The Helsinki Biennial 2023 will take place across Vallisaari Island and the Finnish capital. The second edition, New Directions May Emerge, curated by Joasia Krysa and produced by HAM Helsinki Art Museum, comprises 29 international artists and collectives, around 50% of which are new commissions and site-specific works. The artworks address some of the most pressing issues of our time, including environmental damage, political conflict, and the impact of technology.
Recorded music consumption in Finland surpasses €100 Million in 2022, led by streaming revenue growth
The consumption of recorded music in Finland exceeded 100 million euros in 2022, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (Musiikkituottajat - IFPI Finland ry). The recorded music market continued to grow for the eighth consecutive year, and the total value of wholesale sales of recorded music in Finland in 2022 was 73.6 million euros, which represents a growth of 6.3 percent from the previous year.
Happy Nowrooz, Persian new year 2023
Nowrooz is the most important holiday in Persian culture, and it marks the beginning of the new year. This ancient holiday has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and is deeply rooted in Persian history and tradition. Nowrooz is celebrated on the spring equinox, which falls on March 20th or 21st, depending on the year. In 2023, Nowrooz falls on March 20th, and Persians around the world are preparing to welcome the new year with open arms.
The new Aalto2 Museum Centre to fulfil Alvar Aalto’s wish
“Nothing that is old can be reborn. But nor will it disappear entirely. And that which once was, always returns in some new form.” Alvar Aalto, 1921
The new Aalto2 Museum Centre, to open in the Ruusupuisto park in Jyväskylä on 27 May 2023, will draw on Alvar Aalto’s architecture and design and the cultural heritage of Central Finland to form a new whole. The wide range of exhibitions, events and services at Aalto2 will fulfil Alvar Aalto’s wish of creating a forum to bring together a variety of art forms.
HAM Helsinki Art Museum's art collection now online
HAM Helsinki Art Museum has published approximately 1,400 artworks from its collection in the national Finna.fi search service. On HAM's Finna page, visitors can explore works by searching for artists, topics, techniques, or various categories. The categories include exhibitions at the Tennis Palace, the Bäcksbacka Collection, and public art outdoors in the streets and indoors in schools, libraries, and day-care centres. The page is continuously updated with new works.
Roger Waters fights back against cancel culture and defends freedom of speech
Former Pink Floyd bassist and singer, Roger Waters, has taken legal action against proposed concert cancellations in Frankfurt and Munich. The Hessian State Government and the Magistrate of the City of Frankfurt had announced their intention to cancel Waters' concert, which was scheduled to take place on 28 May at Festhalle in Frankfurt. Meanwhile, a motion was introduced in the Munich City Council to cancel the concert scheduled for 21 May 2023, at the Munich Olympiahalle.
Albert Edelfelt exhibition returns home from Paris and Gothenburg

Albert Edelfelt: Water Lilies, Study for the Youth and a Mermaid (1896). Finnish National Gallery / Ateneum Art Museum. Photo: Finnish National Gallery / Jenni Nurminen.
An exhibition of works by Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905) will be displayed at the Ateneum Art Museum from 5 May to 17 September 2023. The comprehensive exhibition will examine the entire career of one of Finland’s most famous and beloved artists. Edelfelt was an influential international figure who was a trailblazer and builder of connections for later Finnish artists, especially in Paris. Advance ticket sales for the exhibition will begin on 14 March.
Young Designer of the Year 2023 competition seeks the most exciting rising fashion designers of the moment
The search is on for the most exciting up-and-coming fashion designers in Finland in the country's most prestigious fashion design competition, "Vuoden nuori suunnittelija" (Young Designer of the Year) 2023. The 29th edition of the competition is open to fashion design students who are asked to create designs with the theme of "joy". The winner will receive exposure and a booth at the I love me trade fair, taking place from October 20 to 22, 2023.
The Ateneum to reopen in April with a new collection exhibition: A Question of Time

Pirkko Lepistö: Skipping Rope in Summer (1972), Finnish National Gallery / Ateneum Art Museum. Picture: Finnish National Gallery / Sakari Viika
The Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki will be reopening its doors on April 14, 2023, with its latest collection exhibition, A Question of Time. The exhibition aims to offer a fresh perspective on the Finnish National Gallery's collection, featuring rarely exhibited works alongside modern and contemporary art. The four themes of the exhibition, which run through different eras, are: The Age of Nature, Images of a People, Modern Life, and Art and Power.
Celebrating 130 years of Martta Wendelin's art: exhibition opens in Valamo
Celebrating the 130th anniversary of the birth of Finnish illustrator and painter Martta Wendelin (1893-1986), the exhibition "Martta Wendelin - Golden Sand on the Paths of People" will be held at Valamo Monastery in Heinävesi, Finland from March 5th. The exhibition showcases her best paintings alongside her illustrations, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the beloved artist.