IHME Helsinki to Cease Operations in 2026

IHME Helsinki, a contemporary art commissioning agency, will cease operations in 2026. The board of the Pro Arte Foundation Finland decided also to dissolve the foundation that supports IHME Helsinki. These decisions are based on financial reasons. In addition to Chair Marja Sakari, the board of the Pro Arte Art Foundation includes Vice Chair Max Mickelsson and board members Kalle Hamm, Lauri Paloheimo, and Hanna Snellman.

“The Pro Arte Foundation Finland was established in 2007 to promote new and critical contemporary art, foster international dialogue, and develop the relationship between art and the public. The core of both the IHME Contemporary Art Festival and IHME Helsinki has been an annual new artwork in the public realm created by an international artist, complemented by related events. For the past seven years, the foundation has also produced knowledge on sustainable art institutional practice accessible to all to support the sustainability transition in the contemporary art field. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure sufficient funding to continue this important work in the same manner as before; at the same time, however, we did not want to compromise on the quality or volume of our activities. The Board looks back on the Foundation’s history with pride and notes that our Foundation has achieved its goals by all measures” states Marja Sakari, Chair of the Foundation’s Board.

Paula Toppila, Executive Director and Curator of IHME Helsinki, sums it up:

“I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to lead first the IHME Contemporary Art Festival (2009–2018) and then contemporary art commissioning agency (2020–2026) IHME Helsinki as the Executive Director and Curator, altogether for nearly twenty years. I am happy and grateful for the opportunity to work and learn alongside visionary artists, scientists, skilled colleagues, and open-minded partners, made possible by the funders who have placed their trust in us. I also thank our audiences, who have always encouraged us in our work. Based on our spring impact survey, IHME has inspired contemporary art practitioners by broadening the understanding of what public art can be and by demonstrating that an operating model that takes environmental impacts into account is possible without compromising artistic ambition. At the times we are living this legacy based on art, science and climate work is worth leaving behind.”

IHME Helsinki will publish a book on IHME Helsinki Commissions 2020-2025 in December 2026. The publisher will be well-known  art book publisher Hatje Cantz. The book’s graphic design will be made by the design agency Dog Design and is edited by Executive Director and Curator Paula Toppila. The book is supported by Abakanowicz Art and Culture Charitable Foundation.

 

IHME Projects 2009–2018

IHME 2009: Antony Gormley – Clay and the Collective Body 22.3.–4.4.2009, Kaisaniemi sports field, Helsinki, Finland.

IHME 2010: Susan Philipsz – When Day Closes 11.3.–11.4.2010, Railway Station’s Centrall Hall, Helsinki, Finland.

IHME 2011: Superflex – Modern Times Forever (Stora Enso Building, Helsinki) 23.3.–2.4.2011, Market Square, Helsinki, Finland.

IHME 2012: Christian Boltanski – The Heart Archive 12.3.–1.4.2012, public libraries in the cities of Helsinki, Joensuu, Rovaniemi and Vaasa.

IHME 2013: Miroslaw Balka – Signals 4.4.–7.4.2013, eight different districts in Helsinki.

IHME 2014: Yael Bartana – True Finn premier 31.3.2014 Bio Rex cinema Lasipalatsi, Helsinki and available for streaming at YLE Areena on-demand service until 31.12.2014.

IHME 2015: Jeremy Deller – Do Touch 16.3.–22.3.2015, shopping malls, sport halls, health centers and Kompassitori square in Helsinki, Finland.

IHME 2016: Kateřina Šedá – Tram Buskers’ Tour 16.–19.3.2016, all the ten tram lines in Helsinki, Finland.

IHME 2017: Theaster Gates & The Black Monks of Mississippi – The Black Charismatic 5.–9.4.2017. The Finnish Salvation Army Temple, Finnkino cinema Tennispalatsi and the Rock Church in Helsinki, Finland.

IHME 2018: Henrik Håkansson – THE BEETLE premiere 25.5.2018 Kino Korjaamo cinema, Helsinki and Kino Myyri cinema, Myyrmäki, Vantaa, available for streaming at YLE Areena on-demand service until 29.5.2019.

10 year anniversary book: Art in Public X 10 – IHME 2009–2018, Edited by Paula Toppila, published by Hatje Cantz 2009.

IHME Helsinki Commissions 2020–2025

IHME Helsinki 2020: Jana Winderen – Listening Through The Dead Zones 6.–24.8.2021 Töölö Rowing Stadium, Helsinki, Finland.

IHME Helsinki 2021: Katie Paterson – To Burn, Forest, Fire 1.–30.9.2021 various locations in Helsinki, Finland.

IHME Helsinki 2022: Amar Kanwar – Learning From Doubt 15.2.–3.5.2022 online course and film screening on 4.5.2022 Bio Rex Lasipalatsi cinema, Helsinki, Finland.

IHME Helsinki 2023: Hiwa K – Chicago Boys – While We Were Singing, They Were Dreaming 17.4.–27.5.2023, Stoa Cultural Center and various locations in Helsinki, Finland.

IHME Helsinki 2024: Cooking Sections – Maaleipä Challenge 15.4.–1.9.2024 national challenge  and Maaleipä Feast 21.9.2024 Kellohalli, Teurastamo, Helsinki, Finland.

IHME Helsinki 2025: Zhanna Kadyrova – The Forest 24.8.–2.10.2025 Power Plant Museum, Vanhankaupunginkoski, Helsinki, Finland.

IHME Helsinki’s activities have been made possible in 2020-2026  by the Pro Arte Foundation Finland, Saastamoinen Foundation, Kone Foundation, and Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Charitable Foundation.