Vaasa Museums attracted almost 45,000 visitors last year – travelling exhibitions brought the total to 65,000

Vaasa’s museums attracted a total of 44,484 visitors last year. The Ostrobothnian Museum welcomed 19,404 visitors; the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art 10,841; the Tikanoja Art Museum 9,431; and the Museum of Old Vaasa 4,808. The pop-up and travelling exhibitions across Ostrobothnia, organised by Vaasa Museums in their role of the museum with regional responsibility, brought the total number of visitors to nearly 65,000.

– Overall, visitor numbers remained close to last year’s level. Differences between the museums can be explained by longer closures caused by budget constraints. In addition, the Tikanoja Art Museum was also closed for the summer due to extensive renovations, says Elina Bonelius, Museum Director.

In their role as the museum with regional responsibility, Vaasa museums organised the travelling exhibition Lundgren Sisters’ Ostrobothnia, which was shown in six municipalities across Ostrobothnia. The exhibition attracted 17,394 visitors.

Minor changes to prices

Museum admission fees rose slightly at the turn of the year. The standard admission fee is now €15, with the reduced fee at €9. The reduced fee applies to pensioners, students, conscripts and non-military national service personnel, teachers, visual artists, the unemployed, and City of Vaasa employees. Visitors under 18 are entitled to free entry. The admission fee grants entry to the Ostrobothnian Museum, the Tikanoja Art Museum, and the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art on the same day.

In 2026, admission to the museums will be free on International Museum Day (18 May), Night of the Arts (13 August), and the City of Vaasa’s anniversary  (2 October). In addition, the Museum of Old Vaasa is free to visit during the summer and will be open from 1 May to 30 August 2026.

Visitor feedback praises the museum experience

Vaasa museums actively collect feedback on their activities, and last year’s visitor responses were very positive.

The Ostrobothnian Museum was described as a versatile and approachable experience. The summer exhibition by Inkeri Julkunen and other naïve artists brought joy to visitors, with the Vaasa-themed works proving especially popular with the local audience. At the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, visitors were particularly drawn to J. O. Mallander’s extensive exhibition and the works of Swedish contemporary artist Meta Isaeus-Berlin, which were described as thought-provoking and impactful. The Tikanoja Art Museum, meanwhile, delighted visitors with its Eero Järnefelt exhibition. Feedback indicated that the experience was enhanced by the home-like setting and the informative guided tours.

The museums regularly organise guided tours: On Saturdays at the Tikanoja Art Museum and the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, and on Sundays at the Ostrobothnian Museum.