Museums with regional responsibility, their tasks and areas of operation

According to the reformed Museums Act (314/2019), museums with regional responsibility replace the current system consisting of regional museums and regional art museums. Museums with regional responsibility have three tasks: promoting regional museum operations, carrying out cultural environment work and implementing regional art museum tasks. The cultural environment tasks of the museums have been specified in law for the first time.

Museums with regional responsibility operate region-specifically with the exception of Lapland and Uusimaa, where the tasks of regional museums have been divided between several museums. Cultural environment services are now available in all regions. Museums operate in their regions as experts in the cultural environment, the built environment and archaeological cultural heritage, in particular.

Most land-use planning matters concerned with the cultural environment are managed by museums with regional responsibility. Museums issue statements and participate in negotiations with the authorities. They are also tasked with providing advice. Museums also develop and promote the fostering of the cultural environment, cooperation within their field and the digital recording and accessibility of cultural environment data.

The cultural environment task is managed by following museums with regional responsibility:

1. The Sámi homeland
(Inari, Enontekiö, Utsjoki and the Lapland reindeer owners' association area in the northern part of Sodankylä)

Sámi Museum Siida, Inari

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

2. Lapland
(Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi, Kittilä, Pelkosenniemi, Posio, Ranua, Salla, Savukoski and Sodankylä with the exception of the reindeer owners' association area in the north)

The Provincial Museum of Lapland, Rovaniemi

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

3. Tornio Valley
(Kolari, Kemi, Keminmaa, Muonio, Pello, Simo, Tervola, Tornio and Ylitornio)

The Museum of Tornio Valley, Tornio

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

4. North Ostrobothnia

Museum and Science Centre Luuppi, Oulu

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

5. Kainuu

Kainuu Museum, Kajaani

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

6. North Karelia

Museums in Joensuu, Joensuu

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

7. North Savo

Kuopio Cultural History Museum, Kuopio

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

8. South Savo

Savonlinna Provincial Museum, Savonlinna

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

9. Central Finland

Museums in Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

10. Central Ostrobothnia

K.H. Renlund museum, Kokkola

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

11. Ostrobothnia

City of Vaasa museums, Vaasa

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

12. Southern Ostrobothnia

Museums in Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

13. Pirkanmaa

Pirkanmaa Provincial Museum, Tampere

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

14. Satakunta

Satakunta Museum, Pori

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher

15. Southwest Finland

The Museum Centre of Turku, Turku

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

16. Kanta-Häme

Hämeenlinna City Museum, Hämeenlinna

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

17. Päijät-Häme

Museums in Lahti, Lahti

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

18. South Karelia

Museums in Lappeenranta, Lappeenranta

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

19. Kymenlaakso

Kymenlaakso Museum, Kotka

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

20. Eastern Uusimaa
(Askola, Porvoo, Lapinjärvi, Loviisa, Myrskylä, Pukkila, Sipoo and Pornainen)

Porvoo Museum, Porvoo

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

21. Central Uusimaa
(Helsinki, Kauniainen, Tuusula, Kerava, Järvenpää, Hyvinkää, Nurmijärvi and Mäntsälä. Espoo and Vantaa are covered by the Helsinki City Museum area of operation, but manage cultural environment tasks in their own municipalities.)

Helsinki City Museum, Helsinki

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert

22. Western Uusimaa
(Hanko, Raseborg, Ingå, Lohja, Siuntio, Kirkkonummi, Vihti and Karkkila)

Western Uusimaa Museum, Raseborg

Experts: archaeologist, building researcher, restoration expert