Presentation at EGMUS (European Group on Museum Statistics) meeting in Berlin 24.-25.10.2016.

1. 24.-25.10.2016 Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio
Finnish museums, statistics – and publicity
Aura Kivilaakso and Tapani Sainio
National Board of Antiquities, Finland
@AuraKivilaakso & @TapSq

2. Finnish museum statistics 2015
Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio
• Includes 150 professional museums that are run on
full-time basis
• Does not include:
– Approx. 1000 local museums that are not considered
”professional” due to the Finnish museum legislation
– World heritage sites (7)
– Nature centres and science centres
24.-25.10.2016

4. The Museum Card
• Launched in May 2015
• Costs 59 €, free access to more than 230
museums
• 65 000 users, 500 000 visits
(by June 2016)
Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio24.-25.10.2016

5. Tourism
• Finnish museum statistics survey does not include
questions about tourism
• Foreign visitors due to the museum statistics: 8,8 %
(N 131 from 150)
– The number is not fully reliable
• National visitor survey 2011 (Finnish Museum Association):
– Amount of foreign visitors 12 %
Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio24.-25.10.2016

6. The Guggenheim Helsinki discussion
• In 2011 the Guggenheim Foundation proposed a
new Guggenheim museum to Helsinki
– Major argument: increase in tourism
(estimated 130 000 tourists annually)
• In 2014-2015 architectural competition, winner
Moreau Kusunoki Architectes
• In 2016 state funding rejected
Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio24.-25.10.2016

7. 10/22/2016 Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio
Moreau Kusunoki Architectes, “Art in the City”
”Guggenheim causes weird itchy reactions”
(Kaleva 2012)
”Helsinki: Guggenheim would be
profitable for tax payers”
(Helsingin Sanomat 20.1.2016)
”Guggenheim Helsinki – secret background
and hidden thought leaders of the project”
(Satakunnan Kansa 23.6.2015)
”Statistical researcher wonders calculations
behind Guggenheim”
(Helsingin Sanomat 26.9.2013)
”Finavia invests in Guggenheim Helsinki
project” (Talouselämä 5.4.2016)
”Helsinki politicians don't
support Guggenheim”
(Helsingin Sanomat 24.6.2015)
“Many politicians still
want Guggenheim
museum to Helsinki”
(Länsiväylä 18.10.2012)

8. 22.10.2016 Maija Meikäläinen
Helsinki City Museum:
“Everybody has the opportunity to
fall in love with Helsinki”
MaijaAstikainen,HelsinkiCityMuseum

9. Cultural heritage in publicity
• National Board of Antiquities has recognized a
need to emphasize the role of cultural heritage
and museums in society.
• We are planning a new information resource
about cultural heritage for general public.
– Includes information about cultural environment,
museums (statistics) and cultural heritage.
– More information next year. 
Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio24.-25.10.2016

10. Finnish Museum Statistics:
https://www.museotilasto.fi/
aura.kivilaakso@nba.fi
tapani.sainio@nba.fi
@AuraKivilaakso
@TapSq
Aura Kivilaakso & Tapani Sainio24.-25.10.2016