Moominvalley was temporarily housed in the Metso main library in Tampere for a quarter of a century until new accommodation could be settled.
As it turned out, Moominvalley did not have to go very far – in fact just a few hundred metres in the direction of Pispala.
The new space is entirely different, but entirely adequate for the the Moomin display, said curator Elina Bonelius.
“Compared to the previous space this is very small, but it’s also quite suitable for a Moomin display,” she added.
The collection of sketches and scale models of the fantasy Moomin world are endearingly similar to, yet different from the setting of the well-known television cartoon.
The works of Jansson and Pietilä are as easily suited to adult tastes as they are to children -- Tampere resident Arto Murtovaara was also enchanted by the display.
“This looks surprisingly good. I had a slight concern that it might not work in such a small space. But to my mind at least, some of the items look even better than in the old space downstairs in Metso,” Murtovaara said.
Search still on for permanent lodgings
Moominvalley has been on the lookout for a new home for a long time. It was housed in an art museum for a few years. However a decision is still to be made about a permanent home.
“We’ve looked at so many different alternatives, and actually there are a few good options available. I think it would be most important for the museum to be easy to get to and to find, even if you come from the other side of the world,” mused Bonelius.
And Moominvalley has drawn admirers from the world over. Visitors have totalled about 40,000 each year – many of them from Japan, and more recently, Russians have also been drawn to the whimsical exhibition.
