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Helsinki transforming power plant into huge arts and culture hub

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Hanasaari Power Plant

Helsinki is transforming a power plant into a huge arts and culture hub, under new plans put forward by the city authorities in the document ‘Art and Culture in Helsinki 2030’.

The Hanasaari Power Plant, which is located in the industrial port area of Suvilahti in Finland, is due to be withdrawn from service by 2024 (via The Art Newspaper).

The arts and culture hub, if it goes ahead, will likely be compared to the Tate Modern, which was originally the Bankside Power Station in London.

The proposal is outlined in the ‘Art and Culture in Helsinki 2030’ document, which sets out a vision for the city over the next ten years.

The report states: “Hanasaari Power Plant will be transformed into a centre for culture, technology and sustainable development.

“The centre, which will be implemented in co-operation between business life, educational institutions and cultural operators, will bring together living urban culture, artistic performance and museum activities, sustainable development and technological expertise and research.”

‘Centre for culture, tech and sustainable development’

Helsinki is also considering moving the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM), with a spokesperson for the museum saying: “The city of Helsinki is looking into the possibilities of a new space for HAM in Suvilahti [at a site housing] empty gasometers”.

“The new vision for art and culture announced this week includes ideas regarding new uses for the Hanasaari plant which is close to the Suvilahti gasometers,” she added.

The plan also involves potentially “building a new museum that combines architecture and design”, which would be a “joint project of the foundations that maintain the museums, the city and the state”.

As for funding, the report says that Helsinki “will bind the increase in operational and grant appropriations for culture to at least match the increase in population and costs”.

Elsewhere, the Museum of London is looking for a consultancy to develop a new visual identity that goes beyond a logo ahead of its move to West Smithfield in 2024.

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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