The Ateneum is an art museum of shared stories

Ateneum is an art museum in Helsinki dedicated to the visual arts. It is the home of Finnish art and part of the National Gallery. The art museum is located on the edge of Rautatientori, in a neo-renaissance building based on drawings by Theodor Höijer, which was completed in the late 19th century. The Ateneum includes more than 20,000 national treasures and art from the 19th century to the present. Marja Sakari will be the director of the Art Museum from December 2018.

The Common House of Arts was the beginning of the Ateneum

The inauguration of the Neo-Renaissance building, designed by architect Theodor Höijer, was held in 1887. The foundation of the Ateneum’s art collection and museum activities had been laid decades earlier. The mission of the Finnish Art Association, founded in 1846, was the basic functions of the country’s art life, which included art education and exhibition activities. The construction project, once called the Million Palace, aroused interest, but also opposition. The construction project was based on the idea of one common art house, where the visual arts and the art industry would coexist. The Ateneum building will initially house the collections and drawing school of the Finnish Art Association and the collections and school of the Finnish Arts and Crafts Association.

The Ateneum building, inaugurated in 1887, is a strong part of Finnish art history. Photo: Ateneum art museum / Daniel Nyblin

The art schools were the most modern in Europe and were open to both female and male students. Many notable Finnish artists and designers have studied at the Ateneum until the 1980s. The Ateneum has been operating exclusively as an art museum since 1991, when it was opened to the public after more than six years of renovation.

Finland’s oldest and largest art collection is located in the Ateneum

Today, the Ateneum is an internationally renowned and respected art museum. The Ateneum’s collections and exhibitions attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It is part of the National Gallery, whose art collection is a common national property. The Ateneum building houses the Ateneum Art Museum and the Central Archives of Fine Arts, as well as the Art Museum Sector Development Unit, all of which are operational units of the National Gallery. The Ateneum building also houses the Ateneum Hall, which is an important performing arts forum in Helsinki.

Ateneum wants to create new perspectives, insights and empathy with the power of art. Photos: Ateneum Facebook page

The Ateneum Art Museum has the oldest and largest art collection in the country. The ongoing Collection Exhibition The Story of Finnish Artpresents the country’s most beloved classics in a new light. It highlights new works and assimilations, while creating a connection to the history of both Finland and the world. The exhibition guides the visitor through the development of Finnish art from 1809 until the 1970s. In the exhibition, the story of Finnish art is connected to the international development of art and social events.

We recommend Ateneum to everyone because it is part of Finland’s valuable art history, present and future.

Contact information and opening hours

Ateneum Art Museum address: Kaivokatu 2

Ateneum Art Museum opening hours:
The museum is closed until February 28, 2021.
As the restrictions ease, the museum will be open as follows:

Monday: closed
Tue: 10.00 – 18.00
Wed-Thu: 10.00 – 20.00
Fri: 10.00 – 18.00
Sat-Sun: 10.00 – 17.00

On the Ateneum’s website you will find all the information about the exhibitions, the museum itself and prices.