Arabia Art Department
The artists working in the Arabia Art Department founded the Arabia Art Department Society on 4 November, 2003. The society maintains and nurtures the cultural heritage of the Art Department, which was established in the 1930s in the Arabia factory in Helsinki.
The following artists are the society’s founding members: Fujiwo Ishimoto, Inkeri Leivo, Heljä Liukko-Sundström, Heikki Orvola, Pekka Paikkari, Heini Riitahuhta, Kristina Riska and Kati Tuominen-Niittylä.
The Arabia Art Department Society is a non-profit association, focusing on maintaining the cultural heritage that the Arabia Art Department has represented from its founding day. The society also promotes in various ways the status of ceramic art in the modern cultural environment.
Arabia Art Department was founded in 1932 by Art Director Kurt Ekholm. Mr Ekholm was guided by the belief that ceramics culture in Finland had to be developed and that the task at the time fell to Arabia. Around the same time, Kurt Ekholm invited Kaj Franck to develop Arabia’s product design. In the following decades, Kaj Franck’s strong belief in the interaction between design and art became the guiding light. Later, in 1968 – 1973, Kaj Franck was Art Director of the Arabia Art Department. Birger Kaipiainen, Toini Muona and Michael Schilkin were some of the first artists to be invited to work in the department. From the start, it was clear that cooperation with other artists at the international level would form part of the department’s function.
Currently, the Arabia Art Department Society nurtures and furthers its heritage by organizing Finnish and international exhibitions and collaborating with other ceramics artists. The society’s links with other organizations, museums and galleries in the field of ceramics underpin its work. The society also works to support young talent in the field, thereby boosting the general status of ceramics in Finland.
www.artarabia.fi
Collaboration between the Arabia Art Department Society and Iittala Group
Iittala Group contributed to the founding of the Arabia Art Department Society and the company supports the society’s operation in various ways.
Cooperation with top ceramics artists in the world is vital in terms of product development at Arabia
The artists working in the Arabia Art Department are responsible for designing, making and selling unique artworks. Iittala Group, under the tradename Arabia, for its part focuses on developing, marketing and selling the Arabia range of products. Historically, the Art Department’s artists have played a significant role in the design and development of the Arabia product range, in particular. Because this close association is ongoing, Iittala Group provides financial support to the Art Department. The Arabia Art Department Society also actively recruits supporting members to help with its activities.