Kajaanin taidemuseo
An art museum in the former police station in central Kajaani, presenting contemporary art from Finland and abroad in free exhibitions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Kajaanin taidemuseo is housed in a functionalist former police station designed by architect Eino Pitkänen and completed in 1936. The building served as a police station until the 1980s, and in 1985 it was renovated for use as an art hall. Since 1993 the building has been the exhibition space of the Kajaani Art Museum. One cell (putka) has been left in its original state on the ground floor, and old inscriptions have survived on its walls.
The museum’s collection began in the early 1980s, when Finnish contemporary art started to be collected for a future museum. The collection contains 905 works by around a hundred artists, and its focus is Finnish art of the 1980s and 1990s. The museum also manages the art collection of the City of Kajaani, whose works are placed in public spaces, as well as a comic strip collection donated by Riitta Uusitalo.
The main focus of the museum’s exhibitions is national, international and regional contemporary art. The collection is shown in changing exhibitions and is not on permanent display. The museum also serves as a venue for performances, lectures and events.
Highlights
- Free admission to the exhibitions
- Contemporary art from Finland and abroad
- Eino Pitkänen’s functionalist police station from 1936
- Cell preserved in its original state
- Free public guided tours
- Founded
- 1993
- Operated by
- Kajaanin kaupunki
- Visitors per year
- approx. 12,885
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Guided tour ordered by other groups (on weekdays during opening hours), per hour | €50.60Up to 25 people. |
|---|---|
| Guided tour ordered at weekends and outside opening hours, per hour | €151.80Up to 25 people. |
Admission to the exhibitions is free. Guided tours ordered by school, day-care and student groups and by third-sector organisations are free of charge.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description
Step-free access is through the fenced inner courtyard; the gate and door can be opened on request at the information desk, or by ringing the doorbell. The exhibition spaces are at street level and on the first floor, connected by a step-free lift. The accessible toilet is next to the cloakroom. Pushchairs, rollators and reading glasses can be borrowed from the information desk. The museum is a destination for the EU Disability Card, and easy-read guided tours and audio description can be requested from the information desk.
Kids & families
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
The accessible toilet has a changing table, and pushchairs can be borrowed from the information desk.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking · 40 m to the entrance
Along Pohjolankatu there is one accessible parking space about 40 metres from the main door, as well as other spaces with three-hour disc parking on weekdays 8:00–17:00. Parking is free on weekday evenings after 17:00 and at weekends.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
There is a museum shop by the information desk. Free cloakroom and lockers are on the right when entering through the main door.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | All exhibitions have free public guided tours. Group guided tours are booked by phone at least three weekdays in advance; the group size is up to 25 people, and two guides are needed for larger groups. Photography is not allowed in any of the exhibitions. |
