a course conducted as an online study in collaboration with foreign universities. The studies were work-oriented, and most of the Master’s students were also working full-time. Additionally, group guidance assignments for one employer gave Elo the chance to practically test the combination of theory and practice. According to Elo, the rich content of the studies could easily suffice for full-time study.

“The program is quite demanding: students need to master broad entities and produce numerous written assignments within tight schedules. The thesis starts immediately at the beginning of the studies. This program works best if one has study leave, part-time work, or the possibility to adjust the amount of work according to the studies,” Elo reflects.

Cultural well-being is studied in a multidisciplinary learning environment

Graduates from the Master’s degree programme in Creativity and Arts in Social and Health Fields are multidisciplinary professionals capable of utilizing the potential of creativity to support the well-being of people, promote the realization of cultural rights, evaluate the impact of activities, and renew professional practices, structures, and thinking. Graduates can act as bold innovators of multidisciplinary practices related to health, well-being, creativity, and participation.

Multidisciplinary collaboration is at the core of the degree: professionals from different fields study alongside each other, familiarizing themselves with each other’s work and engaging in joint projects. Through inspiring, diverse learning and multidisciplinary networks, new professional skills are created to promote health and well-being.

More information

Creativity and Arts in Social and Health Fields, Master's Degree