Gloucester Guildhall is one of only four venues in the UK that has been selected to host a new public artwork to celebrate The Moomins' 80th anniversary in 2025.
Marking 80 years since the publication of the first Moomin story by acclaimed Finnish illustrator, Tove Jansson, Counterpoint Arts is partnering with Moomin Characters and Refugee Week to co-commission four new public artworks inspired by the iconic book.
The Moomins have inspired generations of people all over the world with stories of kindness, belonging and inclusivity — with the door to the Moominhouse always open to those seeking shelter, comfort and security.
Artworks inspired by The Moomins and the Great Flood will appear at Gloucester Guildhall; Southbank Centre in London; Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts in Gateshead; and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture around Refugee Week 2025.
Alongside the artworks, there'll be a programme of community activities raising awareness of Refugee Week and celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugee communities.
Creative director of Moomin Characters, James Zambra, said: 'The shelter, comfort and security that the Moominhouse provides are all universal needs, as relevant today as they were 80 years ago when Tove Jansson penned the first Moomin story. We couldn’t think of a better partner with which to celebrate the importance of a warm welcome and a sense of belonging than Refugee Week.'
Gloucester Guildhall's senior producer, Red Isaac, said: 'As a dock city, welcoming people seeking sanctuary is built into our story. There is huge pride in this heritage and the theme of welcoming people features prominently in the work of communities and arts organisations across the city, recognising the transformative and rich contributions of all the cultures that make up Gloucester.
'The story of welcome, belonging and safety at the heart of The Moomins chimes perfectly with Gloucester Guildhall and the city’s values. We are delighted to explore and celebrate these important themes in this project.'
Director of Counterpoint Arts, Almir Koldzic, added: 'Our vision for refugees and asylum seekers to be able to live safely within inclusive communities aligns perfectly with the life and work of Tove Jansson, and this collaboration will help us reach new audiences of all ages and backgrounds.'
Dana Olărescu is the artist who will be creating Gloucester's Moomin-inspired artwork, which will be revealed to the public in May or June 2025.
