THE FINNISH WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY

The Society aims to raise the level and appreciation of watercolour in Finland and to gather together artists and patrons of watercolour. The Society's main areas of activities are in promoting initiatives for the advancement of watercolour, organizing exhibitions, painting courses and other art education, handling public relations, publishing activities as well as building international contacts for the promotion of watercolour.

The Finnish Watercolour Society, FWS was established in the autumn of 1998. In January 2007 the membership numbers are close to 600.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

HONORARY MEMBERS

MEMBERSHIPS

The Society has been invited to take part in the following ECWS Exhibitions:
Arezzo, Italy, 2004
Antwerpen, Belgium, 2005
Bilbao, Spain, 2006
Ronneby, Sweden, 2007

EXHIBITIONS

2001

13 January - 25 February, Mikola Foundation Museum, Vaasa. Organized under the patronage of Mrs Tarja Halonen, the President of the Republic of Finland, opened by Mr. Heikki Koski, the Governor of the Province of West Finland.

2002

MY HELSINKI, 4 - 24 March, Media Piazza of Sanomatalo, Helsinki. Organized under the patronage of Mr Aatos Erkko, Minister, opened by Mrs Eva-Riitta Siitonen, Lord Mayor of Helsinki. Jury and commissar, Mr Bernd Arell, Director of Nordic Watercolour Museum, Skärhamn, Sweden. Later the Museum Director of the Helsinki City Art Museum. 35,000 visitors.

2003

AWAKENING OF THE SPRING, 19 March - 8 April, Tammisaari Library, Tammisaari, opened by Mr Ralph Friberg, Ambassador.

MAGIC OF COLOUR, 1 June - 2 August, Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Cultural Centre, Harjavalta. Organized under the patronage of Mr Jukka Paarma, Archbishop of Finland. Jury and commissar Mr Berndt Arell, Director of the Helsinki City Art Museum. The Kemira Watercolour price, 10,000 euros to Mr Arto Korhonen. Opening seminar 8 June and work seminar 10 August in connection with the exhibition. Over 10,000 visitors.

SUMMER BRUSHES, 10 - 31 August, Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Cultural Centre, opened by Mrs Helvi Sipilä, Minister.

MAGIC OF COLOUR, 8 November - 1 December, Imatra Art Museum and Cultural Centre, opened by Mrs Riitta Uosukainen, Emerita Speaker of Parliament.

2004

VÄRIEN KESÄ - FÄRGERNAS SOMMAR - THE SUMMER OF COLOURS:

THE SUMMER OF COLOURS Watercolour I, 19 May - 29 August, Savonlinna Provincial Museum, Riihisaari.

PÄIVÄKIRJA - DAGBOK - DIARY a review of watercolours by the Society's founding, honorary and other members with CV. Over 10,000 visitors.

THE SUMMER OF COLOURS Watercolour II. Retretti Art Centre, Punkaharju.

Jury and commissar Mrs Anu Liivak, Managing Director. The patroness of the whole Retretti summer exhibition, Mrs Tarja Halonen, the President of the Republic of Finland, visited our exhibition. About 90,000 visitors.

SUMMER BRUSHES, 9 - 31 August, Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Cultural Centre, Harjavalta.

DIARY, 28 November 2004 - 9 January 2005, South Ostrobothnia Provincial Museum, Seinäjoki, opened by Ms Paula Risikko, Member of Parliament.

2005

SUMMER IN LAPLAND 2005, 18 June - 30 October, Sámi Museum, Siida, Inari. Organized under the patronage of Mrs Hannele Pokka, Governor of Province of Lapland.

NORTH OF BALTICUM, 3 - 28 August, Building of the Blackheads' Organization, Riga, Latvia. The Chairman's invitational exhibition, paintings by 20 watercolour artists of the Society opened by Mr Pekka Wuoristo, Ambassador of Finland

DIARY - SUMMER WINDS, 16 August - 3 September, Tammisaari Library, Tammisaari, opened by Mr Ralf Friberg, Ambassador.

