Kiira Miesmaa Appointed Kiasma Director, Prioritizes Climate Action and Ethical Funding

Kiira Miesmaa begins her tenure as director of Helsinki's Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art this month, declaring climate change the institution's foremost challenge. She advocates for minimizing carbon footprints while maintaining physical art experiences. Miesmaa previously led Galerie Forsblom, representing artists like Ai Weiwei, Kaarina Kaikkonen, and Julian Schnabel. Her appointment follows the departure of former director Leevi Haapala, who resigned after a five-month artist boycott protesting the museum's ties to patron Chaim 'Poju' Zabludowicz. Zabludowicz co-founded the Kiasma Support Foundation through his London investment firm Tamares, which has holdings in companies linked to Israeli security forces. Kiasma severed connections with the foundation and implemented new ethical funding guidelines in response. Miesmaa emphasizes safeguarding artistic freedom, noting Finland's high rankings in press freedom indexes. Private funding remains crucial to the museum's budget, though she acknowledges future assessments will be needed to meet statutory responsibilities. Haapala now serves as dean of the Academy of Fine Arts art school.