Kuopio is known for its large and diverse collection of public art. The city has around 150 outdoor artworks – sculptures, reliefs, plaques, environmental works and murals. More than half of the city’s public art is part of the art collection of the City of Kuopio. The rest is owned by other parties like the parish, banks and the wellbeing services county.
In addition, more than 600 works are located in the city’s semi-public spaces, such as schools, kindergartens and offices. Some of these are specially designed and commissioned for the buildings, while some are from the city’s collections, which allows for greater access to and visibility of art in different parts of the city.
Kuopio’s public art makes the city a vibrant and interesting place to live and visit. Art is a significant part of the city’s identity, bringing an element of surprise and joy to the urban space and enriching everyday experiences. The works contribute to the amenity of the built environment and strengthen local identity. Kuopio’s public art constantly offers new discoveries and experiences for all city residents and tourists.
Did you know?
Many public works of art act as bearers of different messages and receive different kinds of attention during celebrations and events. The KUMMA is responsible for the care of public works of art belonging to the collection of the City of Kuopio, so it also issues permits for capping or wreathing etc. ceremonies and provides instructions in order to prevent any damages.
The decoration of the statues, and the events created around them, are one indication of the importance of public art for the people.
Care and maintenance of works
KUMMA takes care of public art in the city’s collection in cooperation with the Service Area for Urban Environment. The works are cared for through conservation, repair and cleaning, among other things. You might have seen our museum technician putting Pekka Kauhanen’s Oksapoika statue back into May Day condition by polishing the eyes of the statue.
Did you notice damage to a work?
Did you know?
Like many other Finnish municipalities, the City of Kuopio follows the percentage principle. The percentage principle means that at least one percent of the construction costs are spent on art. It applies to all construction, from building construction to environmental construction. New construction and renovation work also follow the percentage principle.
Percentage art can take the form of a variety of works and it also can be elements integrated into structures. Percentage art recognises the role of art in creating a sense of comfort, sociality and security in spaces.
Kuopio Sculpture Quiz
You can also discover public art by playing games. The Kuopio Sculpture Quiz game works on smart devices with the Nomadi app. Download the Nomadi app from your device’s app store, where you can find the Kuopio Sculpture Quiz. The games start by arriving to the starting point, the Kuopio Art Museum. The game asks questions related to the statues. After the correct answer, the player is given more information about the work and a route to the next destination is drawn on the map. The Sculpture Quiz includes 14 works. The route is about 5 km. The game works on Android and iOS phones.
Browser version of the game and maps
You can also use the browser version of the game, which does not require installing the app. The browser version also allows you to explore public art through maps and playing the games remotely. In the browser version, start the game by clicking on the Kuopio Art Museum text in the top left corner and answer the question that appears.