Valamo Museum Day 18.5.2025
International Museum Day has been celebrated on May 18th since 1977. The purpose of the day is to make the social role of museums known to both the public and decision-makers.
International Museum Day is an international day recommended by the International Council of Museums ICOM.
This year, Museum Day will also be celebrated in Valamo for the first time!
The day's program includes:
Wenzel Hagelstam, Henna Hietainen and Antti Narmala
Wenzel Hagelstam is a respected antiques expert. He has been an antiques dealer since 1973 and is known, among other things, for his television show "Antiikkia, antiikkia". Hagelstam has also published several antiques books. Now you have a great opportunity to bring one of your old items to him for evaluation.
FM art historian Henna Hietainen works as an art expert in the North Savo welfare area and writes the culture-focused Hurmioutinut blog in her free time.
As the welfare area's art expert, she coordinates, among other things, the implementation of art acquisitions included in construction projects and art projects implemented with donated funds.
She also works as a cultural welfare contact person and has lectured extensively on the importance of art in the social and health care environment. Hietainen has previously worked as an amanuensis in Riisa - the Finnish Orthodox Church Museum.
Antti Narmala (born 1980) is both the leading conservator of the Finnish Orthodox Church and a teacher of icon painting at the Icon Academy of the Valamo Institute.
Narmala studied Orthodox theology at the University of Eastern Finland.
Narmala graduated as a conservator of painting from the Helsinki Metropolia University.
Interested in the subject since childhood, he has taught icon painting for over 20 years. As a conservator, Narmala is responsible for the care and preservation of the material cultural heritage of the Orthodox Church. The Valamo Monastery Museum was designed and implemented by cultural producer Liisa Heikkilä-Palo and Antti Narmala.
Valamo Museum Day Program:
09.00 Opportunity to participate in a church service in the main church
11.30 Opening of the day and presentation of the monastery museum: Leading conservator of the Orthodox Church and teacher of icon painting at the Valamo College Antti Narmala
12.30 Panel discussion: A good life before and now? TeT, docent and philosophy intern Pia Houni, doctor of psychology, master of theology Mira Helimäki and philosopher and non-fiction writer Samuel Salovuori
at 1:30 pm Monastery buffet lunch, restaurant Trapesa (16€/person)
at 2:30 pm Can you find a treasure at home? Opportunity to have your old object evaluated by antiques expert Wenzel Hagelstam (one object/person)
Object evaluation:
Send a picture of the object in advance to myyntipalvelu@valamo.fi
The items will be evaluated in the Cultural Centre hall in the order in which the photos are sent.
If it is not possible to send the photo in advance, the item can be photographed on site.
You can bring the item with your name on it to the Cultural Centre lobby for photography.
at 4:30 PM Tea time, Cultural Centre
at 5:00 PM The story of flea market treasures. Art historian Henna Hietainen talks about a stack of papers that turned out to be the sketchbook of artist Herman Grönbärji (1875-1958) and led to surprises
at 5:30 PM If there are enough treasures found at home, the evaluation of the objects will continue!
The event will be held at the Valamo Cultural Center
The day's program 15 €/ person (incl. afternoon tea)
Luostar buffet lunch 16€/person.
Registration By 12.5.2025: myyntipalvelu@valamo.fi or 017 570 1810
***
Accommodation: Accommodation that suits the atmosphere of Museum Day can be found in the ascetic monastery rooms of the White Guesthouse, where the monks of the old brotherhood have lived and prayed in past decades. You will experience the scent of history, sense timeless stories. The atmosphere exudes holiness and peace.
Also ask about hotel-quality accommodation.
***
Additional excitement: Arriving in your own museum vehicle and enjoying the day with other lovers of old objects and museum vehicles!
