Volume of visitors to Vaasa’s museums clearly on the rise

The Ostrobothnian Museum had 19,046 visitors in 2023, a large proportion of which were group visits of various kinds. The Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art had 13,481 visitors, the Tikanoja Art Museum 10,250, the Vaasa City Art Gallery 7,206, and the Museum of Old Vaasa 5,148. In total, the museums and the art gallery attracted 55,131 visitors.

­- The number of visitors has increased by more than 10,000. We are particularly pleased with the interest in exhibitions by local artists, says Elina Bonelius, Director of the Museum Services.

The most popular individual exhibition was the joint exhibition KONTAKTi – Memory of the Landscape, presented by the regional artists’ association Pohjalainen Taiteilijaliitto and the Vaasa Artists’ Guild at the Ostrobothnian Museum from 28 April to 10 September 2023. This exhibition drew a total of 8,964 visitors. The exhibitions Collection Swanljung – The Sound of the Heart at the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art and the solo exhibition 5+ rooms at the Tikanoja Art Museum by the artist Kaarina Heikinheimo from Vaasa also attracted strong attendance.

Seven new temporary exhibitions

The museums’ programme this year includes seven new temporary exhibitions, the first of which opens in April-May. A pop-up exhibition, The Cold Face of the Ukrainian War, will also be presented at the Vaasa Market Hall from 1 February to 30 March 2024.

This year collections will also be on display at the Ostrobothnian Museum, the Tikanoja Art Museum, and the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art. The exhibitions at the Vaasa City Art Gallery, previously arranged by the Vaasa Museums, will be organised by the Vaasa Artists’ Guild as of 1 March 2024.

The normal entrance fee for the museums is €12, which covers a one-day visit to all three museums. On Valentine’s Day 14 February, the museums offer entry for two for the price of one!