Foundation for Future

“Art is a collective mental resource for a society. Art will challenge people to see things differently and break outdated boundaries”, says Chairman of the Board Rafaela Seppälä of the Kiasma Foundation.

In May 2008, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Kiasma Foundation was founded to celebrate the museum’s ten years of operation. The purpose of the foundation is to support exhibitions and publications as well as building up the collections of Kiasma. In addition to financial support, the Foundation supports Kiasma’s international operations, community relations, and dialogue with collectors of contemporary art. Founding members of the Kiasma Foundation include Director Berndt Arell of the Kiasma museum, Carl Gustaf Ehrnrooth, the late Pentti Kouri, and Rafaela Seppälä.

Seppälä wanted to create the foundation for two reasons. Firstly, because public funding has not been adequate to actively develop Kiasma operations. Secondly, she wanted to make sure that the collection of contemporary art would grow and the Finnish national heritage would be preserved. Seppälä also felt that it was important to bring collectors and museums closer together. “Contemporary art plays a particular role in sustaining a dialogue with society. Institutions of contemporary art have a key position in this dialogue”, says Seppälä.

In the first year, the Kiasma Foundation has added to its own capital to ensure continuing operations, and has participated in many major projects of Kiasma. In autumn 2008, the Foundation gave support to the publication of a book on Kiasma’s Kouri collection. At the turn of the year, the foundation made it possible to produce the gigantic Composition with David and Goliath by artist Ola Kolehmainen in the museum lobby. This spring, the foundation made its first acquisition of a work of art, adding Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s new work ‘Where is Where’ to the museum’s collections. This is one of the most remarkable acquisitions in the Kiasma collections.

The Foundation’s operational model is unique for Finland. Seppälä says that the Kiasma Foundation’s operations are clear and transparent, and they secure the independence of the museum management in every way. In the future, private financing will play an even bigger role in the Finnish art scene. The Kiasma Foundation wants to set an example for the importance of such operations and to create useful practices for other organisations to copy. Although the current global economy does not favour private patronage, Seppälä sees light in the foundation’s future. “We have created the Foundation for the future. The first year shows encouraging results, but these are mere baby steps in the world of contemporary art.”

Sanna-Mari Jäntti
Head of Marketing and Sponsorship