History of the museum
Teresia and Rafael Lönnström Foundation
The Lönnström Art Museum is a private museum operating with funds from the Teresia and Rafael Lönnström Foundation. The foundation was established in 1987 under the terms of the last will and testament of Teresia Lönnström (1895–1986) to support, as well as to promote knowledge and appreciation of the arts. The foundation also maintains the Teresia and Rafael Lönnström home museum.
The Museum Building
Opened in 1993, the museum is located in one of the most elegant old houses in the centre of Rauma. Designed by the architect Onni von Zansen and completed in 1912, the house was built as the private residence of the honorary councillor Wladimir Sofronoff.
Hotel Rauma operated in the building from 1916, and from the 1920s the town police department and Town Hall were housed there. The Lönnström Foundation purchased the building in 1991 and refurbished it into a modern art museum after a design by the architect Markus Bernoulli. The lift and wheelchair ramp were added to the building in the refurbishment. The main building has a total of 550 sq.m. of galleries on three floors.
The Yard House
The yard house used to house the town prison. The former cells are now converted into small storage and work rooms. At the other end of the building there is the two-storey Studio gallery (60 sq.m.).
