Helsinki City Museum is the second most popular museum in Finland
In 2023, the Helsinki City Museum, Villa Hakasalmi, the Tram Museum and the Burgher’s House had a total of 433,163 visits. The City Museum, located on the edge of Senate Square, is the second most visited museum in the country, with 313,071 visits, according to recent statistics collected by the Finnish Heritage Agency.
Throughout 2023, the City Museum featured three changing exhibitions. Those were ‘Hoes – Voices in Sex Work’, addressing voluntary sex work; ‘Being Black – Afro Finns’ Experiences’, portraying the diverse voices of Helsinki; and ‘Sun Bodi – The Sweaty History of Gyms’, telling the story of gyms and gym lovers. These exhibitions reached new target audiences; for example, anti-racist workshops were held at the City Museum, in which more than 250 young people participated to discuss mental health and racism. In addition, the City Museum became the cultural sponsor for children born in Helsinki in 2023. This year, the museum offers Sea-themed concerts and participatory theater for the babies and toddlers.
“The City Museum is the memory and voice of every Helsinki resident. Our mission is to give them roots and help them build a unique relationship with Helsinki. In 2023, we have succeeded in highlighting the many voices of Helsinki. Our museums also offer city residents opportunities to get involved throughout 2024,” says Museum Director Reetta Heiskanen.
Villa Hakasalmi was visited a total of 53,951 times in 2023. The biggest attraction was the exhibition Jörn Donner – Travelling 1951–68, posthumously curated from unique photographs, which also received wide media attention. The exhibition Streets of Crime and Love was dismantled with a gallery sale to benefit Hurstin Apu. A Glimpse of Helsinki – Volker von Bonin’s photos showcase Helsinki’s daily life and urban milieu. The exhibition will be on display until 25 August 2024.
The refurbished Tram Museum now has 100,000 visits
The Tram Museum was visited 58,562 times in 2023. Since the renovation of the Tram Museum, it has now received 100,000 visitors. The museum is also open on Mondays and offers fun activities, especially for children and schoolchildren.
Photo: Admission to the Helsinki City Museum is always free. Jussi Hellsten / Helsinki City Museum.
