The Gösta Serlachius Museum is housed in the former manor house of the paper mill owner, and has been exhibiting the collections of the Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation since 1945. A modern wooden pavilion has been built next door, allowing exhibitions of contemporary art and interesting thematic displays. classic works from the Serlachius collection.
The manor house was completed in 1935. It became the private residence of mill owner Gösta Serlachius, where he also entertained his guests. The second floor of the building, designed by Finnish architect Jarl Eklund, has been used as an art museum since 1945. At the time, it was Finland's eighth art museum. Following renovation, the entire building has been in operation as an art museum since 1984. The collections of the Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation are famous for their pearls of Finnish art. That's why the Gösta Serlachius Museum presents masterpieces by artists from the golden age of Finnish art. In addition, the collection of old paintings by European masters, rare on a Finnish scale, is on display.
The Pavilion
An example of modern wooden construction, the pavilion was erected in conjunction with the Gösta Art Museum in summer 2014. Its modern wooden architecture allows for larger and more versatile exhibitions than ever before. In addition to the pavilion, the Serlachius Museum in Gösta boasts modern public spaces: a magnificent restaurant with stunning views, a festival hall, a spacious museum store and storage and conservation areas for modern art.
In addition to exhibitions, the Serlachius Museum in Gösta also offers a variety of cultural events. All year round, the Pavilion's Kivijärvi Hall is the venue for concerts, theatrical performances and seminars. Gösta's Serlachius Museum, set in the midst of lakeside nature, provides a magnificent backdrop for the annual Mänttä Music Festival concerts and the Mänttä Food Festival culinary event. Private organizers also hold their events at Gösta's Serlachius Museum.
Middle of the park
Gösta's Serlachius Museum is located in the midst of lakeside nature, in a valuable cultural and historical environment on Lake Melasjärvi. Since the 1930s, the park has been an essential part of the manor's cultural landscape. Garden architect Paul Olsson drew up the first plans for the park, which the office of landscape architect Gretel Hemgård updated in 1996. The same firm renewed the park's plans in 2014 as part of the pavilion's construction.
The park features a large number of sculptures by Harry Kivijärvi. Collection The Kivijärvi Foundation donated the works of art to the Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation in 2011. The Pavilion and the sculptures in the park structure the landscape, creating new spaces and places for the eye to pause. Offering magnificent views of the lake, the park's footpaths lead visitors to the bridge and to the nearby island of Taavetinsaari, where works of art can be admired in summer amid the Finnish forest and lakeside nature.