Annual Review 2019 Heureka Joy of Discovery! Annual Review Heureka 2019
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Annual Review 2019 Heureka Joy of Discovery! Annual Review Heureka 2019 5 21 Heureka reaches International 30 years! Heureka 6–7 22–23 Heureka´s visitors Personnel and organisation 8–13 24–27 Exhibitions and Finances exhibition projects 14–15 28–29 Planetarium Support provided by programme different organisations 16–17 30–31 Public events Kiinteistö Oy Tiedepuisto Science Shop Magneetti Ltd 18–20 32–33 Learning programmes and Heureka Overseas materials Productions Ltd Oy Mission: Joy of Discovery! Heureka reaches We spur the joy of discovery through research and science. 30 years! Vision: Heureka’s 30th jubilee year was visible in the everyday to have reached an audience of approximately 50,000 workings of the science centre in many positive ways. in locations outside of Heureka’s own building. A unique way to get inspired During its three decades of history, Heureka has es- and learn about science. tablished its position as a contributor to science and Our international co-operation remained active source of inspiration. In the 2019 study concerning the throughout the year. Heureka’s exhibitions were on company image of recreational centres, as conducted display in Hong Kong, Bangkok in Thailand, Pilsen in by Taloustutkimus Oy, Heureka was rated the fourth the Czech Republic, Coventry in England and at mul- best known visitor destination and, in terms of over- tiple science centres in the USA and Canada. In Ade- all rating, as the best of all destinations in the study. laide, Australia, the Museum of Discovery opened its Our visitors were highly enthusiastic about Heureka’s own licensed version of Heureka’s Seven Siblings from content during the jubilee year; as many as 423,229 the Future exhibition. Additionally, Heureka Overseas visitors were recorded, which is the highest number of Productions Ltd produced individual exhibits through visitors Heureka has seen since its opening year. co-operation with Fantasia Works, part of Lappset Group Ltd, in Ireland and Norway, among others. The record-breaking year was, for the most part, due to the exceptionally attractive content we provided. The Heureka Shops achieved a positive result. In terms The Giant Dinosaurs exhibition opened in February. of the shopping centre locations, the year showed that Investments in the exhibition’s marketing as well as although business may be booming in one location, it its scientific content and memorable virtual staging can be clearly quieter in another. The Shop’s strategy brought the crowds in already in the opening days of was changed during the year so that, moving forward, the exhibition. Meeting this rush in terms of our other it might rely even more heavily on the Heureka brand. services was challenging, but our positive visitor feed- The success achieved in 2019 helped to replenish our back showed that we succeeded in our endeavours. finances. We can now enter the new decade debt-free for the first time in a long time, ready to renew our- The dinosaurs were not, however, the only factor behind selves and take on the challenges of the next 30 years. our success. The Mind Your Brain! exhibition proved There is plenty of reason to celebrate, but our daily to be a fascinating and wonderful partner exhibition to work continues, and we shall meet it head on with a the dinosaurs. The programme related to our circular humble and proud attitude. economy theme included different public events, the Circular Factory exhibition opened, the space theme Tapio Koivu was incorporated into our youth science camps and our Toimitusjohtaja science clubs began to operate in a more established manner. Visitors representing groups from comprehen- sive schools and other educational institutions totalled 59,087 – special thanks to our Science Sponsors. The year’s evenings for adults, such as those events held on Halloween and Valentine’s Day, have become an estab- lished way for young adults to enjoy Heureka. During the year, Heureka was also very visible beyond its Tikkurila location. Musiikkitalo, in the heart of Helsinki, invited Pop-up Heureka to set up in its Main Foyer for the summer season and Tallink Silja’s Eu- ropa cruise ship featured Heureka science presenta- tions and workshops throughout the summer. Pop-up Heureka also toured schools and events, and its vari- ous shows and workshop programmes are estimated 5 Heureka’s visitors Number of visitors in 1989–2019 In terms of its number of visitors, Heureka is among Finland’s most popular recreational destinations. When the science centre was in the planning phase in the 1980s, the number of visitors per year was estimated to be 250,000. The long-term average has risen slightly higher than predicted, to a total of nearly 280,000 visitors per year. The