National arts councils

The National Council for Architecture and Design is responsible for making decisions regarding grants, subsidies and prizes within the field of architecture. The council also provides expert advice.

National Council for Architecture and Design 2025–26

Chairperson

Wiebke Pandikow, Artist, Helsinki

Other members

Harri Hautajärvi, Architect, Helsinki
Marjut Kauppinen, Architect, Lighting Manager, Helsinki
Samu-Jussi Koski, Designer, Fashion Designer, Helsinki
Karin Krokfors, Architect, Professor, Helsinki
Maarit Magga, Doctor of Arts, duojár, Enontekiö
Tiia Matikainen, Sculptor, Ceramic Artist, Mänttä
Hannu Oksanen, Lecturer, Kuopio
Tero Pennanen, Interior Architect, Musician, Espoo
Ria Ruokonen, Landscape Architect, Vantaa
Pekka Toivonen, Artist, Helsinki

National Council for Architecture and Design 2023–24

Chairperson

Anssi Lassila, Architect, Professor of Working Life, Seinäjoki

Deputy Chairperson

Tuula Pöyhönen, Designer, Fashion Designer, Helsinki

Other members

Henri Halla-Aho, Designer, Lecturer, Lahti
Marjut Kauppinen, Architect, Helsinki
Wiebke Pandikow, Artist, Helsinki
Tero Pennanen, Interior Architect, Musician, Espoo
Panu Savolainen, Assistant Professor, Turku
Raija Siikamäki, DArts (Art and Design), MBA, Helsinki
Pekka Toivonen, Artist, Helsinki
Samuel Valkeapää, University Lecturer, Utsjoki
Satu Wäre-Åkerblom, Architect, Helsinki

Presenting Officer

Lea Halttunen, Special Advisor

Information

Senni Suomala, Planning Officer

The National Council for Audiovisual Art is responsible for making decisions regarding grants, subsidies and prizes within the fields of cinema, media art, and light and sound art. The council also provides expert advice in these fields.

National Council for Audiovisual Art 2025–26

Chairperson

Antti Pekka Ikonen, Senior University Lecturer, Helsinki

Other members

Meri Ekola, Lightning Designer, Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama), Bryssel
Jan Ijäs, Film Director, Helsinki
Tero Koistinen, FM, Helsinki
Marja-Riitta Koivumäki-Odd, Doctor of Arts (Art and Design), Scriptwriter, Helsinki
Marjo Levlin, MVA, Helsinki
Reija Meriläinen, Artist, Helsinki
Juri Nummelin, Non-Fiction Writer, Festival Director, Turku
Tarja Porsanger, Planner, Rovaniemi
John Webster, Film Director, Espoo

Presenting Officer

Sari Ilmola, Special Advisor

Information

Nelli Sahlman, Planning Officer

National Council for Audiovisual Art 2023–24

Chairperson

Mika Taanila, Film Director, Helsinki

Deputy Chairperson

Mikaela Eleni Westerlund, Executive Director, Espoo

Other members

Pia Andell, Film Director, Helsinki
Meri Ekola, Lightning Designer, Bryssel
Antti Pekka Ikonen, Senior University Lecturer, Helsinki
Tero Koistinen, MPhil, Helsinki
Albert Laine, Producer, Animation Artist, Helsinki 
Marjo Levlin, MVA, Helsinki
Melli Maikkula, Scriptwriter, Helsinki
Reija Meriläinen, Artist, Helsinki
Mika Ronkainen, Film Director, Oulu

The National Council for Multidisciplinary Art evaluates applications in the fields of multidisciplinary art and diversity, as well as applications in the fields of art journalism, illustrations and comics.

