Design competition for former president Ahtisaari’s grave memorial to be held in spring 2024
A permanent grave memorial for former president Martti Ahtisaari will be erected at Ahtisaari’s grave on St. Martin’s Day, 10 November 2024, exactly one year after the former president’s funeral. The Prime Minister’s Office has appointed a committee for the memorial project and will organise a design competition for the memorial in spring 2024.
The grave memorial for former President Ahtisaari will built based on the proposal selected as the winner of the competition.
The jury for the competition will consist of the members of the memorial committee and two professional artists appointed by the Artists’ Association of Finland. More details will be provided on 2 February 2024, when the design competition is officially opened.
The members of the memorial committee are:
- Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office (chair)
- Professor Antti Ahlava, Aalto University
- Marko Ahtisaari, Artistic Director, representative of Ahtisaari’s family
- Saara Hacklin, Chief Curator (Collections), Finnish National Gallery
- Teemu Laajasalo, Bishop, Helsinki Diocese Cathedral Chapter
- Juha Rintamäki, Director, Helsinki Parish Union
- Professor Pirjo Sanaksenaho, Aalto University
- Professor Denise Ziegler, University of the Arts Helsinki
Chief Specialist Tiina-Kaisa Laakso-Liukkonen from the Prime Minister’s Office will serve as secretary of the committee.
Ahtisaari was the tenth President of the Republic
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (23 June 1937–6 October 2023) was the tenth President of the Republic of Finland. He served as president from 1994 to 2000. Former president Ahtisaari was buried at Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki on 10 November 2023.
All former presidents of Finland, with the exception of Pehr Evind Svinhufvud and Kyösti Kallio, are buried at Hietaniemi Cemetery. All former Presidents of the Republic have been honoured with a grave memorial. The design competition for former president Ahtisaari’s grave memorial continues this tradition.
Inquiries: Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, tel. +358 295 160 300 and Tiina-Kaisa Laakso-Liukkonen, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 160 220, Prime Minister’s Office