GFP based Culture houses are offline or online places where people can gather around to do meaningful things together and share their passion, skills and knowledge. They are a a combination of peer support and creative activities created from the ideas of the community.
Culture Houses are based on awarded Guided Functional Peer support model (GFP). They are spaces where individual and collective skills and resources are supported and strengthened through peer activities. The action is designed around the participant’s ideas and wishes. Everyone can decide and influence in the design and implementation of the activity. In the Culture Houses you can do what is relevant and important for you!
GFP – Culture Houses are usually based on art, culture, music an other creative activities, but the model can be applied in varied environments, settings and activities.
The activities and workshops are based on functional peer support. Action is designed by the participants in collaboration with trained peer supporters who are responsible for leading the activity. Professionals role is to train and support the peer supporters. It is everybody’s responsibility to create mutual understanding about the content and goals of the peer supported activity and to build functioning a shared community based on trust and respect.
Guided = Professional staff supports peer supporters
Functional = The groups are focused on relevant and meaningful activity
Peer support = Peer supporters are guiding and leading the group activities. Peer action is seen as a strengthening activity rather than diagnostic or illness centered dialogue. Peer supporters guide and lead various functional groups in Culture Houses that are based on their strengths and interests.
Over the years, the model has gained international recognition in the field of mental health. In 2019, Kukunori received the Pedro Montellano Good Practice Award from GAMIAN-Europe for its work with the GFP model.
In 2024, GFP was selected in the European Commission’s Best Practices portal. This portal highlights effective mental health solutions from across EU member states that can be implemented in other European countries as well.
GFP model was developed over 10 years ago as part of the ELVIS-project. The goal of the project was to strengthen the capabilities, skills and participation of adults recovering from mental health related issues. During the years Culture Houses movement has expanded and developed, but the spirit of ”Yes We Can” and the focus on relevant and meaningful action has remained at the core of the model.
The GFP model is applied in many of Kukunori’s functions. Within past years we have been scaling the model to new and different operating environments. We started with projects as Kulttuurikongi, where we applied cultural house practices to prisons, and Propellipäät, which tried the model in a school environment.
At the moment Roso Productions and Roso Games are using the GFP model providing support for young adults around Finland in online environment. Culture House NET located in Malmi, Helsinki is organizing empowering activities for women only (respecting person’s own self-definition).
Another example of new culture houses in Finland, is Culture House Havis for young adults. Havis is operating in multicultural district of Vantaa’s Havukoski and is part of Hyvän arjen rakentajat -program, which is a network of City of Vantaa, Wellbeing services county of Vantaa and Kerava and eleven Finnish NGO’s organizing welfare services for local residents 2023-2025.
Kukunori is scaling GFP-model globally with our international and local partners, such as Ashoka. In Kenya we have supported establishing several Culture Houses 2024 onwards together with international Making More Health program and local NGOs in Kenya.
As part of our European collaboration, the first GFP-based Culture Houses are being launched in the UK —in Wales and London during 2025–2026—in partnership with Community Music Wales and Chisenhale Gallery. The next step in strengthening community-led initiatives across Europe will be taken through the EU4Health-funded REMESOS project, in which the GFP model will be implemented in four countries: Greece, Slovakia, Portugal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We are actively seeking partners to promote positive social change in communities around the world. If you are interested in launching new Culture House in your community, don’t hesitate to ask more information:
Markus Raivio
markus.raivio@kukunori.fi