HISTORY
HISTORY
History of the Building
The Jugend-style yellow wooden building was originally constructed in 1911 as a gymnasium for the Classical Lyceum, or the boys' lyceum, according to the plans of architect Jac Ahrenberg. The upper floor of the building housed sculpture and handicraft classrooms. The building’s interior was destroyed in a fire in April 1981. The building`s interior was repaired in the same year and was used as a temporary exhibition space for the Art Museum called as Gymnasium. The name was later changed to Temporaali, the Contemporary Art Exhibition Space.
Due to financial reasons, the Art Museum relinquished the space, and in the 1990s, the building housed the North Karelia Dance School. The Art Center Ahjo was founded in the building in 1998. From 1998 to 2020, the Art Center Ahjo was managed by the Art Center Ahjo Support Association, whose member organizations included the Joensuu Artists' Association (1998–2020), the Eastern Finland Dance Area Center (2005–2020), the North Karelia Writers' Association Ukri ry (2000–2011), the multidisciplinary cultural association Vääräpyörä ry (2002–2004), North Karelia Kätsä ry (1998–2005), and the North Karelia Photography Association (1998–2000). The management of the Art Center Ahjo changed at the end of 2020, and since then, it has been managed by the Joensuu Artists' Association, which was founded in 1945.
The Art Center Ahjo is home to Finland's oldest Art Loan Service, established in 1971. The Joensuu Art Loan Service has been operating at the Art Center Ahjo since 2021. Previously, the loan service was located in the Taitokortteli at Gallery Kohina. The Art Loan Service showcases works by the professional artist members of the Joensuu Artists' Association, and currently, 75 artists’ works are on display.