Rovaniemi art museum receives record-breaking donation of 70 works

The Rovaniemi Art Museum will receive its largest-ever art donation this autumn, valued at approximately €400,000, Yle reports. The gift from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Fund includes 70 works, such as paintings, sculptures, and installations.

The new pieces will arrive in Rovaniemi from the Wihuri Foundation’s storage in Helsinki and be housed in the museum’s undisclosed collection centre, which currently holds nearly 6,000 works with a combined insured value of around €10 million.

A secret space for preservation—and destruction

The collection centre, a repurposed industrial hall, maintains strict climate control to protect the art. Temperature is kept at 18°C with 40% humidity to prevent cracking or mould growth, explained conservator Monna Laari. While the facility is not publicly accessible due to security concerns, museum director Riitta Kuusikko hopes it may one day open to visitors.

“This isn’t just the property of the Rovaniemi Art Museum or the Provincial Museum of Lapland—it’s our shared heritage and wealth,” Kuusikko said.

Rare removals and the fate of damaged works

Museums rarely discuss the removal or destruction of art, as their mission is permanent preservation. However, a few pieces are discarded annually due to irreversible damage. Conservator Jasmin Saarinen is currently attempting to salvage a textile work that developed holes in storage.

The donation includes diverse pieces, from large installations to small assemblages, but Kuusikko confirmed the museum has sufficient space for years to come. Among the works is a performance piece, Korva (Ear), where a person presents their ear through a hole in a wall.