Korundi sees visitor surge this year

The Korundi House of Culture in Rovaniemi has been witnessing a visitor boom this year thanks to a number of its innovative programmes.

Sources at the Korundi said the house has attracted a total of 21,603 visitors in January to July, which is 10,879 higher compared to the number during the corresponding period of 2016.

In the words of Korundi’s Sales Manager Heli Huhanantti, “Year 2017 has been one of the best for Korundi so far.”

The key programmes that so heightened people’s interests in the Korundi include “Stories of Finnish Art,” an exhibition launched in spring as part of Finland’s independence centenary celebrations, “Real Celebration,” another exhibition opened in summer, and concerts by Lapland Chamber Orchestra, besides a broad selection of other concerts and events, and of course the museum card, said Huhanantti.

A touring version of the Ateneum Art Museum’s “Stories of Finnish Art” exhibition was organised at the art museums in Rovaniemi, Kuopio and Oulu during the first four months of the year, bringing in a large share of the visitors.

The Ateneum Art Museum, famous for its oldest and largest art collection in the country, presented in this exhibition a large number of well-loved classics alongside seldom-displayed artworks, drawing new parallels and highlighting works that have not been on a show for a long time.

This year, the Rovaniemi Art Museum is also celebrating its 30th founding anniversary with an exhibition from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation collection, which, too, has been drawing visitors in throngs.

The show, opened on May 12, will run until January 7, 2018.

The exhibition offers a true picture of the Finnish contemporary art. A dominant feature of the artworks on show is forest that has always been the chore place for Finns to relax in and an inexhaustible source for art. Man, space, line and colour are themes in focus, too. The show will culminate by dignifying the hundred-year-old Finland with graceful blue and white theme.

Huhanantti said the introduction of the museum card, a common entrance ticket to 250 Finnish museums, also has played a positive role in boosting the number of visitors. The card, valid for one year, is priced at 64.90 euros and its renewal fee is set at 59.90 euros.

The Korundi is open from 11.00am to 6.00pm on Tuesday to Sunday except from 11.00am to 8.00pm on Art Thursday, which is every Thursday except public holidays. During the extra two hours, from 6.00pm to 8.00pm, on Art Thursdays, visitors are entitled to enjoy free entrance.