What does the Museum of Contemporary Art offer people?

Museum dust, quiet halls and incomprehensible art? Or something else such as making contact with living artists and their art, compelling interpretations of life and the phenomena around us, moving experiences, multisensory pleasures, background information catering to museum-goers' interpretive needs, quiet contemplation as well as electrifying events?

If the latter vision comes across as familiar and desirable, you qualify as a potential member of the Friends of Kiasma. The association was founded in 1991 with three underlying goals: to garner support for the museum, to heighten its profile, as well as to provide its members with engaging experiences and information on contemporary art. The membership is some 1000 strong as of 2006.

 
NEW AUDIENCES Associations of museum afficionados frequently play a major role internationally in maintaining museums' public outreach services and in consolidating financial support. The Finnish Museum of Contemporary Art receives its core financing from the State.

The Friends of Kiasma is seen as a voluntary association of "museum activists" in the sense of a core clientele of contemporary art enthusiasts engaged in spreading its "uplifting message". The inauguration of Kiasma has also accentuated the association's need for volunteer work and other forms of support.

The Friends of Kiasma is entirely dependent on membership fees and donations in its activities. The growth in activity is thus a function of growing membership. Kiasma's inauguration will serve to enhance the Museum of Contemporary Art's unique identity, furthering interest in contemporary art and thereby it has made possible the meeting of new constituencies. The Friends of the Museum association is undertaking the requisite preparations and is committed to helping the Museum get off to a good start. The members are poised for taking the box seat as well as helping out Kiasma after its inauguration.

WHAT DOES THE ASSOCIATION DO? The Friends of Kiasma activities on the contemporary art scene take the form of special events designated for its members. These monthly events have included previews of Museum of Contemporary Art exhibitions under the guidance of artists and curators, art excursions both in Finland and abroad, lecture series, visits to artists' studios, and visits to special exhibitions. Lectures and discussion forums are generally organized in cooperation with the Museum of Contemporary Art and are, in these instances, open to all those who are interested.

Members are informed about events through subscriber mail as well as through museum invitations and leaflets. For now, membership priviledges include discounts on bookstore and cafeteria purchases, as well as subscriber mail.

The association also promotes awareness of contemporary art by choosing a Friend of Contemporary Art every year on Valentine's Day, the 14th of February. The Friend of Contemporary Art is a person, group or organization that has played a significant role in the field of contemporary art. Thanks to their affiliations, the members of the association also attract new museum-goers in addition to generating positive interest in contemporary art. The association has supported the Museum through art donations as well as through its volunteer workers.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE Contemporary art may be so captivating because of its multiplicity: it may simultaneously provoke questions and suggest unorthodox answers, give rise to strong feelings, or be profoundly and even coolly analytical. Yet the emperor's new clothes phenomenon is also an indisputable reality. The members of the Friends of Kiasma wish to partake in a process of searching, questioning, finding answers and holding these up against other interpretations.

Additional information: Friends of Kiasma Lena Teromaa, Secretary Tuesdays 2pm-4pm

TEL:+358-9-17 336 595
FAX:+358-9-17 336 503
Mannerheiminaukio 2
00100 HELSINKI