Opened in 1989 to carry on the work of Gallery Nykyaika set up in 1982, the Photographic Centre Nykyaika is run by the Valokuvakeskus Nykyaika Association. Not only photographers but also other persons interested in photography are members in the association behind the centre. The institution´s objective is to further regional photographic culture and to encourage multiartistic pursuits proliferating the field.

The exhibitions shown by the centre are intended to offer a broad approach to the diverse forms of photography. In order to keep up-to-date, quite new displays are set up, and young artists are introduced alongside more glassical trends. The number of Nykyaika´s exhibitions so far is well over 150. Apart from finnish photographers, a great variety of forening groups and individual artist have been resented.

The Photographic centre Nykyaika provides event of various kinds, meetings, workshops, public lectures, in addition to which it sees to contacts between hotographers. Documentary photography and its overall development stands out as focal points in the organization´s training programme, exhibitions and research.

The Photographic Centre guides students, schoolchildren, amateur photographers and many others in issues pertaining to the art. Another form of local contacts is collaboration with photographic and cultural organizations. The centre´s facilites include a library with photographic books as well as finnish and international magazines and other publications for visitors to study. In conjuktion with the institution there is also a video gallery presenting Finnish video art; the gallery also keeps recordings of the various lectures, meetings and exhibitions that have been produced by the centre.