Moomin Characters and Counterpoints Arts are delighted to announce our plans, as part of Refugee Week 2025, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first Moomin story, The Moomins and the Great Flood, which was originally published in 1945 by the acclaimed Finnish artist, illustrator and writer Tove Jansson.
There will be four public art commissions, co-commissioned and co-produced with venue partners, made possible by the support of Moomin Characters Ltd in celebration of 80 years since the publication of the first Moomin story.
- Woodland Tribe and Nabil Amini at Southbank Centre
- To Own Both Nothing and the Whole World by Henna Asikainen and Roua Horanieh at Baltic Contemporary
- What Will We Do Without Exile by Basel Zaraa at Bradford UK City of Culture 2025
- You Look As Though You Might Be A Relation by Dana Olărescu at Gloucester Guildhall
There is also a range of resources, activations and merchandise for Refugee Week.
Since their debut, the Moomin books have inspired generations worldwide with their messages of inclusiveness, kindness and belonging. Under the theme “The Door is Always Open” – referring to the door of the Moominhouse, which offers shelter, comfort and security to all who seek it – new and returning fans alike are invited to join in celebrations which will including charitable fundraisers, fan competitions, new books, a film, product launches and much more.
Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. It is run by Counterpoints Arts, a leading national organisation in the field of arts, migration and cultural change which produces a range of programmes in the UK and internationally.
James Zambra, Creative Director of Moomin Characters, said: “The shelter, comfort and security that the Moominhouse provides are all universal needs, as relevant today as they were 80 years ago when Tove Jansson penned the first Moomin story. We couldn’t think of a better partner with which to celebrate the importance of a warm welcome and a sense of belonging than Refugee Week.”
Almir Koldzic, Director, Counterpoints Arts, said: “We are so excited to be working with Moomin Characters to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first Moomin book as part of Refugee Week in June 2025. Our vision for refugees and asylum seekers to be able to live safely within inclusive communities aligns perfectly with the life and work of Tove Jansson, and this collaboration will help us reach new audiences of all ages and backgrounds. We look forward to the exciting public art commissions that we are co-producing with our partners in Gloucester, London, Gateshead and Bradford as well as the related programming and the Refugee Week resources that will be available across the UK.”