SUMMER BRUSHES, 7 - 31 August. Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Cultural Centre.

2006

MY HELSINKI 2006, 23 March - 9 April, Media Piazza of Sanomatalo, Helsinki. Organized under the patronage of Mr Aatos Erkko, Minister, opened by Mr Jussi Pajunen, Lord Mayor of Helsinki. Jury and commissar Mr Berndt Arell, Director of Helsinki City Art Museum. Seminar for Society members 30 March. Seminar for invited guests 4 March. Over 22,000 visitors.

DIARY - SUMMER WINDS, 9 - 31 August, Tammisaari Library, Tammisaari, opened by Mr Ralf Friberg, Ambassador.

SUMMER BRUSHES, 6 - 31 August, Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Cultural Centre. Opened by Mr Pekka Tuokkola, Managing Director, BOLIDEN Harjavalta Oy.

COURSES AND PEDAGOGIC ACTIVITIES

Päivölä, Valkeakoski, summer courses 2000. Teacher Ms Senja Vellonen, Artist.

Remp-Ranta, Rantasalmi, 2001. Teacher Mr Osmo Nissinen, Graphic Artist.

Pärnu, Viro, summer courses 2002, 2003. Teacher Ms Laine Rooväli, Pedagogue.

Harjavalta 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Annual summer course activity continues in collaboration with the Harjavalta open college, ending with an exhibition at the Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Cultural Centre. Teachers in 2007: Taru Tomperi, Anja Karkku-Hohti, Maikki Haapala, Pentti Kokko, Tello Anttila

ART CAMPS

SUMMER IN LAPLAND 2005, 13 - 19 June, Lemmenjoki, Valkeaporo, Inari. Camp host Mr Pentti Muuronen, Camp director Mrs Tello Anttila.

SUMMER IN LAPLAND 2006, 12 - 18 June, Särestö, Kittilä.

SUMMER IN LAPLAND 2007, 11 - 17 June, Hotel Luossajohka, Utsjoki.

DEMONSTRATIONS, "How I paint"

MY HELSINKI 2002 exhibition, artists of the Society demonstrated how they paint watercolours for the first time to the general public.

RETRETTI Art Centre Punkaharju, throughout the summer of 2004.

MY HELSINKI 2006 exhibition, two demonstrations daily.

NAANTALI - RAISIO Watercolour Summer 2007.

PUBLICATIONS

WATER, COLOUR, LIGHT, Vaasa, 2001. Languages: Finnish, Swedish and English.

MINUN HELSINKINI, 2002. Languages: Finnish, Swedish and English.

MAGIC OF COLOUR, Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Cultural Centre, Harjavalta, 2003. Languages: Finnish, Swedish and English.

SUMMER IN LAPLAND 2005, SIIDA, Inari, 2005. Languages: Finnish, Sami and English.

MINUN HELSINKINI, 2006. Languages: Finnish, Swedish and English.

INITIATIVES

FINNISH FINE ARTS DAY

10 July, on the birthday of Helene Schjerfbeck. The suggestion for celebrating fine arts on a particular day was originally made by the Society's Chairman, Mr Antti Lassila. The aim of this initiative is to emphasize the meaning of fine arts and to contribute to its appreciation in Finland's cultural life.

2004 This first time, flags flew in Riihisaari, Savonlinna and Retretti, Punkaharju.

2005 In the Hyvinkää Art Museum under the patronage of Mrs Soili Sinisalo, Director of Ateneum Art Museum

2006 The Day was celebrated in the Tammisaari Museum. The programme was mainly in Swedish. It was organized under the patronage of Mr Roger Broo, Administrative Director. A presentation was given by Ms Lena Holger, Curator, Stockholm, Sweden.

2007 The celebrations will be held in Naantali.

LOCAL PROJECTS

NAANTALI - RAISIO Watercolour Summer 2007.