Art House Turku hosted more than 1600 events in year 2024

11.2.2025

Three galleries and a cinema were opened at Art House Turku during the year, significantly increasing the number of events and enlivening Turku’s Old Town neighbourhoods throughout the year.  

“The past year was amazing! Rarely, if ever, do you get to open so many different public spaces in one calendar year, each with its own special role as part of the Art House” says Jere Pensikkala, CEO of the Art House Turku.   

The first permanent exhibition space, the Critical Gallery, opened in March and hosted a total of 10 exhibitions during the year. During its first year of operation, the gallery was a great success with a total of more than 16,400 visitors.   

Gallery Aski, run by the Rettig Artists’ Association, opened on May Day. During its first year of operation, the exhibition programme consisted mainly of exhibitions by the association’s members, the artists working at the Art House. A total of 16 exhibitions were held during 2024, with a total of around 9,500 visitors.  

Kilta Gallery, operated by the WAM Turku City Art Museum, was opened to the public in the renovated Fire Brigade Building on Turku Day 15.9.2024. The first exhibition in the new gallery space was the exhibition Jakaus by Heini Aho, who works at the Art House. A total of around 7,000 visitors came to the WAM Kilta Gallery during 2024. 

Kino Kilta, a cinema run by the Film Centre of Southwest Finland, opened to the public in the renovated Fire Brigade Building at the end of September. The first film to be shown was the animated classic My Neighbour Totoro. During 2024, there were around 200 screenings, attended by a total of around 3,600 people.   

The summer season also saw a diversification of the programme, with the first theatre production at the courtyard when Laugh my Turku group performed  Päin Brinkkalaa revue. 

‘A lot of good things have already happened and there is more to come, as there will be new openings this year too,’ promises Pensikkala. 

More information: 
Art House Turku: Jere Pensikkala 044 907 5876, www.taiteentalo.fi  
Gallery Aski: Sini-Meri Hedberg 040 831 1228, http://www.galleriaaski.com/  
Kino Kilta: Mimosa Ahderinne 050 381 8833, www.kinokilta.fi  
Kilta Gallery: Satu Pajarre, 050 408 9659, https://wam.fi/  
Critical Gallery: Minna Havukainen 040 717 4603, www.kriittinengalleria.fi   