The Finnish Desert Museum Foundation announces: Intendant Pia Paukku to lead the desert museum project

Intendant of the National Museum, M.Sc Pia Paukku has been chosen as the leader of the start-up project of the new Finnish wilderness and nature culture museum to be established in Imatra. The selection was made by the board of the Finnish Desert Museum Foundation.

Paukku will move to project manager from Kotka Merikeskus Vellamo and the Finnish Maritime Museum, where he has been responsible since 2015 for the operation, finances, development and acquisition of external funding of his museum sites (including Langinkoski) and worked in the operational management of Merikeskus Vellamo.

Paukku has extensive international networks in the museum industry. Before his current position, Paukku has worked, e.g. as a project and education manager at Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences, vs. as an education manager at the University of Helsinki and as an entrepreneur.

The start-up phase is two years. In the investment phase following the start-up phase 2024-2025, Imatra's current town hall will get a new life as a modern museum and nature experience center. A new museum with a versatile focus on hunting, fishing and the recreational use of nature will be opened along Vuoksi in 2026. The start-up project's funding of 850 euros will come from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the city of Imatra and other municipalities in the Lappeenranta urban area.

Aiming for unique nature experiences

Chairman of the board of the Erämuseo Foundation, county councillor Matti Viialainen is very pleased that an experienced museum professional was found to lead the demanding project.

Pauku has strong displays of the activities of the Finnish Maritime Museum, Merikeskus Vellamo and Langinkoski, numerous development projects, strategy and concept work, and exhibitions, one example of which is the popular Fate of the Ruotinsalmi exhibition in Vellamo.

─ Our goal is not only the role of a national museum of responsibility, but also an event center and destination that makes unique Finnish wilderness and nature experiences known internationally. We wanted to find the best possible leader for the project and we succeeded.

─ I believe that Pia Paukku's displays, skills and energy as well as extensive networks will enable us to make the decision to establish a museum in 2024 and create a museum and experience center in Imatra that will inspire even more Finns to engage in wilderness and nature hobbies, says Viialainen.

A meaningful task

Pia Paukku says that she will accept the new task at Imatra with enthusiasm. Developing a new museum concept and recycling a valuable building for reuse is a challenge I really want to tackle.

─ Wilderness and nature experiences interest and touch almost every Finn, and I find the task ahead to be very meaningful. I personally identify with the themes of the museum, e.g. through guiding young people's diving activities and dog hobbies.

─ I want to be creating a new kind of museum and experience center, whose operation is socially influential and which contributes to strengthening Finns' unique relationship with nature.

The new museum will be an attractive destination both domestically and internationally.

─ The Wilderness and Nature Culture Museum benefits not only Imatra but also the wider Saimaa region, but the museum will also claim its place on the map of Finland as a new attraction for international tourism, says Paukku.

For more information:

Matti Viialainen, chairman of the board of the Erämuseosäätiö, 044 7700 515

New project manager Pia Paukku, 041 5335 444