100 Years of the Welfare State – exhibition
World-Improvement Days, 26–27 Sep 2026
Democracy is not a spectator sport. How have the boundaries of responsibility between the individual, the family and society changed? And who has demanded change?
Who commissioned us?
Hyvinvointivaltion vaalijat ry (Guardians of the Welfare State) commissioned an exhibition that made the history of the Finnish welfare state visible at the World-Improvement Days at Lapinlahden Lähde in autumn 2026.
What did we do, and why?
We built a timeline of more than five metres: 100 Years of the Welfare Society. We wanted to show how change in society is reflected in laws and reforms. We also highlighted who drove those changes and how our understanding of shared responsibility has shifted. Finally, we ask: how do we want to safeguard the things that matter to us now?
How did we do it?
Research, historical sources and images were turned into an approachable exhibition. Alongside the laws we brought in crises, civic movements, strikes and demonstrations – and the people behind the changes. History did not stay on the wall: visitors could comment and reflect on what must not be given up, what should be reformed and what should be built now.
Working group
Päivi Uljas, Juha Nurmela, Aleksi Salonen and Sonja Baer.
The exhibition was shown at the World-Improvement Days in Helsinki, at Lapinlahden Lähde, on 26–27 September 2026. You can also book it for your own event!