National Council for Multidisciplinary Art 2023–24

Chairperson

Anna Ruth, MA, Jyväskylä

Deputy Chairperson

Juha Valkeapää, artist, Helsinki

Other members

Janne Auvinen, managing director, Turku
Liisa Kallio, illustrator, Helsinki
Marja-Terttu Kivirinta, arts critic, cultural journalist, Helsinki
Oula Jukka Laukkanen, graphic designer, Paltamo
Paola Livorsi, MMus, Helsinki
Wilhelm Kvist, MMus, cultural journalist, Helsinki
Pekka Rahkonen, illustrator, comic artist, Nokia
Tiitu Takalo, comic artist, Tampere
Jani Toivola, actor-writer, Helsinki

Presenting Officer

Tuulikki Koskinen, Special Advisor

Information

Antti Rundelin, Planning Officer

The National Council for Literature is responsible for making decisions regarding grants, subsidies and prizes within the fields of literature. The council also provides expert advice in these fields.

National Council for Literature 2023–24

Chairperson

Marjo Heiskanen, writer, Kuopio

Deputy Chairperson

Tapani Kärkkäinen, Artist Professor, Helsinki

Other members

Johanna Hulkko, writer, Tampere
Malin Kivelä, writer, Helsingfors
Kuisma Korhonen, professor, Helsinki
Kaj Korkea-aho, writer, Helsingfors
Roope Lipasti, writer, Lieto
Raisa Marjamäki, MLitt, Ylöjärvi
Risto Turunen, professor, Joensuu
Helena Waris, writer, Mikkeli

Presenting Officer

Ansa Aarnio, Special Advisor

Information

Tuija Nevajuuri, Planning Officer

National Council for Literature 2021–22

Chairperson

Vesa Haapala, Author, Vantaa

Deputy Chairperson

Maria Turtschaninoff, Author, Karis

Other members 

Marjo Heiskanen, Author, Helsinki
Koko Hubara (until 1.12.2021), Author, Journalist, Helsinki
Johanna Hulkko (from 1.12.2021), Author, Nokia
Maria Laakso, Literary Researcher, Tampere
Jyrki Lappi-Seppälä, Translator, Helsinki
Antti Salminen, Professor, Author, Ylöjärvi
Lotta Toivanen, Translator, Helsinki
Jouni Tossavainen, Author, Critic, Kuopio
Pauliina Vanhatalo, Author, Raahe

The National Council for Music is responsible for making decisions regarding grants, subsidies and prizes within the field of music. The council also provides expert advice.

National Council for Music 2023–24

Chairperson

Eero Linjama, education and research manager, Salo

Deputy Chairperson

Aija Puurtinen, DMus, musician, Helsinki

Other members

Virpi Eroma, songwriter, artist, Helsinki
Inkeri Jaakkola, Dmus, Lahti (from 16.5.2024)
Hannu Kella, composer, musician, Hollola 
Piia Kleemola-Välimäki, DMus, Seinäjoki (from 14.8.2024)
Olli Kortekangas, composer, Helsinki
Jussi Makkonen, cello artist, Nurmes 
Maiju Talvisto, MPhil, MMus, Helsinki 
Jonna Tervomaa, musician, Helsinki
Tellu Turkka, MA (Music), Joensuu (from 16.5.2024)
Milko Vesalainen, curator, Lappeenranta

Presenting Officer

Salla Mistola, Special Advisor

Information

Tuire Tapanainen, Planning Officer

National Council for Music 2021–22

Chairperson

Elina Mustonen, Artist Professor, Helsinki

Other members 

Jussi Kannaste, Jazz Musician, Lecturer, Helsinki
Piia Kleemola-Välimäki, PhD (Music), Seinäjoki
Olli Kortekangas, Composer, Helsinki
Eero Linjama, Head of Education and Research, Salo
Riku Mattila, Producer, Musician, Helsinki
Jonna Tervomaa, Musician, Helsinki
Tellu Turkka, MA (Music), Joensuu
Milko Vesalainen, General Manager, Executive Director, Lappeenranta

The National Council for the Performing Arts is responsible for making decisions regarding grants, subsidies and prizes within the fields of theatre, performance and live art, dance and circus. The council also provides expert advice in these fields.

