One of Kiasma’s key roles is to present and collect the very latest works in contemporary art. There are currently about 8,000 works in the collections, and about 100 new pieces are added every year. As part of the collections of the Finnish National Gallery, Kiasma’s collections are an important element of Finnish cultural heritage. Kiasma focuses mainly on works by Finnish artists and that of artists living in nearby countries. The museum also adds to its collections by commissioning new work.
Works in the collections extend from those by artists who began their work in the 1970s to those made in the present. Collection operations cover acquisitions, commissions, loans and depositions, as well as exhibitions and publications.
Acquisitions by Kiasma are made by the Acquisitions Committee composed of experts from Kiasma as well as two artists or other external experts. The chief curator of collections presents the committee’s suggestions to the museum director, who makes the final purchase decisions.
The committee keeps abreast of exhibitions and events in the art scene. Works are purchased from galleries, as well as directly from artists. Within its means, Kiasma also produces or co-produces works for its exhibitions, some of which may end up in the museum’s collections.
