Sara Hildén Art Museum

Sara Hildén Art Museum

The Sara Hildén Art Museum focuses on international modernism and contemporary art. Research and preparation for our temporary exhibitions, publishing activities and community engagement that involves various visitor groups are the museum’s key priorities.

The museum is situated on the shores of Lake Näsijärvi in Särkänniemi, Tampere. The museum building was designed by Pekka Ilveskoski Architects. The museum is designed to be two-story using beautifully topographical features of the site. The large landscape windows offer a view of the sculpture park and Lake Näsijärvi surrounding the museum.

The museum, maintained by the City of Tampere, is the permanent home of the collection of the Sara Hildén Foundation. Sara Hildén (1905–1993) was a Tampere-based businesswoman who donated her art collection in 1962 to a foundation bearing her name. The foundation’s collection has more than 5,000 works of modern and contemporary art, including works by world-renowned artists such as Joan Miró, Francis Bacon, Paul Klee and Alberto Giacometti. The collection of the Sara Hildén Foundation was the result of long and determined expert work. However, the starting point for the whole activity was Sara Hildén’s own personal and passionate relationship with the visual arts. The foundation will continue to build the collection and save its acquisitions at the Sara Hildén Art Museum. Among the latest works to have been acquired are pieces by Kiki Smith and Marcel Dzama.

Enjoy delicious food and drinks and a view of the lake at Café Sara

Why not complement your visit with a cup of coffee or tea and a home-made sweet or savoury pastry at the museum’s Café Sara? The top-quality coffee and tea come from a small local roastery. You can admire the unique landscape surrounding Lake Näsijärvi through the windows or from the outdoor terrace.

The café was renovated in 2009 but retains its appearance from 1979. The ceramic works by Birger Kaipiainen and Rut Bryk are still in place, and Hannu Väisänen’s ceramic plates are a more recent addition.

Café Sara opens at 11 am on days when the museum is open and closes 30 minutes before the museum.