National Council for the Performing Arts 2023–24

Chairperson

Petri Kauppinen, lecturer in dance, dance artist, Oulu

Deputy Chairperson

Rasmus Slätis, actor, Helsinki

Other members

Marie Antikainen, scenographer, Kuopio (from 1.9.2023)
Vesa-Petteri Asikainen, actor, Helsinki
Anniina Kumpuniemi, dancer-choreographer, executive director, Tampere
Soile Lahdenperä, dancer, choreographer, Helsinki
Satu Rasila, playwright, Turku
Virpi Rautsiala, MA (Theatre and Drama), Kuopio (until 31.8.2023)
Mikko Rinnevuori, MEd, Helsinki
Tomi Suovankoski, lightning designer, Helsinki
Anastasia Trizna, MA (Theatre and Drama), Helsinki
Minna Vainikainen, direcotr-choreographer, Helsinki
Ulla Hyväluoma, dance artist, Vaasa

Presenting Officer

Marja Susi, Special Advisor

Information

Anni Tappola, Planning Officer

National Council for the Performing Arts 2021–22

Chairperson

Raija Ojala, Expert, Helsinki

Deputy Chairperson

Virpi Rautsiala, Actress, Kuopio

Other members 

Ari Ahlholm, Lecturer, Turku
Liisa Aurasmaa, Actress, Seinäjoki
Giorgio Convertito, Dance Artist, Helsinki
Petri Kauppinen, Dance Artist, Oulu
Tero Nauha, Performance Artist, Professor, Helsinki
Ulla Päivikkö, Dance Artist, Outokumpu
Virpi Rautsiala, Actress, Kuopio
Mikko Rinnevuori, Headmaster, Helsinki
Samuli Roininen, Dancer, Choreographer, Tampere
Jussi Sorjanen, Theatre Director, Director, Helsinki
Minna Vainikainen, Director, Choreographer, Helsinki

The National Council for the Visual Arts is responsible for making decisions regarding grants, subsidies and prizes within the fields of visual arts and photographic art. The council also provides expert advice in these fields.

National Council for the Visual Arts 2023–24

Chairperson

Vilma Pimenoff, artist, Helsinki

Deputy Chairperson

Panos Balomenos, MVA, Helsinki

Other members

Ala-Maunus Petri, visual artist, Helsinki (from 16 May 2024)
Frank Brümmel, visual artist, Turku
Jussi Juurinen, visual artist, Vantaa
Eemil Karila, visual artist, Rovaniemi
Heli Kaskinen, visual artist, Järvenpää (from 14 August 2023)
Rauha Mäkilä, MVA, Helsinki
Eeva Peura, visual artist, Helsinki
Lars Rebers, Senior teacher, photographic artist, Uusikaarlepyy
Aurora Reinhard, visual artist, Perniö (from 14 August 2023)
Nora Tapper, sculptor, Helsinki
Kari Vehosalo, visual artist, Helsinki (until 14.12.2023)

Presenting Officer

Kirsi Väkiparta, Special Advisor

Information

Sini Paloheimo-Voutilainen, Planning Officer

National Council for the Visual Arts 2021–22

Chairperson

Erika Kallasmaa, Illustrator, Espoo

Vice chairperson

Elina Försti, Painter, Alajärvi

Other members

Panos Balomenos, Visual Artist, Helsinki (from 8 March 2022)
Elina Brotherus, Photographic Artist, Helsinki (1.1. – 31.12.2022)
Ville Hänninen, Non-Fiction Author, Critic, Helsinki
Heta Kuchka, Visual Artist, Helsinki
Kalle Lampela, Associate Professor in Fine Arts, Rovaniemi
Pia Lindman, Visual Artist, Fagervik (from 8 March 2022)
Tuomas Nyqvist, Visual Artist, Helsinki
Tomas Regan, Visual Artist, Tampere
Jyrki Siukonen, Visual Artist, Researcher, Tampere
Maija Tammi, PhD (Art), Helsinki
 

Nanna Hänninen, Photographic Artist, Kuopio (until 31.12.2021)
Hilda Kozári, Visual Artist, Helsinki (until 7.3.2022)
Paula Tella, Visual Artist, Performance Artist, Helsinki (until 7.3.2022)