Photo: Finnish National Gallery / Pirje Mykkänen.

Kiasma Kids

You and your children are warmly welcomed to visit Kiasma! Contemporary art is full of exciting things for visitors of all ages. Here we list hints for how to make a child-oriented visit a success.

Exhibitions in Kiasma are suitable for viewing with children

Exhibitions at Kiasma can be visited by children and adults together. Some of the artworks may seem dramatic, and not all works are necessarily suitable for viewing by young children. Nevertheless, every exhibition has art that is suitable for young viewers. Our staff will be happy to help you.

Tips for visiting the Daniel Steegmann Mangrané exhibition

5th floor

  • The amazing world that unfolds in the large exhibition hall offers a multisensory experience. Hold hands and step on the bluish grass mat together.
  • Look around you. What is your first impression? Does the colour of your clothing or hair look different in the exhibition space?
  • Does the floor feel flat beneath your feet, or is it uneven? You can sit on the grass mat. How does it feel against your palm?
    Look up at the skylights. Are there any clouds drifting by? Or can you spot anything else up there in the blue? Did you notice that the lighting in the gallery changes along with the weather?
  • Stop and sniff. Can you smell anything? Perhaps a faint hint of citrus fruit wafting from somewhere in the gallery?
  • Walk through the large chain curtain together. How does it feel to pass through it? How do the chains feel against your hands and cheeks? How does it affect you mentally?
  • Look out of the panoramic window at the north end of the gallery. Study the lights and shadows. How does Helsinki look today?

4th floor

  • You can see stick insects moving slowly in the videos. Can you spot them easily?
  • Visit the deepest reaches of the Brazilian rainforest. What can you hear?
  • The eyes of street dogs are staring at you. How many can you count?
  • Can you find a hologram? Or leaves fluttering in the air?

Kindly note that the works in the exhibition are fragile. Do not touch.
Children should be accompanied by adults at all times. Please walk, do not run.

Read more about the Daniel Steegman Mangrané exhibition

Tom of Finland and Dreamy exhibitions

3rd floor

There is no age limit, but the Tom of Finland exhibition is not recommended for children due to the explicit sexual imagery it contains. Parental or guardian discretion is advised.

2nd floor

Some works in the Dreamy exhibition contain overt sexual imagery that some viewers may find disturbing.

Services for visitors with children

Kiasma has the following services on the ground floor:

  • Pram parking under the ramp in the foyer.
  • Baby care room located next to the cloakroom
  • A microwave oven in Kiasma Café that you can use to heat up baby food when you visit the café

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I breastfeed my baby?

We ask you not to eat, drink or breastfeed in the galleries.

You’ll find peaceful places for breastfeeding on the 1st floor and on the landings between the galleries. Our staff will be happy to help you. The baby care room next to the cloakroom is provided specifically for breastfeeding and caring for babies.

Do you have snacks or a lunch with you? Ask our staff for a suitable place for eating.

Can I take my pram to the galleries?

It is permissible to visit exhibitions with a prams or pushchair. The cloakroom has pushchairs that you can borrow. The pram parking is located under the ramp in the foyer.

Note: Kiasma Café has limited room for baby prams. Our staff will be happy to help you.

Why is it forbidden to touch the works?

Touching a work of art just once may not seem like much, but even clean hands carry oils that will damage the works over time. Please move calmly in the museum and keep a safe distance of about one foot (a couple of dozen centimetres) from the works. This way the works will remain intact to be enjoyed by all for many years.

Read more questions and answers