Responsibility at HAM HAM is seeking ways to combat ecological, cultural, and social challenges through museum and exhibition work. Simply fulfilling current requirements is not enough for us – we are going above and beyond by looking for ways to build inspiring exhibitions and encounters, where responsibility and sustainability form the basis for art and the exhibition experience. HAM’s goal is to be a responsible pioneer. We steer and develop our responsibility in a holistic and tangible way, guided by our responsibility programme. The content and focal points of the programme draw inspiration from HAM’s unique position as the City of Helsinki’s art expert and partner. The programme itself was drawn up in collaboration with Sitowise Oy. The responsibility programme comprises HAM’s responsibility vision, responsible choices for art, the five supporting responsibility themes, and the related objectives, measures, and indicators. The condensed introduction to our responsibility programme on this page is complemented by a set of measures and summarised ethical guidelines for museums and partners. HAM’s responsibility themes People and communality HAM Helsinki Art Museum is open to all and a safer space for all kinds of experiences. We seek to take accessibility for all kinds of audiences into account from physical, mental, and financial perspectives. We also aim to offer those working for and with us a community that is diverse, strong, and safer for everyone. Examples of practical measures: The safer spaces principles guide all of our operations and cooperations. We offer art content and participatory opportunities for all kinds of visitors. We offer discounted ticket categories and free admission days. We invest in the continuing education of our staff on matters of sustainability. We help our staff to thrive and ensure appropriate resourcing for work levels. We opt for sustainable service providers. Cultural heritage and a local emphasis Art is made up of layers. You can find new layers simply by changing your perspective. Our aim is to preserve works of art for future generations, to shine a spotlight on location-based and temporal layers in artistic content, and to produce works of art responsibly. We are also seeking to expand our cooperation with the City of Helsinki’s different operators. Examples of practical measures: We invest in good audience development and accessibility in our collections, including online. We boost the local identities present in our public art and installed art. We make use of Helsinki Biennial to provide premieres for public art. We share good sustainable practices in our museum with regional responsibility work. The content and meaning of art Creating meaning is a universal human right. Our aim is to protect the freedom of the arts and people’s right to create meaning through art, to offer a variety of art that audiences can identify with in a broad range of ways, and to highlight topics related to responsibility. Examples of practical measures: We carry out international cooperation responsibly. We develop curatorial expertise and internal cooperation. We acquire art responsibly. We will be introducing the Baltic Sea Flag in 2025. We are increasing our communications on responsibility. Artistic content can be seen in the products in the HAM Shop. Logistics and being energy smart Cooperation and moderation are smart approaches. Our aims are to only use energy from renewable sources, carry out all transportation sustainably, facilitate slow travel, and reduce our carbon footprint. Examples of practical measures: We are replacing all of our fluorescent tubes with LED lights. We transport art in combined loads and using low-emissions means of transport. We are drawing up instructions for slow travel. We support the protection of nature through sales of the Baltic Sea Flag and cooperation with Baltic Sea projects. We are testing a carbon footprint calculator. Materials and versatility Producing an exhibition sustainably involves many different elements. Our aim is for our exhibition structure to be modular, sustainable, and easy to take apart. We also aim for front-end planning and application of circular economy principles in all our material use. Examples of practical measures: We use the same exhibition structures in multiple exhibitions. We ensure we are always aware of the product’s lifecycle when we make procurements and material selections. We are developing our project model and cooperation with artists in exhibition planning and commissioning art. We make sure the products we purchase for our shop are as sustainable as possible. HAM’s responsibility and sustainability certifications EcoCompass We have been using the EcoCompass environmental management system since 2021 to develop our environmental work. Our EcoCompass certification is next due to be audited and updated in 2025. Sustainable Travel Finland Visit Finland has developed the Sustainable Travel Finland programme for tourism companies and areas, and through this the Sustainable Travel Finland label is awarded. The City of Helsinki is involved in the Sustainable Travel Finland programme and aims to be awarded the STF label as a tourism destination in 2025. HAM is also working towards the Sustainable Travel Finland label. HAM’s responsibility and sustainability partners Networks HAM is part of the Sustainable Visual Arts Network, Kestävyyden kehittäjät sustainability developers network and Green Producers Club’s pan-Nordic network. City of Helsinki Helsinki is committed to sustainability in all of its operations. By many international indicators, Helsinki is a global leader in sustainable development. On the Sustainable Helsinki website you can find out more about the City’s successes and areas for development. With a vision to lead in sustainable tourism, Helsinki was named the world’s most sustainable travel destination for the first time in 2024 by the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Helsinki was also awarded the Green Destinations GSTC certification in March 2025, making it the first city with over half a million residents to receive the accolade. You can read more about the sustainability of tourism on the website of the City of Helsinki. How can you be a responsible visitor? Public transport We encourage all visitors to come to HAM and the Helsinki Biennial’s event sites by bike, foot, or public transport, as the transport choices of each visitor have a real impact. Help nature thrive The works that make up Helsinki Biennial are located in unique natural environments, such as the valuable archipelago nature of Vallisaari. HAM’s public artworks also form part of the surrounding landscapes. Nature and art can coexist in peace when treated with respect. When moving about in nature, make sure to follow the rules and boundaries for that area. Protect delicate nature by keeping to the marked routes or existing paths. Protect nature and minimise your light and noise pollution while moving around in nature. This will also help preserve biodiversity. Baltic Sea Donation During the Helsinki Biennial from June 8 to September 21, you can support the protection of the Baltic Sea at the HAM ticket counter, HAM shop, or online store. If you wish, you can donate €2 to the John Nurminen Foundation’s Baltic Sea efforts. The full amount will be transferred to the John Nurminen Foundation without deductions. Safer space We want HAM to be a safe space for everyone. Please treat others courteously, allowing everyone to be themselves. Bullying, harassment, and discrimination are expressly prohibited in all their forms. You can find our safer space guidelines here. Accessibility Visiting the museum Accessibility is important to us; we want all visitors to the museum to be able to fully enjoy their visit. HAM’s accessibility information can be found here. Digital services We are committed to improving the accessibility of our digital services. We overhauled our website in 2023 and one of the key foundations for the overhaul was ensuring accessibility. There are still areas for improvement in terms of accessibility, and we are systematically working our way through the shortcomings identified in our Accessibility Statement.
