Year after year, the large summertime art museum in Eastern Finland has drawn fewer people than anticipated. Some 46,000 people visited in the latest June-August period. In past seasons, visitor numbers have fluctuated between 50,000–150,000, according to Punkaharju mayor Sami Sulkko.

The organisation was, however, upbeat in a statement, saying the bankruptcy did not necessarily mark the end of activities for the art centre, which houses unusual exhibition space in a series of caves.

Many visitors to the gallery have stopped by on the way to the Savonlinna Opera festival, as the cultural attractions are just 30 kilometres apart.

Retretti began hosting exhibitions at the Punkaharju village elementary school in the 1970s. Today the art centre markets itself as one of the largest in the Nordics.