The Helsinki city board on Monday evening conditionally approved to advance plans to build the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design in the city. At the same time, the board also approved the expenditure of 25,000 euros towards setting up the museum's foundation.
However, the board's decision hinges on the Finnish state making the same decision about the project.
The purpose of the foundation will be to promote and support the activities as well as promotion of the museum, which is planned to be built alongside the city's South Harbour, adjacent to the Market Square.
As the project moves forward, the idea is for the city and state to jointly capitalise the museum's foundation equally.
The foundation's goal is to raise a total of 150 million euros, with 60 million paid by the city and state, respectively. The remaining 30 million euros are to be raised from private capital.
Last April, three foundations — the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland — made a conditional commitment to the museum's capitalisation of at least 24 million euros. The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation's grant of 20 million euros was the largest private donation ever made to the cultural sector in Finland.
Final decisions about the museum project's funding will be made after its design and implementation plans are complete.
It has previously been estimated that the museum's preparations will continue until the end of 2023, after which final decisions about the project are expected to be made.