cultural activities
26
finnish cultural foundation
annual report 2013–2014
T
he Kirpilä Art Collection in Helsinki
has been operating since 1992. Its
mission has always been to display
the works of art collected by
Juhani
Kirpilä
(1931–1988), a doctor, in a home-
like environment and to promote interest
in the arts in general. Kirpilä has always
been open to the public twice a week and
for many years it has also put on public
lectures and Lieder recitals.
The number of people visiting the
collection has varied little from year to
year: 3,000 in the year under review, when
155 public and private events were held
on the premises. As in the previous year,
Kirpilä was also open in July.
The regular Kirpilä staff consists of a
museum director and an assistant. During
opening hours there are also three persons
mainly acting as guides for the general
public and groups by appointment. The
guides further assist with other work as
required.
Collaboration with the Sibelius
Academy has continued, and four Lieder
recitals were held at Kirpilä in the year
under review. Six public lectures were also
held there, three in the autumn and three
in the spring. The topics of these lectures
were paints, graphic art, water-colour art
and drawing.
Valuable collection of musical
instruments
The Finnish Cultural Foundation has a
collection of 46 stringed instruments.
Some are new and suitable for students,
others rarities made by old Italianmasters.
The instruments are lent to musicians
mainly for a period of five years. Some, the
14most valuable ones, may on application
be loaned to the same person for a second
or third period.
The biggest and most valuable of
its kind in Finland, the collection is at
even an instrument made by a master less
familiar to the public may cost as much
as a house.
The two most recent acquisitions were
made in 2011 and 2012. The violin made
by
Giovanni Battista Rogeri
of Brescia
is unusual in that it is exactly as it was
when it left his workshop over 300 years
present worth about EUR 9 million. The
instruments are not, however, purchased
primarily as investments. Rather, they
are intended as everyday tools in a world
in which the prices of quality stringed
instruments are so high that they are
beyond the reach of most musicians.
Millions are paid for a Stradivari, but
Art and musical instruments
In addition to running various projects, the Finnish Cultural Foundation engages in
well-established cultural activities of its own. Kirpilä, in Helsinki, houses a large private
art collection. The Foundation has the most valuable collection of musical instruments
in Finland.
The collection of stringed instruments
is at present worth about EUR 9 million.
The Kirpilä Art Collection is exhibited in Dr. Juhani Kirpilä's former home
located in central Helsinki.
