Kalle Kaihari’s Life
13 Feb 2026 – 10 Jan 2027
The son of a working-class family and a Red Guard member, Kalle Kaihari (1899–1989) became a major influencer in many areas of life. Kaihari made his career as a successful merchant in Tampere. Nationally, he was known as a versatile sportsman and one of President Urho Kekkonen’s closest friends.
Kaihari contributed in many ways to his hometown and his influence can still be seen in Tampere. The Kalle Kaihari’s Life exhibition tells the story of the legendary businessman’s dramatic and colourful life and the growth and development of Tampere. The exhibition was supported by Kalle Kaiharin Kulttuurisäätiö and Kauppaneuvos Kalle Kaiharin Tukisäätiö.
Punished Without a Crime
30 Apr – 20 Sep 2026
The history of Finnish correctional labour facilities has long been unknown to the general public, even though it is part of the story of many families. Surrounded by barbed wire, correctional labour facilities chastised and disciplined debtors, promiscuous girls and other undesirables from the 1920s to the 1980s. Freedom could be earned by collecting points, but many had to spend years in these institutions.
The Punished Without a Crime exhibition tells the story of why correctional labour facilities were established, who ended up in them and what life was like inside them. The exhibition is based on the non-fiction book Rikoksetta rangaistut (Siltala 2026) by historian Katariina Parhi and photographer Vesa Ranta. On display are Ranta’s photographs of the correctional labour facility environments, as well as historical photos and artefacts. The exhibition was supported by Oulu Culture Foundation, Finnish Association of Science Editors and Journalists and Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
Age of Utopias – Finns Building Utopian Communities
24 Oct 2026 – 7 Mar 2027
Finns have established utopian communities around the world. The exhibition presents three utopian experiments from the 19th and 20th centuries: The Amurland Company in the Russian Far East, the Sointula Community on the west coast of Canada and the Finnish-American Sower commune in the Soviet Union. The exhibition tells amazing stories of utopians with faith in their ideals and of a new life on the other side of the world.
In addition to the utopian societies of the past, the exhibition highlights today’s utopian experiments and encourages visitors to envision utopias for a better future. The exhibition tells stories of utopias through museum artefacts, photographs and oral history. The exhibition partner is the Sointula Museum, located in the 125-year-old village of Sointula in Canada.
