Exploring the Local Art Museum
The Poikilo Museums consist of two museums, The Kouvola Art Museum and the
Kouvola City Museum as well as the KOUTA Gallery, the Poikilo Gallery, the media art
space Kino-Poikilo as well as the Museum Shop. I had the pleasure of visiting the the
Kouvola Art Museum and interviewing the Museum Director Anu Kasnio as well as the Chief Curator Mari Lehtosalo about the role of the City’s Art Museum.
The museums are in a beautiful postmodern Kouvolatalo building that was designed by
architect Erkki Valovirta in the 1980s. The interior makes for an exquisite exhibition
space and with its multiple floors it is a sight to see also on its own.
The Poikilo museums are located close to the city centre and are easily accessible by
foot and car.
Question 1: Could you tell us about Poikilo’s significance to the local community and cultural life?
The Kouvola Art Museum is the only art museum in the Kymenlaakso area, and this
alone makes the museum significant to the local community. By law, municipalities are
required to promote cultural activities, and the art museum fulfils this requirement by
offering local art exhibition experiences. This means our residents do not need to travel
to larger cities, such as Helsinki, to enjoy high-quality art.
Additionally, we are easily accessible to school and daycare groups and may provide
many children with their first art museum experience. We pride ourselves on presenting
professional, non-commercial art to the public, ensuring that culture remains
accessible to everyone.
Moreover, supporting local professional artists is a key mission for us. For example, the
museum premises also include the KOUTA Gallery, which is run by the Kouvola
association for visual artists. We are also involved in the Kouvola Art Award which is
presented every three years and includes a monetary prize as well as a solo exhibition in
the Poikilo art museum.
'Hidden (fading away)' exhibition by Minna Rissanen is in the KOUTA Gallery until 4.1.2025.
Exhibitions form only one part of the museum’s mission. Other core objectives of the
Kouvola Art Museum include acquiring and managing art collections. We have acquired
art for example from local artists, reflecting our close collaboration with professional
artists. The Kouvola Art Museum is also involved as the art expert in public art projects
in Kouvola.
The Poikilo Museums, comprising both the Art Museum and the City Museum, also play
a vital role in preserving our local cultural heritage through extensive collections of art,
objects, and photographs.
Question 2: How does the museum collaborate with artists, and what is the process for selecting exhibitions?
The Kouvola Art Museum Poikilo organizes three major art exhibitions each year. We
select locally, nationally and internationally intriguing art for the exhibitions. Our
exhibition schedule is planned well in advance; currently, we are negotiating dates for
2028. Artists can apply for exhibition slots by submitting a detailed proposal, including
their artist CV and portfolio. These applications are reviewed in our museum meetings,
ensuring that the proposed exhibitions align with our museum's profile and appeal to
our visitors.
Our goal is to maintain a diverse exhibition program. Thus, we do not organize two
consecutive exhibitions of the same art form, such as textile or photographic art.
Besides reviewing applications, we also proactively invite artists to exhibit at the
Kouvola Art Museum Poikilo.
Working with artists is a collaborative process. Some artists need more support and
feedback on their projects, while others work more independently. Regardless, every
exhibition results from close cooperation between the artist and the museum.
Question 3: How have art museums like Poikilo adapted to the modern digital age?
have had to acquire or rent more equipment than before, as well as develop greater
technical expertise. The shift to a digital age is also reflected in our exhibition program,
for example we recently held a video game art exhibition. Then overall for art museums,
virtual exhibitions have also become more prevalent.
Question 4: How do you see the relationship between traditional art museums, galleries and exhibition spaces as well as digital platforms evolving for both
visitors and artists?
Each format—traditional museums, galleries, physical exhibition spaces as well as
digital platforms—has its unique role. The growth of these various forms benefits the
entire art field.
We are confident that art museums, galleries, and other physical spaces will continue
to be popular because people seek authentic experiences and genuine interactions
with real objects and artworks. Digital platforms also have their own important role and
allow for more efficient spreading of information.
