Paula Toppila

Paula Toppila has been working as the executive director and curator of the Pro Arte Art Foundation Finland since 2007. Toppila led the organizational change from the IHME Contemporary Art Festival to IHME Helsinki, which brings together art, science, and climate work since 2019. The aim of the organization is to promote freedom of art, eco-social education, a sustainable and democratic society, and a diverse good life. Recently Toppila has curated IHME Helsinki Commissions by artists Jana Winderen (NO, 2020), Katie Paterson (UK, 2021), Amar Kanwar (India, 2022), Hiwa K (Iraq, Kurdistan 2023) and Cooking Sections (UK, 2024) for public realm in Helsinki and Finland. He is currently preparing the IHME Helsinki 2025 commission with Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova that will open in August. She has served as vice-chair of the steering group for the Green Art (vihreataide.fi) website, chair of the Sustainable Visual Arts network, and continues to serve on the network's steering group. Toppila holds a Master of Arts degree, majoring in art history. She has supplemented her expertise with training in curating and a degree in leadership and management.