cultural activities
22
finnish cultural foundation
annual report 2012–2013
T
he Kirpilä Art Collection in Helsinki
is now in its third decade. Its mis-
sion has always been to display the
works of art collected by Juhani Kirpilä, a
doctor, in a home-like environment and
to promote interest in the arts in general.
It is open to the public twice a week and
has for many years also put on public lec-
tures and Lieder recitals.
For the first fewmonths of the year un-
der review, the museumwas nevertheless
closed due to repairs to the façade begin-
ning the previous October. The windows
on the street side were insulated, the fur-
niture and works of art were given pro-
tective coverings and the most valuable
years,
Olli Vallinheimo
, MA, transferred to
another post at the Finnish Cultural Foun-
dation, and in August,
Pia Hyttinen, MA,
for many years one of its guides, took Olli
Vallinheimo’s place. The director is PhD
Ira Westergård
.
Kirpilä has continued collaborating
with the Sibelius Academy Department
of Voice, and despite being closed for sev-
eral months, it managed to hold four Lieder
recitals in the spring. Pianist
Ilmo Ranta
continued as the recitals’ Artistic Director.
Instrument collection
The Finnish Cultural Foundation has a col-
lection of 46 stringed instruments to be
items were placed in storage elsewhere.
The repairs proceededwithout anyma-
jor problems and were completed accord-
ing to schedule, and Kirpilä reopened to
the public on Sunday March 3, 2013. The
hours of opening were as before, i.e. on
Wednesdays from 2 to 6 pm and on Sun-
days from noon to 4 pm. Groups were also
admitted at other times whenever possible. In the seven months after it reopened
until the end of the year, Kirpilä received
over 1,800 visitors. As in the previous year,
it was also open in July.
The staff of Kirpilä consists of a museumdirector, an assistant and two guides.
At the end of June the assistant for ten
Art and instruments
In addition to running various projects, the Finnish Cultural Foundation
engages in well-established cultural activities of its own.
The Kirpilä Art Collection is a private art museum, while the Central Fund
lends out musical instruments to talented young players.
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
organises the Mirjam Helin
International Singing Competition
every five years. The next
competition, the seventh,
is to be held in August 2014.
