CITY OF HELSINKI
The renewed concept expands the reach of the museum outside its walls, focuses on diversity and takes a more inclusive approach to expertise.
The Helsinki City Museum concept renewal was defined as part of the strategy process with a future oriented mindset and in close co-operation with the museum staff, key stakeholders and customers.
The museum vision for 2027 defines how the museum proactively reacts to changes related to Helsinki and its citizens, the society and the museum scene in general. The key questions in the design process were: What will be the position and roles of Helsinki City Museum in the future? Which are the most important customer groups? What needs to happen to reach the desired future status?
The renewed concept highlights the Helsinki city strategy, expands the reach of the museum outside its walls, focuses on diversity and takes a more inclusive approach to expertise.
Approach
At the heart of the concept update was co-creation and extensive exchange of ideas both inside and outside the museum. The personnel examined changes in society and the field of operation and studied the needs of the current and potential customers. Future concept directions were challenged in oracle discussions that gathered together cultural influencers, thinkers and museum’s friends.
The ideas and opportunities were summarised in future scenarios that identified ten potential future roles for the Helsinki City Museum – challenging conventions and current operating methods in the field. The scenarios were evaluated and developed in a series of internal workshops. Based on them, the refined draft concept was validated by external stakeholders.
The end result, created through extensive participation, is not a small group’s vision of the future, but it is backed by enthusiastic and committed staff who will make the concept a reality in the years to come.
Result
The Helsinki City Museum’s concept update and vision define how the museum reacts to changes and renews itself. The concept is summed up in the phrase “Let’s tell the stories of Helsinki together”. Essential in this crystallization are dialogue with residents, new forms of expertise, and acting as a platform for individual experiences and feelings about Helsinki.
During the process, clear choices were made on what not to focus on. The key drivers clarify the focus areas of work and send a signal to stakeholders about what is important to the Helsinki City Museum. As part of the process, the key drivers of the concept were included in the museum’s action plan through which they will reach city residents.
The renewed concept provides a strong foundation for the development of the museum’s expertise, its content, activities and priorities for the coming years. The renewed concept also responds to the strategic needs of the City of Helsinki, expands the museum’s impact regionally and puts diversity at the heart of our activities.
Photos: Helsingin Kaupunki / Jussi Hellsten
Challenge
Helsinki and its residents are changing rapidly. Helsinki City Museum wants to provide means to understand this change. It also wants to be relevant to new Helsinki residents and redefine its ways of doing things to meet the changing needs of its environment.
In 2016, the museum implemented a renovation focusing on the new customer premises, exhibitions and audience participation on Aleksanterinkatu, which has been a great success by many indicators. In 2021, the museum identified the need to update its strategy, revise the direction of the concept and expand the concept to all areas of museum work.
In the concept update project, it was important to involve the entire personnel extensively and to involve customers and key stakeholders in the development in order to ensure a change in the direction of the concept on a broad front.
The following were identified as key issues:
- What are the place and functions of the Helsinki City Museum?
- What kind of change is needed moving towards something new and better?
- What are the needs and wishes of the museum’s key customer groups?
The renewed concept provides a strong foundation for the development of the museum’s expertise, content, activities and priorities for the coming years.
