Information about HAM

HAM Helsinki Art Museum is one of the most prominent art museums in Finland and the Nordic region. HAM actively curates a broad international exhibition program and hosts a rich collection of over 10,000 artworks, which includes the city of Helsinki’s public art collection. HAM is responsible for art conservation, curation, public art commissions, and acquisitions within Helsinki’s art collection, encompassing both domestic and international works. Furthermore, HAM is in charge of organizing the ambitious contemporary art event Helsinki Biennial. Since 2023, HAM has operated as a foundation under the Helsinki City Group’s umbrella.

Mission

HAM Helsinki Art Museum belongs to all Helsinki residents, with a mission to maximise the presence of art in the city.

Vision

HAM is committed to making Helsinki the most attractive visual art city in Northern Europe, inspiring and connecting people amongst art.

Values

• Art: Art is the foundation of all our activities.

We believe in the power of art and the ability of artists to touch, enlighten, and provide soulful nourishment. We foster interaction through art.

• Audience focus: We keep our audiences at the forefront of everything we do.

Everyone is welcome at HAM. We strive to facilitate meaningful encounters between viewers and artworks in all our activities. High-quality content and services that also attract both domestic and international paying audiences are vital to our existence.

• Responsibility: We take an active role in addressing the challenges of our times.

HAM seeks solutions to ecological, cultural, and social challenges through museum and exhibition work. We aim not only to meet current demands but also to create inspiring exhibitions and encounters where responsibility and sustainability are the cornerstones of the art and exhibition experience.

• Internationality: Our worldview is fundamentally international.

For HAM, being international means engaging in interaction and dialogue with the world outside Finland. We operate in the multicultural environment of theHelsinki metropolitan area, collaborating with various stakeholders. Leading art museums in Northern Europe and around the world are important reference points for HAM.

HAM’s strategy for years 2024–2028 in brief (pdf):

HAM’s directors

Marja-Liisa Bell
(art secretary, curator, museum director) 1968–1993

Tuula Karjalainen
1993–2001

Berndt Arell
2001–2007

Janne Gallen-Kallela-Sirén
2007–2013

Maija Tanninen-Mattila
2013–2022

Arja Miller
2023–

HAM’s history

Museum with regional responsibility

HAM Helsinki Art Museum serves as the museum with regional responsibility of Uusimaa and an expert on the arts and visual cultural heritage.

HAM provides a forum for cooperation by serving as a convener for the region’s professional art museums and sharing its know-how, national and international networks and proven operating models. In addition to this, HAM promotes the development of and cooperation between museums by organising training courses, meetings and regional museum days centred around topical and necessary themes.

HAM at Tennis Palace

HAM’s ticket counter is located on the second floor of Tennis Palace. In the ticket lobby you can also find the HAM Shop, the cloakroom and a lounge. The exhibition facilities are located on the second and third floors. HAM’s newest facility in Tennis Palace is the HAM Corner, which is located at street level on the corner of Eteläinen Rautatienkatu and Jaakonkatu.

Art in Tennis Palace

UHO

Kari Cavén’s UHO (Unidentified Hanging Object) will welcome visitors at the escalator at the Eteläinen Rautatiekatu entrance. The hanging sculpture, made from steel bowls, is a part of the art collection owned by the people of Helsinki.

You don’t know how beautiful you are

The museum’s toilet facilities have been re-designed with Tuula Lehtinen’s mosaic work, offering an immersive experience. You don’t know how beautiful you are comprises tens of thousands of hand-painted ceramic plates painted in over 300 different colours.

HAM shop

HAM shop offers a colourful selection of design products, jewellery, postcards, posters, magnets, drawing materials, and fun gift ideas for children and adults. Many of our products are designed and made by Finnish craftspersons working in the Helsinki area. You will also find literature related to our exhibitions as well as HAM’s own publications. The HAM shop serves visitors online and on the first floor in Tennis Palace at the corner of Jaakonkatu and Eteläinen Rautatiekatu during museum opening hours Tue at 10.00–17.30, Wed–Sun at 11.30–19.00.