Helsinki Central Park Comissions & Archive

Stories from Helsinki Central Park

Helsinki’s Central Park, Helsingin Keskuspuisto, beloved by many, has existed as a communal space for over a century, hosting people, animals, plants, and other diverse life forms. M-Cult, has been active in the park for years, combining science, art, and community in its media art comissions.

In 2024 launched helsinginkeskuspuisto.fi website allows you to explore projects realised over the years and the activities that have taken place in the area, all in one platform. The site serves as a home and archive for media art and research projects exploring the social and environmental history of the Central Park and its transformations. For example, do you know how the bark beetle impacts the trees of this forest? Or how the former shooting range in the park still influences Central Park today? And how does the community archive on the new platform compile the history and future of Helsinki’s Central Park?

The Central Park Archives on the website explores community archiving implemented in collaboration with different Maunula communities bringing insights to these questions. The site brings together a variety of collections, offering insights into M-Cult’s projects and the artist residencies hosted at the site. Additionally, website’s timeline guides you through the rich history of Helsinki Central Park.

M-Cult has also created an audio storytelling trail in Keskuspuisto, starting near Maunulan Maja. This trail allows visitors to immerse themselves in the park's stories of nature, history, and activism, accessible through Google Maps and QR codes.

The website not only serves as an archive for historical information but also as a repository for future events and research.

Website is published in Finnish.

The archives include materials from the Keskuspuiston puolesta group, the Helsinki City Museum, the National Archives, and various newspaper publishers. The project and website are supported by the City of Helsinki.