The Finnish government has signaled its commitment to participating in the capitalization of the new Architecture and Design Museum. The fourth supplementary budget proposal for 2020 is part of the Finnish government’s coronavirus pandemic follow-up package, with which the government will support the economically, ecologically and socially sustainable recovery from the crisis. The decision on the new museum has been much welcomed by the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum Helsinki. It is hoped that the new museum will be open to the public in 2025.
“It is a significant decision when the state is so strongly committed to the realization of the new Architecture and Design Museum. In the museums, we are now focusing our efforts on playing our part in rebuilding Finland in the midst of the crisis that affects everyone. We will do our utmost to make the museum a place for everyone”, state Reetta Heiskanen, from the Museum of Finnish Architecture, and Jukka Savolainen, from the Design Museum Helsinki.
The new Architecture and Design Museum is being planned for the South Harbour in Helsinki. It aims to bring together the existing museums and their collections and create a new and globally unique place that would attract visitors from both home and abroad.
With the decision now made, the state undertakes to participate in the capitalization of the new Architecture and Design Museum, to be established for a maximum budget of EUR 60 million.
The first study commissioned jointly by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the City of Helsinki was published in August 2018, and the next step was taken in March 2019, with the publication of a preliminary concept and proposal for an implementation model. The state decision is the next significant step towards the new museum.
“In the view of the museums, the next step is joint discussions with the Ministry of Education a Culture and the City of Helsinki, and to advance the project further towards the establishment of a project organization, as well as further development of the operating model. The goal is for the museum to be open to the public in 2025”
