Call for applications 2024: Special subsidies for communities
Application period
Begins: 1 October 2024 at 8:00
Ends: 31 October 2024 at 16:00
The deadline for submitting applications is 16:00 (4:00pm) on the last day of the application period. This is the absolute deadline by which time Taike must receive the application.
Applications should be submitted online during the application period.
We require that applicants familiarise themselves with the call for applications before filling in the application.
Intended recipients
Special subsidies are intended for registered communities (legal entities): associations, cooperatives, companies and foundations.
Unregistered communities, private traders and municipalities are not eligible for special subsidies.
These subsidies for professional artistic activities and not recreational activities.
These subsidies may be awarded to applicants who already receive an operational subsidy from Taike if the development project is implemented as a joint project with other actors. An actor who receives a central government transfer to local government or a general grant from the Ministry of Education and Culture may be a collaboration partner but may not receive a share of the subsidy.
You can apply for a special subsidy with one application only. Select the artform that your development project most closely involves. If your project combines different artforms in such a way that established artforms no longer adequately describe the project, you should select multidisciplinary art.
Who decides
Applications and the operations of applicants are evaluated by Taike’s experts. Decisions are taken by the Director of Taike based on a presentation by a special advisor.
Purpose and amount
Special subsidies are awarded as a one-time development subsidy. A subsidy may be awarded for the following purposes, for example:
- For collaborations, mergers and joint structures of actors in the arts sector
- For creating new operating models
- For strengthening the finances of operations by expanding the financial base, business expertise and earnings
These subsidies are not awarded for the following purposes:
- For the regular operations and activities of the community
- For individual artistic productions
- For separate facility and equipment costs
The amount of each subsidy is generally 30,000–70,000 euros, and it must be used in 2025–2027. The maximum appropriations reserved for these subsidies is 500,000 euros, and subsidies are awarded to no more than 10 applicants.
The development project can last three years, but shorter projects are also possible. A subsidy may be awarded also to a project that has already started, but the costs must be allocated to the years 2025–2027.
Special subsidies may be awarded if considered necessary in relation to the quality and scope of the project.
Special subsidies may cover only a portion of the total funding of the project and not all expenses. If the project generates a profit, the recipient may be asked to return the subsidy in full or in part.
The amount of the subsidy may not exceed 98% of the project’s eligible expenses.
Evaluation criteria
The awarding of subsidies is based on an evaluation, comparison and overall assessment of applications. When evaluating applications, the following three criteria and questions are used, not all of which need to be fulfilled. There is no weighting in the evaluation criteria. The regional distribution and language of applicants are taken into consideration, as is the amount of available funding. Equality and fair treatment are also taken into account, as are the special characteristics of cultural and linguistic minorities.
These subsidies are discretionary and are awarded on an annual basis on condition that Parliament allocates the required appropriations in the annual state budget.
1. Quality of the project
- Does the project have a clear long-term strategy and vision?
- Is the project plan interesting, clear and consistent?
- What does the project offer to the arts sector, artists and audiences?
- How noteworthy is the community implementing the project in its field of the arts?
- Are the community’s staff members and project implementers professionals?
- How feasible is the project in terms of its implementation?
- Does the community pay wages and fees in accordance with fair remuneration practices?
2. Impact of the project
- Does the project strengthen the structures and sustainability of the arts sector?
- What is the impact of the project regionally, nationally or internationally?
- What is the social impact of the project?
- What kinds of collaboration partners does the project have?
- What kinds of collaboration does the project increase?
- How are accessibility and inclusion ensured in the project?
- How does the project reach its audience or target group?
- What kind of change or renewal does the development project aim to achieve?
3. Project financing
- Have the community’s finances been managed sustainably and responsibly?
- How feasible is the project’s budget?
- Is the amount of the subsidy that has been applied for realistic and necessary in relation to the scope of the project and financial situation of the applicant?
- What other funding does the project have?
General terms and conditions
- Subsidies awarded by other parties are taken into consideration when awarding subsidies. Other private and public financing is considered an advantage when evaluating the applicant’s need for a subsidy insofar as there is still a need for the subsidy.
- These subsidies may be awarded to applicants who already receive an operational subsidy from Taike if the development project is implemented as a joint project with other actors.
- The applicant is responsible for organising accounting in the manner stipulated in the Accounting Act and Decree.
- The subsidy must be used during 2025–2027.
- Recipients of subsidies must submit written clarification and a financial statement of how the subsidy was used.
- Subsidies are awarded as de minimis aid. Information about other de minimis aid received during the current tax year and the two previous tax years must be included in the application. Taike may also award the grant in accordance with the General Block Exemption Regulation if the conditions for de minimis aid do not allow the grant to be awarded.
What to include with your application
- It is mandatory to include the community’s audited financial statements (signed) for the previous financial period (income statement and balance sheet) or a report on the financial situation of the community (dated) confirmed by the signature of a person authorised to sign the name of the company if no financial statements have yet been drawn up.
- In addition, you may also include up to two attachments that are relevant to your application. The file names should describe the content. The maximum file size for each attachment is 4Mb. Applications and attachments are not returned.
Grounds for disqualification
- If the application arrives after the application deadline. Applications must be received by Taike by 16:00 (4:00pm) on the last day of the application period.
- If the application is incomplete (if the required information has not been delivered to Taike following a request for such information). If the applicant has not submitted written clarification of previously awarded subsidies before the given deadline.
Subsidies are subject to the Act (657/2012) and Statute (727/2012) on Taiteen edistämiskeskus (only in Finnish); Discretionary Government Transfers (688/2001); Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003). Taike monitors the use of subsidies and is entitled if necessary to review the finances and activities of recipients.
How to apply
Log in and fill in the application online (user interface in Finnish)
You can log in using Suomi.fi e-identification.
Instructions for using online services
If you are unable to use our online services, please contact Taike’s customer service.
Guidelines for subsidy applicants
Notification of decision
All applicants will be notified of the decision in writing by 17 March 2025. Applicants will be informed by e-mail when the decision can be accessed from our online services. If you do not receive the e-mail to your inbox, remember to check also your junk mail folder. Applicants are responsible for checking their e-mail messages on the address supplied in the application.
Applications are public documents
Applications submitted to Taike are public documents, about which everyone is entitled to receive information according to Finnish law (Act on the Openness of Government Activities 621/1999). For example, the media can request to view applications. Taike does not disclose confidential information. The project plans of communities are confidential to the extent that they contain information considered to be business secrets, such as artistic ideas or information about private individuals. Information about subsidies awarded to communities is published on the Taike website.
Taike submits information about all state subsidy decisions for publication on the tutkiavustuksia.fi website (Act on Discretionary Government Transfers 688/2001 and Government Decree 1394/2022).
Further information
Special Advisor Susanna Mäki-Oversteyns, t. 0295 330 837, [email protected]
Customer Service, t. 0295 330 700, [email protected]