The Finnish Museums Association says rising property expenses are becoming too much of a burden for museums. The association said that property expenses represent some 30 percent of running costs and are growing steadily.
In the worst case scenario, museums will be forced to give up properties because of rising maintenance costs.
Last week the foundation that maintains Lönnström Art Museum in Rauma announced the sale of the museum property because of rising costs.
In other cases, some museums are relocating to municipalities where costs are lower.
“The last example has been the postal museum, which moved from Helsinki to Tampere. A major reason for this was the steep property costs in Helsinki,” said Museum Association Secretary General Kimmo Levä.
Still other institutions have managed to stay afloat by cooperating with other organisations.
Relief from property taxes and profit motive
Levä pointed out that museums often operate in buildings of great historical significance, which in themselves are worthy of being preserved, precisely by being used as museums. For this reason alone, museums should be relieved of the obligation of paying property taxes, Levä argued.
The association official said he would also propose that museums be exempted of the need to turn a profit.
“When municipalities and the government set up real estate associations, they should set the profit targets for museums at zero,” Levä advised.
