The Finnish Museum of the Deaf

The Finnish Museum of the Deaf is a special museum owned by the Finnish Association of the Deaf. The function of the museum is to collect, research and exhibit the cultural heritage of deaf and sign language users in Finland. The aim of the museum is to increase knowledge of the history and culture of deaf and sign language users and to strengthen their identity. In addition, the museum aims at communicating knowledge related to its speciality to the public at large.

The varied collections of the museum serve both researchers and other customers. The Finnish Museum of the Deaf co-operates with other museums and instances that carry out research on the deaf and sign language both in Finland and internationally. The museum does research and presents it through its exhibition activities and the materials it produces.

The museum’s permanent exhibition portrays the life of Carl Oscar Malm, the founder of deaf education in Finland. The history of the sign language community is presented through changing exhibitions. Deaf artists and various associations have also organised their own thematic exhibitions in the museum.