17.12.2025

The Theatre Museum has joined the Finna.fi service and published its first set of photographs there on 9 December 2025, featuring nearly 750 photos.

The path to Finna was opened by the introduction of a new collection management system in 2024. Disec Oy’s Yksa, which was named Spotti at the Theatre Museum, included the capability to connect to the Finna.fi service. The publication of the photos was made possible by a digitization project launched in April this year, the results of which can now be viewed and browsed in the service.

The photo selection published in December covers the entire country and spans from the 1880s to the 1980s. Most of the photographs are theatre-related, but there are also images of dance and opera. The photos come from various parts of Finland, from Helsinki and Tampere to Rovaniemi, and from Turku to Savonlinna. Swedish-language theatres and Viipuri, now beyond the border, are also included.

In addition to performance images, Finna now features a collection of over one hundred role and portrait photographs of dancers and actors. Among the dancers are early Finnish dance pioneer Hilma Liiman, ballet masters Alexander Saxelin and Elsa Sylvestersson, and ballet dancers Iris and Klaus Salin. Among the actors are portraits of Emmi Jurkka, Tauno Palo and Elli Tompuri, among others.

Publishing these photographs makes part of the museum’s valuable photo collection accessible to everyone interested in the performing arts. The images provide a glimpse into Finnish theatre repertoires spanning nearly a century. The Finna publication is part of the museum’s national responsibility as a designated museum, and in the coming years we will regularly publish materials on Finna. The next batch will be released in early 2026.

The digitization of photographs has followed the quality standards set by the Finnish Heritage Agency. Most of the photographs have been published under the CC BY 4.0 license and can be used within its terms. Some materials are published with the RightsStatements.org description “In Copyright.” Usage rights are specified in the details of each item.

The Theatre Museum’s digitization project has been supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Niilo Helander Foundation. In addition, private individuals have supported the digitization and cataloging of images by participating in a small-scale fundraising campaign.

Finna is the home of Finland’s cultural and scientific materials. Finna.fi brings together the collections of hundreds of museums, libraries and archives in one place, making them easy and quick to access. The service is developed by the National Library of Finland and funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Further information:
Museum Director Johanna Laakkonen, +358 40 1922 301, johanna.laakkonen@teatterimuseo.fi
Inquiries about materials: Researcher Pälvi Laine, +358 40 1922 309, tietopalvelu@teatterimuseo.fi