Children's murals brighten bridges on Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram works

According to a press release for the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram project, two temporary artworks created during workshops in March are mounted on the plywood fences of the Härmälänoja and Vihilahti bridges along the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram construction. They will be taken down when bridge work finishes in June 2026 and relocated elsewhere along the construction zone.

Children from the Pere and Pakkalanlyhdyn daycares in Pirkkala and pupils from Hatanpää school in Tampere produced the murals with artist Anu-Riikka Lampinen. Daycare groups worked with machine-themed stencils and a shared palette to invent oversized, imaginative work machines, while the school explored nature-themed figures and bold colour experiments. Lampinen said the children "used their imagination wonderfully" and composed the individual characters into two large panels that now decorate the temporary fences.

Antti Haukka, traffic manager at Tampereen Raitiotie Oy and head of the Ratikan art programme, said the company was pleased by the children's enthusiasm and that the artworks bring colour and joyful moments to the construction sites. Permanent locations haven't been decided; suitable spots such as around Partola will be sought so the works can remain on view.

The Ratikan art programme, run by Tampereen Raitiotie Oy and coordinated for this project by Frei Zimmer Oy, oversees art on the tram system and its surroundings. The temporary installation was proposed by the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance responsible for planning and building the line. The programme involves about 90 artists and has completed roughly 70 projects to date.