Developing physical, informational and economic accessibility and equality is part of everyday operations at EMMA. We want to offer opportunities to experience art not only in the museum itself but also outside it and in digital environments.

• EMMA is barrier-free. The 2nd floor of the museum is accessible by lift, and the building has spacious corridors without thresholds. Our staff are on hand to assist you and will be happy to answer any questions you may have!
• For more information on accessibility and related practices at EMMA, see our accessibility webpage.

• EMMA aims for clarity and understanding in its communications and written materials.
• We listen to our audience. In 2020–2021, we conducted a study on our exhibition texts and revised them based on the findings. To further enhance accessibility, we use data from visitor surveys and Museum Card statistics, among other things.
• It is also possible to book a guided tour or art workshop in plain Finnish (selkosuomi).
• Most of our exhibitions include the introductory text in plain Finnish both on-site and online.
• The EMMA website has a section in plain Finnish, which summarises the most important information about the museum.
• We also provide information about our exhibitions through videos, such as several artists interviews that can be watched in the galleries.
• Almost all our textual content in exhibitions and online are always available in Finnish, Swedish and English.
• An induction loop was installed in the museum in 2024, which will be available at all of EMMA’s discussion events.

• EMMA strives to provide affordable art experiences both in the museum and in the urban environment.
• Works in EMMA’s public art collection are on display across Espoo in various urban and public spaces, such as schools. Works in the Saastamoinen Foundation collection are on exhibit in new family centres of Espoo.
• Most of the events presented in the galleries at EMMA is included in the price of the admission ticket.
• Admission to EMMA is always free for anyone under 18. Every Friday from 15:00 onwards, admission is free for all visitors. Kaiku card holders also receive free entry to EMMA. On this page you will find more information about all free and discount tickets

• EMMA is constantly producing new online content that you can enjoy from anywhere in the world. You can find mobile guides to the exhibitions and artist interview videos at the EMMA website and digital EMMA Zone service.
• The EMMA aims to ensure the accessibility of its website under the Act on the Provision of Digital Services (306/2019)
• EMMA’s websites www.emmamuseum.fi and emmazone.fi mostly comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). You can find the EMMA website accessibility statement here. The EMMA Zone accessibility statement is here.

We strive to ensure that everyone can enjoy EMMA’s facilities, events, and activities, as well as the experiences created by the power of art, both safely and on their own terms. We take diverse audiences into account in all our planning. Below are some examples of how we promote equality.

• We are all jointly responsible for creating a safer art museum environment. Read EMMA’s safer space policy here.
• EMMA has a zero tolerance for discrimination, and our staff have been instructed on how to address discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
• Events at EMMA are designed for visitors of all kinds, for example by offering programme that can be experienced through different senses, and programme that do not require visitors to know Finnish.
• EMMA provides a platform for diverse partners and performers. This also broadens our own understanding of changes and phenomena in society.
• EMMA programming for schools takes into account different types of learners and, for instance, language support needs: our guides can use plain Finnish and picture cards where necessary, for example.
• Our exhibition programme is designed to showcase works by artists from diverse backgrounds.
• Most of the toilets in the WeeGee exhibition centre are gender-neutral.
• EMMA has an internal equality plan.
• We keep our staff up to date with the relevant training. In recent years, our staff have received training on topics such as gender and sexual diversity, equality and how to respond to microaggressions.
• In 2020, at our request, a diversity agent evaluated EMMA’s customer experience from the perspective of diversity.
• In 2024, a report listing and assessing measured to promote equality at EMMA was compiled by interviewing our staff. We will use the report in planning our equality measures for the coming years.
• From 2025 to 2027, EMMA will undertake a project aimed at making the museum more accessible and welcoming to international residents of Espoo and across the Helsinki metropolitan area.

We are part of green transition in the museum sector and a pioneer within the field. EMMA continuously develops its operations to be more ecological, supported by the EcoCompass environmental programme.

EMMA was awarded the EcoCompass certificate in 2021 in recognition of our concrete work to safeguard to environment. Compliance with the criteria of the certificate is reviewed every three years. The most recent audit of EMMA was approved in late 2024.

During the EcoCompass period 2024–2027:

1)

We will calculate EMMA’s carbon footprint so that we can work even more effectively to reduce it. The carbon footprint will be calculated during 2025, and once we have the result, we will set a percentage-based target to reduce it. We will monitor its implementation on a yearly basis. As part of this work, we will also assess the environmental impact of our digital content.

2)

All of our staff will participate in this work and are committed to continuous, ecological change. The museum’s environmental efforts in all our operations are coordinated by a Green Handprint working group, which both gathers and shares information and proposes changes to our activities.

3)

We will communicate actively with our customers and stakeholders about our environmental actions, and encourage them to adopt a green lifestyle.

We would be delighted to hear any thoughts you might have on how we can further improve our environmental efforts in the future. You can find the feedback form here.

Below you can read about how we have already made our operations more environmentally sustainable.

• EMMA has served as an expert partner in the development of the Green Art calculator, which provides tools for a sustainability transition in the visual arts.
• We have extended the duration of our exhibitions, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of each exhibition relative to the number of visitors.
• We reuse existing exhibition structures for our future exhibitions. If an exhibition requires new materials, we source them as locally as possible, produced in an environmentally friendly way, while also considering their subsequent reuse. If the materials cannot be used in EMMA’s own future projects, we will look for reuse opportunity elsewhere.
• We prepare transport and travel plans individually for each exhibition, while also taking into account other exhibitions, so we can minimise (and combine) unnecessary travel and transport for artworks, artists, external curators, and EMMA’s own staff.
• By increasing the display of works from our own collections, we reduce the carbon footprint generated by artwork transportation while also reducing the need for storage space.
• In collection acquisitions and public art projects, we always consider ecological aspects and the life cycle of works.
• In our events and art workshops, we emphasise intangible experiences, and as many art workshop materials as possible are recycled.
• We discontinued printing and mailing exhibition invitations and brochures in 2021. Exhibition invitations are now sent electronically.
• The range of glass and ceramic products on sale in EMMA Shop emphasises local and small-scale domestic production.
• EMMA is a member of Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd.

EMMA adopted its Principles of Good Governance in 2013. The document is updated regularly to ensure full transparency of responsibilities and authority within the organization. Good governance – including responsible and transparent financial management – is among the aims set forth in EMMA’s strategy. 

Fees paid to artists are based on recommendations issued by worker advocacy organizations and the Ministry of Education and Culture. The personnel’s salary and reward system is based on competence and performance at work, applying a salary comparison system developed by Mandatum Life.

We urge our partners and stakeholders to adhere to sustainable and ethical practices both in their administration and other operations. The EMMA Code of Conduct (2023) is attached to all new contracts or cited in negotiations with forthcoming partners.

First Whistle – An easy-to-use and reliable whistleblowing channel

Using the First Whistle whistleblowing channel all members of the organisation and external partners and stakeholders can report suspected wrongdoing. We encourage talking things through. However, if you do not want it to be known that you are the one voicing the concern, then reporting it through the First Whistle is a good option.

The EU Directive, adopted in autumn 2019, obliges all organisations employing more than 50 people to provide a whistleblowing channel for both staff and a range of external partners.

Read instructions for reporting here. You can report a concern here.

If you wish to give EMMA feedback instead, you can do so using this form.

We welcome your feedback!  We would be happy to hear from you if you have any questions or would like to share your feedback. Please share your thoughts by filling in the feedback form below!