Calls for applications to open for government grants for communities
Half of the calls for applications that open in October will be on Taike’s existing application system, while the other half have been transferred to the new Applyforgrants.fi service, an online service in which all calls for government grant applications organised by government grant authorities are available in one place. The application period on the new system closes one week later than on Taike’s application system. Applicants can log in to both systems via the Taike website.
The following forms of support can be applied for using Taike’s existing application system:
- Operational subsidies for specific artforms
- Special subsidies for communities
- Subsidies for promoting cultural diversity and combating racism
- Subsidies for promoting inclusion and cultural wellbeing
These calls for applications close on 31 October at 4:00pm.
The following forms of support can be applied for using the new Applyforgrants.fi service:
- General grants for festivals
- Project grants for “Percent for Art” projects
- General grants for cultural magazines and online publications
- Project grants for children’s and youth culture
These calls for applications close on 7 November at 4:00pm.
Decisions for operational subsidies will be made by the end of January 2025, while the decisions for other government grants for communities will be made by 17 March 2025. Decisions for project grants for “Percent for Art” projects will be made by 31 December 2024.
Changes to calls for applications
Changes have been made to these calls for applications, partly due to budget cuts to Taike’s appropriations for discretionary government grants. Further information can be found on the calls for applications.
Project grants for “Percent for Art” projects are being offered for the last time, until further notice, using the appropriations for 2024, which must be used during 2024−2026.
General grants for cultural magazines and online publications have changed from project subsidies to general grants, which has an effect, for example, on any surplus that may be generated from operations, as well as on the types of attachments that must be included with the application.
General grants for festivals will be used for more applications from other forms of support. Taike has specified that subsidies for children’s festivals will no longer be awarded to children’s festivals that are organised more than three times; instead, all festivals should apply for funding in the form of a general grant for festivals. In addition, the Ministry of Education and Culture has transferred all festivals of national importance to Taike for processing, and the Ministry of Education and Culture’s appropriations for these festivals have also been transferred to Taike.
Project grants for children’s and youth culture have a new name to reflect the desire for this form of support to offer wider funding opportunities also for youth culture projects. This form of support was previously referred to as special subsidies for children’s culture.
Operational subsidies for specific artforms will be awarded only in the form of as one-year subsidies due to the uncertain funding outlook. The amount of own capital has been specified in the general terms and conditions with the aim of strengthening the financial buffer of communities and diversifying the funding base. Accordingly, own capital will not reduce the amount of the subsidy if it does not exceed 50% of the annual operating budget.
Special subsidies for communities have a significantly revised purpose. No more than 10 of these subsidies will be awarded, generally 30,000–70,000 euros each, and they are intended to support the collaborations and development projects of art communities with the aim of renewing the arts sector.
Taike has also introduced new evaluation criteria related to sustainability. Accordingly, more attention will be paid in the decision-making process to factors such as good governance, a safe operating environment, equality and non-discrimination, and environmental sustainability. The new sustainability criteria will be applied specifically to operational subsidies for specific artforms and to discretionary government grants that have transferred to the new Applyforgrants.fi service, and the weighting for these criteria will increase for support in 2026.
All funding decisions for communities are now made in compliance with EU state aid regulations as either de minimis aid or in accordance with the General Block Exemption Regulation. As a result, additional information is required on some of the application forms. However, the change does not alter the opportunity of applicants to receive funding.
Further information:
Henri Terho, Head of Arts Support, [email protected], t. +358 295 330 901