Children’s Saturday: Open space

The Ateneum’s Children’s Saturday in spring 2026 will explore open spaces in the spirit of Eero Nelimarkka’s art. Eero Nelimarkka is known, for example, for his nature depictions of wide open spaces. On Children’s Saturday, there is no ceiling and no threshold! All children and their adults are welcome.

The museum has many comfortable benches for viewing art, and a resting space on the ground floor. You can eat your own food in the light court, and the restaurant-café Bistro serves children’s portions. The museum shop has special Children’s Saturday offers.

If you come to the Ateneum with a pram, access is through the accessible entrance on Ateneuminkuja. You can move round in the museum’s exhibition galleries with prams or pushchairs. A lift provides unobstructed access to all floors of the museum. Pushchairs and baby slings are available for loan in the cloakroom. Our staff will be happy to help you.

Read more on how to plan a pleasant visit

Program
Guided tours of the exhibition A Question of Time
in Finnish at 10:15, 11:15 and 12:15
in Swedish at 11:00
in Russian at 13:00
in English at 14:00
The guided tours last approximately 45 minutes. Children can only take the tour if accompanied by an adult (max. three children per adult). Please register for the tour when you arrive at the museum, as there are a limited number of places available. The guided tours start in the light court, next to the museum shop. Each guided tour can accommodate 20 participants.

Art workshop in the workshop space
11:00–16:00
Looking at an open space, stretching into infinity – drawing

We draw on tracing paper with coloured pencils, and then we place the sheets on top of each other to create a new image. What can be seen in the foreground of the image, and what is dimly visible in the background or in the distance? What kinds of landscapes does this method produce?

A trolley of drawing materials at the exhibition A Question of Time
13:30-16:30
Concerts by Naattiorkesteri in the Ateneum Hall
11:00 and 13:00
On a captivating musical journey with the Naattiorkesteri children’s music orchestra, we have lunch with a creature called Loiskiainen, travel into space and go to the woods to meditate. Sometimes words get all muddled up, and you may have to go for a pee all of a sudden. The band’s lyrics originate from the world of children, where anything is possible! The concert lasts for 30 minutes. Visitors are admitted in order of arrival, and there is a limited number of places available. The doors of the Ateneum Hall are opened 15 minutes before the start of the concert.

Children’s science lecture in the Ateneum Hall
15:00
Joni Tammi/Aalto Junior: Space and its proportions

The astronomer Joni Tammi from Aalto University’s Metsähovi Radio Observatory gives a lecture to children on the allure of space and its gigantic proportions. The lecture lasts for 30 minutes. Visitors are admitted in order of arrival, and there is a limited number of places available. The doors of the Ateneum Hall are opened 15 minutes before the start of the lecture. The lecture is in Finnish only.

The Vaeltaja (Wanderer) clown
14:00–16:00
The clown played by the actress Laura Rämä, tours the exhibition galleries of the Eero Nelimarkka exhibition (third floor) and marvels at artworks together with children and families.

Performances in the Studio space
12:00 and 14:00
The programme is implemented in cooperation with the Kettuki association. Detailed information will be announced in early 2026.