Prime Minister sees Guggenheim museum as an investment for 100 years

Katainen sees museum as good way to promote export of Finnish art

Jyrki Katainen

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Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (Nat. Coalition Party) is strongly in favour of the proposal to set up a Guggenheim museum in Helsinki.
      “This project intrigues me specifically from the point of view of culture and civilisation, improved skills, and economic opportunity”, Katainen says to Helsingin Sanomat.
      He said that he hopes that debate over the issue would be based on logic, and not emotion, adding that it would be hard to imagine a better project for the promotion of Finnish design, architecture, and art than what the Guggenheim Helsinki would be.
     
Katainen feels that a Guggenheim Helsinki gallery would make it possible Finnish artists to get their works on display in Guggenheim museums in other parts of the world.
      “It would be like an export promotion sling for pictorial artists and design.”
      Katainen noted that appreciation for Finnish design, education, and culture around the world is greater than size of the country might suggest. “It is worth reinforcing this by all means.”
     
Katainen predicts that a Guggenheim museum in Helsinki would benefit all of Finland through increased tourism.
      “Few who go to see the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao leave it at that. They move on to other parts of Spain”, he says.
      Katainen concedes that Helsinki faces a “very challenging” economic decision, for which little time has been set aside. However, he feels that the problems can be resolved.
     
“As an investment, this is the kind that psychologically it is calculated for 100 years ahead. And the work of politicians includes making decisions at a fast pace.”
      Katainen does not want to offer advice to members of the Helsinki City Council.
      “If the City Council says no, then that’s the end of the story.”
     
Katainen says that the government will not take a stand on the Guggenheim project unless the City of Helsinki asks it to.
      He did not want to take a stand on Thursday on whether or not donations to the Guggenheim project should be tax-deductible, or if the government might contribute to the funding of the project.
     
Minister of Finance Jutta Urpilainen (SDP) emphasised at a journalists’ meeting on Thursday morning  that the project is primarily a matter for the Helsinki City Council.
      “No requests have come to us [the government]. If such a request comes, it will be considered.”
      Urpilainen said that difficult economic times mean that the decision of the Helsinki City Council will be difficult.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Report says Guggenheim museum could bring millions on tax revenues (12.1.2012)
  Working group favours construction of Guggenheim museum in Helsinki (11.1.2012)
  Guggenheim chooses Helsinki over Taipei, Rio, and Guadalajara (19.1.2011)

Links:
  The Guggenheim Foundation

Helsingin Sanomat