Finlandia Foundation National is now the owner of the Finnish American Heritage Center (above left) and North Wind Books in Hancock, Michigan. For the special announcement message from FFN Executive Director Tommy Flanagan, please click here.
From the Finlandia Foundation:
Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) announces confirmation of its purchase of two buildings that were formerly a part of Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan.
FFN is now the owner of the structures that house the Finnish American Heritage Center at 435 Quincy Street and North Wind Books store at 437 Quincy Street. The acquisition is the next step in FFN’s mission to preserve the Finnish cultural institutions that faced an uncertain future when the school announced its closure in March 2023. These include the Heritage Center and bookstore, as well as the Finnish American Historical Archive, Finlandia Art Gallery, Finnish American Folk School, Price of Freedom Museum and The Finnish American Reporter.
To be successful in this effort, FFN launched a $3 million campaign to preserve these entities. Thanks to the support of donors, FFN has been able to purchase two buildings, the archival material, artwork, artifacts, inventory and the resources related to the folk school. FFN has also secured the positions of the six staff members responsible for the ongoing programs, operations, and conservation of and care for the material assets.
“With the acquisition of these cultural institutions, FFN moves into the next phase of its overall plan to make them more accessible to the general public, including the digitization of many of the archival records and creating touring exhibitions of the contents,” says FFN Executive Director Thomas Flanagan. “Additionally, the organization will create an endowment to ensure the future health of the FAHC and entities.”
FFN is a non-profit founded in Pasadena, California in 1953 to support and promote Finnish-American interests and offer related programming, scholarships and grants.