News

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture appointed an Advisory Board for the Creative Economy on 3 December 2024 with the aim of promoting the growth and internationalisation of Finland’s creative industries. The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) is represented on the Advisory Board by Director Kaisa Rönkkö (Member), Head of Arts Support Henri Terho (Personal Deputy Member) and Internationalisation Expert Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber (Member of Secretariat).

Regional grants and artist grants can be applied for from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) in March-April. The grant period for regional grants has changed: the period during which they can be used will start in July 2025.

Booster is a new peer group model to support mental wellbeing that has been developed as part of the Mental Health Toolkit project. It is intended to promote the work ability of self-employed people, freelancers, grant recipients and sole proprietors in the arts, culture and events sectors.

The Central Arts Council has submitted its opinion on the government proposal regarding the Education and Culture Administration 2030 reform project, which plans to merge government agencies. According to the draft legislation, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) would merge to form the Culture Agency of Finland (Kulttuurivirasto) at the beginning of 2026. At the same time, the structure of the arts councils would change.

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) has awarded 13.8 million euros in operational subsidies for specific artforms to art communities in 2025. Altogether 193 art communities throughout Finland have been awarded an operational subsidy. Due to the budget situation and Taike’s strategic priorities, there have been more changes affecting recipients and amounts in the decisions than in previous years.

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) has submitted its opinion on the government proposal regarding the Education and Culture Administration 2030 reform project, which plans to merge government agencies. According to the draft legislation, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) would merge to form the Culture Agency of Finland (Kulttuurivirasto) at the beginning of 2026. At the same time, the structure of the arts councils would change.

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) has decided on the distribution of appropriations among forms of support and specific artforms in 2025. The decision is based on priorities that aim to ensure the preservation of key structures, a regional balance and the renewal of the arts sector. The relative reduction in Taike’s discretionary grants compared to 2024 amounts to 4.6 million euros.

ESF+ funding within the Creative and Cultural Innovation Expertise theme is available for projects that strengthen skills and employment in the arts and cultural sector or the creative sector and the creative economy. The next application round for such projects will be from 13 January to 31 March 2025. The new application round offers the possibility to apply for smaller funding also for one-off experiments. The funding will be awarded by the ELY Centre for Häme. Creative Net supports and spars those seeking funding.

The Ministry of Education and Culture has introduced the Education and Culture Administration 2030 reform project, which aims to merge agencies. The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) would merge to form the Culture Agency of Finland (Kulttuurivirasto) at the beginning of 2026. At the same time, the structure of the arts councils would change. The consultation round on the draft legislation is open until 31 January 2025. Taike will organise an open webinar on the draft legislation on 15 January 2025.

Public display grants to visual artists can be applied for using the new Applyforgrants.fi service as of next spring.

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) has further clarified the distribution of appropriations for 2025. The priorities aim to ensure the preservation of key structures, a regional balance and the possibility of renewal. Due to the scale of the budget cuts, they will still impact the work opportunities of artists, as well as the nationwide availability of art and culture.

The national arts councils of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) have awarded state prizes for 2024 to distinguished artists and art communities. State prizes are awarded in recognition of outstanding artistic work within the past three years, a long meritorious artistic career, or a contribution to a specific artform. The combined value of the state prizes is 250,000 euros.