Leikki – The Museum of Play – step into the realm of childhood
Located in the yard of the Exhibition Centre WeeGee in Tapiola, Espoo, the museum Leikki is dedicated to childhood, toys and play. The museum offers interesting, nostalgic and touching cultural experiences for all ages. Both with its insightful temporary exhibitions and with its surprising main exhibition, Laboratory of Play, the museum acts as a mirror of childhood in different times. The museum stores collections of toys nationally in its treasure chest and keeps the flag of play flying. Come and meet your inner child through a variety of events and services. The museum Leikki is a realm of endless play!
At WeeGee, the museum’s focus was on busy public work and the museum reached a growing public year after year.
The museum Leikki is nearing the end of a major renovation during 2020-2022. The name change represents the shift in the museum’s perspective from an exhibitor of toys to an explorer of play. In autumn 2021, the name of the museum was changed to the museum Leikki. In conjunction with the renovation, the museum has moved into new premises next to the Exhibition Centre WeeGee at Ahertajantie 3.
The museum Leikki is owned by Theater Hevosenkenkä Association. The museum Leikki, together with Theater Hevosenkenkä and the art therapy house Tusculum Hevosenkenkä constitute a unique concentration of children’s culture. The Theater and Tusculum Hevosenkenkä are situated in Mankkaa, ca. 4 kilometers from the museum Leikki.
The history of the museum Leikki
The idea for a toy and play museum first emerged in 1984, when the children’s charity Children’s Day Foundation launched a toy collection to form the basis for the new toy museum. The Foundation wanted to promote children’s culture by setting up the Linnanmäki amusement park as a place for the whole family to enjoy, bringing different generations together. The Linnanmäki Toy and Play Museum was opened in April 1996.
In 2006, the toy museum moved into the WeeGee Exhibition Centre in Tapiola, Espoo, where the museum was run by the Children’s Day Foundation. In 2010, the association of friends of the Hevosenkenkä children’s theatre took the museum under its wings. The museum and theatre now form a unique partnership both in Finland and on a worldwide scale.
