Nykytaiteen museo Kiasma
Contemporary art museum in central Helsinki designed by Steven Holl, whose exhibitions present the art of our time.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Nykytaiteen museo (Museum of Contemporary Art) began operating on 1 September 1990 in temporary premises on Kansakoulukatu. From May 1991 it was housed in the renovated Ateneum building. An architectural competition for a permanent building was held in 1992–1993; of 516 proposals, the one submitted by the American architect Steven Holl, called Chiasma, won. Construction on Mannerheimintie began in 1996.
The museum opened in May 1998, and about 30,000 visitors came over the opening weekend. Visitor numbers exceeded three million by 2011, and the record year was 2019, when Kiasma received 378,509 visitors. The building underwent a major renovation in 2021.
Kiasma belongs to the Kansallisgalleria (Finnish National Gallery), and its acquisitions are part of the National Gallery’s collections. The contemporary art collection comprises nearly 9,000 works by around a thousand artists, and 60–100 new works are acquired each year. The collection focuses on artists from Finland and neighbouring regions. The works in the collection are shown in rotating collection exhibitions, in exhibitions of other museums and online in the Kiasma Online Art service.
Highlights
- Building designed by Steven Holl (1998)
- Contemporary art collection of the Kansallisgalleria, almost 9,000 works
- Collection exhibitions on changing themes
- Lasten Kiasma (Children’s Kiasma) and art workshops
- Kiasma-teatteri (Kiasma Theatre)
- Kiasma Café and museum shop
- Founded
- 1990
- Operated by
- Kansallisgalleria
- Director
- Kiira Miesmaa
- Visitors per year
- approx. 378,509 (2019)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €21 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €13students, people aged 18–24, pensioners, unemployed people, conscripts and civilian service conscripts |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Under-18s enter free of charge. |
| Seniors | €13 |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A personal assistant of a disabled person enters free. |
| Students & apprentices | €13 |
| Groups | –Free admission for guided groups from comprehensive schools, upper secondary schools and early childhood education, for higher education course groups, and for rehabilitation, older people’s, people with intellectual disabilities’ and integration training groups; please register in advance with the Kiasma information desk. |
| Museum ticket at the ticket desk | €23Bought online: €21. |
Free admission: The first Friday of every month
Adult ticket €21 when bought online and €23 at the ticket desk. The Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is accepted; a new card costs €86 per year, renewal of an existing card €79. The card is shown at the ticket desk before going up to the exhibition floors. Free admission also for holders of CIMAM, ICOM, Helsinki-kortti, Kulttuurikaverit, Kaiku-kortti and press cards, for members of visual artists’ associations, asylum seekers and personal assistants of disabled people.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
All exhibitions are step-free. Accessible parking spaces are located between Kiasma and the main post office. For further information on accessibility, contact the museum information desk at +358 294 500 501.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
Lasten Kiasma (Children’s Kiasma) offers tips for families with children and art workshops: Vauvojen värileikki (colour play for babies and adults) and Lauantaipaja (Saturday workshop). Pushchairs may be taken into the exhibitions; they can be parked under the ramp in the foyer, and light pushchairs can be borrowed from the cloakroom. In the foyer next to the cloakroom there is a baby-changing room and a breastfeeding room, and baby food can be warmed in the microwave at Kiasma Café.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Lasipalatsi · 150 m
The railway station and the Kamppi bus station are about 300 metres away. Metro: Rautatientori and Kamppi. Tram: Lasipalatsi stop about 150 metres away.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Kiasma has no car park of its own; the nearest car park is the paid P-Eliel. Accessible parking spaces are located between Kiasma and the main post office.
- Accessible parking
Bicycle racks are located between Kiasma and the Postitalo (Post Office Building) and between Kiasma and the Sanomatalo (News House). The nearest city bike station is in front of the Postitalo, and the Baana cycle route runs past the museum. Goods deliveries: Eero Erkon katu 4.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Kiasma Café (lunch, coffee and drinks) and the museum shop are open during the museum’s opening hours and can be visited without a museum ticket. Free wireless network KIASMA FREE. Lockable storage lockers are available during your visit; large bags, rucksacks, umbrellas and thick or wet coats must be left in the cloakroom. Self-service coat hooks are used at your own risk.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Venue hire: tilavuokraus@kiasma.fi.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Personal photography is permitted, and images may be shared on social media. Filming with smart glasses is prohibited. Drawing and sketching are allowed, and a drawing board can be borrowed from the cloakroom. For commercial filming permits: kiasmaviestinta@kiasma.fi. |
| Good to know | Free open tours are held in Finnish, English, Swedish and Russian on certain days. Group tours can be booked via the group visits page. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the exhibition spaces. |
