Särestöniemi museum in Kittilä named museum of the year
Thursday 21st May 2026 on 20:30 in
Finland
The Särestöniemi museum, the former home and studio of painter Reidar Särestöniemi in the Kaukonen village of Kittilä, has been awarded the title of Museum of the Year 2026, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported.
The award jury described the museum as unusually active and significant, standing out for its bold, innovative, and wide-ranging operations from a northern perspective. The jury also commended the museum’s strong values and ecological thinking, which help preserve the artist’s cultural heritage more broadly.
Museum director Anne Koskamo welcomed the recognition, stating in a jury press release that it demonstrates the museum’s national importance and gives new opportunities to share knowledge about the valuable cultural heritage of Lapland. She said the museum has succeeded in conveying the things that were important to the artist and preserving the spirit of Särestö.
The jury noted that the museum has brought issues of human rights, equality, and nature conservation—recurring themes in Särestöniemi’s art and thinking—into public discourse. The strong commitment and passion of the small, six-person staff was also praised, described as offering visitors rare warmth and authenticity.
The museum also received praise for its execution of Reidar Särestöniemi’s centenary year in 2025 and for continuing its ambitious programming after the anniversary year. The jury said the museum has acted as an international expert in national cooperation projects and increased Särestöniemi’s visibility alongside other museums.
The other finalists for the Museum of the Year award were the Finnish Museum of Handicrafts in Jyväskylä and the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimäki. The award is granted to a museum that has significantly advanced the visibility and impact of the museum sector or museum activities within its field. The prize was selected by a jury appointed by the Finnish Museums Association and the Finnish National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Finland).