The North Karelian Museum Hilma is now Museum Eliel

Museum Eliel, will open this autumn in the Joensuu City Hall. The building was designed by architect Eliel Saarinen, and in addition to the museum, it also houses the Joensuu City Theatre and a restaurant.

The opening date and new opening hours will be announced later.

The North Karelian Museum was founded in 1917 to document the folk culture of the region. Over the decades, the museum has gone through many changes in both form and location.

In 2025, the North Karelian Museum returns to its roots. Museum’s first exhibition spaces were opened in the City Hall in 1920. After the City Hall years, the museum moved in 1955 to the Karjalantalo. In 1998, the museum's exhibition activities relocated to Carelicum by the market square, where the North Karelian Museum Hilma operated until December 2023.

In 2020, the Joensuu City Council approved the relocation of the North Karelian Museum to the former administrative wing of the City Hall. These spaces were renovated for museum use during 2024-2025.

Museum Eliel continues the work that the North Karelian Museum has carried out in the region for over a hundred years, now with a refreshed look and renewed approach.