In 2019, Heureka had a total of 423,229 visitors. This erage of approximately 280,000 visitors come to Heu- annual number of visitors varies from year to year quite significantly depending on, for example, the range of figure came close to Heureka’s all-time attendance reka each year. exhibitions offered by Heureka and its competitors as well as the economic situation, which has an impact on the record, which was achieved during its opening year demand and consumer decisions of different visitor groups. in 1989 when the science centre attracted more than The majority of Heureka’s visitors are families and 430,000 visitors. The intense popularity during Heu- groups, who visit the science centre during their free 450 000 reka’s 30th jubilee year was largely thanks to the Giant time, primarily on the weekends and during school 400 000 Dinosaurs and Mind Your Brain! exhibitions. holidays. Of the annual visitors, about 50,000 rep- 350 000 resent groups from comprehensive schools and oth- Heureka’s number of visitors has only exceeded er educational institutes, whose visits take place on 300 000 400,000 three times earlier: its opening year and in weekdays during the school year. During 2019, this 250 000 2001 and 2013. The year 2001 also featured a dinosaur category accounted for 59,087 visitors. The number of 200 000 exhibition, and the Body Worlds exhibition in 2013 visitors in all visitor groups increased, particularly in 150 000 was a large contributor to that year’s success. An av- the group of children under 6 years of age. 100 000 50 000 Visitors to Heureka in 2016–2019 All visitors 1991 2011 1997 1993 1994 1996 1999 1995 1992 2017 1989 1998 2013 1990 Groups from schools and 2014 2016 2019 2015 2012 2018 2001 2010 2007 2003 2004 2006 2009 2005 2002 2008 educational institutions 2000 450 000 Number of visitors to Heureka in 1989-2019. The threshold of 400,000 visitors has only been exceeded four 400 000 times in Heureka’s history: during its opening year in 1989 and in connection with the exceptionally success- ful exhibitions in 2001 (Family Life of the Dinosaurs), in 2013 (Body Worlds) and in 2019 (The Giant Dinosaurs). 350 000 300 000 250 000 Visitors to Heureka’s exhibitions at Heureka and elsewhere in 1989–2019 200 000 150 000 Heureka opened its doors to the public in April 1989. Since then, Heureka’s exhibitions have been seen at Heureka by more than 8 million visitors. When expanded to include those who have seen Heureka’s exhibitions on display 100 000 elsewhere in the world, the figure rises to over 28.5 million. 50 000 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 Visitor groups to Heureka in 2016–2019 At Heureka 8,740,840 200 000 175 000 Elsewhere Total 150 000 19,753,182 28,494,022 125 000 100 000 75 000 50 000 25 000 Groups from Children Children Adults Students Pensioners schools and under 6 yrs 6–15 yrs educational institutions 6 7 The Giant Exhibitions and Dinosaurs exhibition projects 2 Feb. 2019 – 15 Mar. 2020 The Giant Dinosaurs exhibition opened in the Cube Hall on 2 February. The dinosaur robots, fossil rep- In 2019, a new, large temporary exhibition, The Giant licas and genuine fossils displayed for the exhibition Dinosaurs, and a new part of the main exhibition, Cir- were rented from Dinodon Inc., the company run cular Factory, opened at Heureka. Of the temporary ex- by the American dinosaur expert Don Lessem. The hibitions that had opened earlier, Seven Siblings from exhibition provided visitors with the opportunity the Future remained on display for the start of the year to walk among some of the largest dinosaurs and and Mind Your Brain! for the entire year. to learn why they developed to be the size that they were. The exhibition also highlighted different pal- Additionally, Heureka’s range of exhibitions included aeontological research methods and showed how di- the Heureka Classics, which examine various phenom- nosaurs are still present today. With the help of a VR ena in the fields of physics and perceptual psychology, application, visitors were able to experience the birth as well as the theme exhibitions in the main exhibition of a saurolophus – from the perspective of the baby area, including Intelligent City, Electri City, Wind in the as it hatches from the egg. The exhibition texts, struc- Bowels, About a Coin and Science On a Sphere. The tures and staging were all designed by Heureka and Under Cover! exhibits were on display in the main ex- implemented through co-operation with its network hibition area until 11 August, when it was dismantled of partners. The exhibition texts were also published and replaced by the Circular Factory. The outdoor Sci- in an easy-to-read version, which earned Heureka an ence Park Galilei was open until 31 July, after which the honourable mention in the ‘Annual easy-to-under- resurfacing work began on its upper level.