Museum policy programme

Finnish museum policy

The museum policy programme outlines the main success factors of the museum sector up to the year 2030.The vision is that by 2030, Finland will have the most up-to-date museums and the most enthusiastic clients in Europe.

In the museum policy programme, museums are seen as experts, partners and enablers. Museums provide experiences and information and thus create opportunities for creativity, education, the construction of identities and an understanding of change. Museums have an important part to play in the creation of a culturally, socially and ecologically sustainable society, and in promoting well-being.

The museum policy programme identifies museums as a cultural service that covers the whole country. The role of museums in developing the attractiveness and vitality of the regions is essential.

Development of the museum sector

The National Board of Antiquities is responsible for the general development of the Finnish museum sector at the national level.

Each year, the National Board of Antiquities compiles museum statistics, which include statistical data on the finances, personnel and operations of professionally managed museums in Finland.  A national statistical survey on local museums and public collections is conducted once every five years.

The National Board of Antiquities and museums have developed a common assessment model for the development of museum operations. The Evaluation and development framework is intended for professionally managed museums and its use is free of charge.

National network for collection management co-operation and present day documentation between museums is co-ordinated by professional museums in the joint TAKO network.  

Tools and, for example, cataloguing guidelines for using and developing the electronic management of museum collections were created in the Museum 2015 project (2011–2015), which was led by the National Board of Antiquities.

• Museum statistics (National Board of Antiquities) 
• Museum Evaluation framework (National Board of Antiquities) 
• TAKO - National network for collection management

Digital cultural heritage

Services and operating models developed in the National Digital Library project (NDL) promote the more effective management, usability and preservation of cultural heritage in digital format.

The digital materials and services of museums can be easily accessed through the Finna search service, which is part of the NDL project.

The project's Digital preservation service (PAS-palvelu) facilitates the long-term reliable digital preservation of cultural heritage. The Digital preservation service is being jointly developed with the organisations which will be using it.

• Finna 
• The National Digital Library