Tampere Art Museum is one of Finland’s oldest art museums and the main art institution of the Tampere region. Located in the Amuri district by Pyynikintori Square, the museum occupies a former red-brick crown warehouse, giving it a distinctive, historic character. Opened in 1931, it is considered the oldest art museum in Inner Finland and among the earliest in the country. Under its care is the second-largest art collection in Finland, comprising around 15,000 works: paintings, sculptures, prints, media art and public artworks that appear in parks, schools, offices and other city spaces. The museum’s mission is to present Finnish art from the late 19th century to the present day, alongside selected international exhibitions.
Exhibitions range from art-historical themes and monographic shows to contemporary art projects and the annual “Young Artist of the Year” programme, which has helped launch many important Finnish careers. For decades the museum also housed the original Moominvalley collection of Tove Jansson’s Moomin illustrations and Tuulikki Pietilä’s tableaux, now on display at the separate Moomin Museum in Tampere Hall, which Tampere Art Museum continues to manage and promote. In the coming years, the museum building will undergo major renovation and extension, designed to improve exhibition spaces and visitor services while preserving the historic character of the site.
Tampere Art Museum is easy to include in a city itinerary: it sits within walking distance of central Tampere, near cafés, restaurants and other museums, and can be combined with a visit to the Pyynikki area or a stop at the Moomin Museum. It appeals to art lovers, students, families and anyone curious about how Finnish art has developed beyond the capital.
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