Villa Karo, Cultural center and museum in Grand-Popo, Benin
Villa Karo is a renovated colonial-era building in Grand-Popo that functions as a cultural center, museum, and creative workspace. It holds artist studios, exhibition areas, and collections of West African objects alongside a library of thousands of books in multiple languages.
The building began around 1900 as a colonial hospital with operating rooms and patient quarters. It was repurposed decades later to become the cultural and artistic center it is today.
The space brings together artists and cultural workers from Finland and West Africa, creating a place where different perspectives meet and exchange. You can experience this dialogue through exhibitions, events, and the everyday interactions that happen here.
The center is located in Grand-Popo and welcomes visitors interested in browsing exhibitions and collections at their own pace. It helps to check ahead about current exhibitions or events to plan what to see during your visit.
The center includes a community space called Lissa Gbassa that regularly hosts outdoor film screenings, performances, and gatherings for local residents. This part of the venue serves as a social gathering point that extends well beyond its artistic functions.
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