Nekala Cultural Centre

What is the Nekala Cultural Centre?

The Nekala Cultural Centre is a new, multidisciplinary cultural venue that has been renovated in the premises of the Nekala School, originally completed in 1930. The cultural centre houses Nekalab, the Nekala Library, and the The Adult Education Centre of the Tampere Region, which together form a unique setting for culture, art, and learning.

Nekalab – creative hub

Nekalab is operated by Livelaboratorio Tampere Oy. It offers 44 workrooms used by more than a hundred creative professionals, including visual artists, musicians, performing artists, writers, film and video makers, multidisciplinary artists, game creators, and other cultural practitioners. The workspaces are available for both long‑term and short‑term rental. Nekalab also hosts events, exhibitions, and open studios. The building additionally includes Ravintola Nekalab, a welcoming restaurant on the ground floor that is open to all visitors.

Nekalab offers:

• permanent workspaces for professionals in the cultural and arts sector
• spaces that can be rented by the hour
• open workspaces and exhibitions according to the program of the building's operators
• event spaces for companies, associations, and private individuals
• restaurant services

Nekala Library

Nekala Library is located at the Ahlmanintie end of the cultural centre (door C). The library has both service opening hours and extensive self-service opening hours. During self-service hours, the library doors can be opened with a PIKI library card and its PIN code. Users of self-service libraries must register as self-service customers at the library. 

There are no staff members present during self-service opening hours, but you can borrow and return items using the machines, use the computers, read magazines, and even work or hold meetings in the library premises.

Nekala Library services:

• extensive collection of materials
• self-service borrowing and returning
• facilities for studying, working, and reading magazines
• self-service library from morning to evening

You can find more detailed contact information and opening hours for Nekala Library on the library's website. 
You can also find out more about self-service libraries and read about how to register as a customer.

The Adult Education Centre of the Tampere Region 

The Adult Education Centre of the Tampere Region offers a wide range of opportunities for hands-on activities and learning new skills at the Nekala Cultural Centre. The centre houses three different workshops: a metal workshop, a clay workshop, and a craft workshop.

Services at the cultural centre:

• Metal workshop – courses; the space is equipped with machines and tools suitable for metalwork.
• Pottery workshop – courses in ceramics and pottery; the space is equipped with suitable equipment.
• Other courses and related events.

The Adult Education Centre also provides additional short courses, demonstrations and teaching in different parts of the building. The programme adapts to local needs and offers more opportunities for people of all ages to participate and learn by doing.

The History of the Nekala School Building

The history of the Nekala school building dates back to 1930. In the 1950s, the eastern and western wings as well as the main entrance hall were extended. The school underwent a major renovation and extension also in 2009. The building has four storeys, in addition to a basement and an attic level.

The oldest part of the school dates from 1930 (architects Bertel Strömmer and Jaakko Laaksovirta). The school facilities were laid out symmetrically on both sides of the entrance and entrance hall: the lobbies and classrooms were located across four floors in the central section of the building, while other facilities—such as the assembly hall, the craft workshop and teachers’ rooms—were situated in the lower wing sections at each end of the corridors.

In the 1950s, the eastern and western wings and the main entrance hall were extended (architects Bertel Strömmer, Mikael Nordenswan and Pekka Pussinen). The eastern wing and its facilities (the craft workshop and assembly hall) were extended towards the school courtyard, while the western wing was expanded along the street almost to the edge of the site. A dining hall and kitchen were located on the first floor of the western wing. The second floor housed five classrooms and a teaching kitchen with dining areas. The third floor contained five classrooms as well as teachers’ room and teaching equipment storerooms.

The school was comprehensively renovated and extended in 2009 (Architects A3 Ltd). Changes were made to the interior spaces to reflect the needs of school operations, including facilities for special education, an IT classroom and administrative offices. Accessibility and building services were also improved, for example through platform lifts and upgraded ventilation systems. The former residential units and old kitchen at the western end of the ground floor were converted into library premises. The school kitchen was relocated to a new extension, and a new ventilation plant room was built on the roof of the western wing. In the basement of the eastern wing, floor levels were lowered in part of the area and new teaching spaces were created.

School operations in the building ended in 2018. At various times, the building also housed a dental clinic.

The short address for this page is tampere.fi/en/nekalaculturalcentre