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.
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.
In the UK, the brand is partnering with Counterpoints Arts and Refugee Week to commission four artists to create four public artworks inspired by The Moomins and the Great Flood.
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.
The four artworks have been co-commissioned and will be co-produced by Counterpoints Arts and partners around the UK: Southbank Centre in London, The Baltic in Gateshead, Gloucester Guildhall, and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. They have selected:
- Southbank Centre, London: Woodland Tribe, with Nabil Amini
- The Baltic, Gateshead: Henna Asikainen, with Roua Horanieh
- Gloucester Guildhall: Dana Olărescu
- Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture: Basel Zaraa
The artworks will appear in May and June 2025 and will be supported by a range of community programming, Refugee Week resources and activations.
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.”
Background on the historical context around Moomins and the Great Flood.
In addition, Moomin Characters, publisher Sort Of Books and retailer Waterstones are partnering on a collaboration to raise funds for the British Red Cross. Sort Of Books will publish a special anniversary edition of The Moomins and the Great Flood which will include a full-colour cut-out Moomin house designed by Tove Jansson in the 1950s plus her notes on the Moomins. The book will be priced at £9.99 with a £7.50 donation from each copy sold by Waterstones going to support the British Red Cross’ work in the UK and overseas, including support for refugees and people in need of protection. The anniversary edition will also include a foreword by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the new Waterstones Children’s Laureate.
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