Central Arts Council appoints arts councils for 2025–2026

Seven national arts councils were appointed: the National Council for Architecture and Design, the National Council for Audiovisual Art, the National Council for Literature, the National Council for Multidisciplinary Art, the National Council for Music, the National Council for the Performing Arts, and the National Council for the Visual Arts. Each national council has 9–12 members representing the different sub-disciplines and areas of expertise within their field of the arts.

Thirteen regional arts councils were also appointed, representing the Finnish provinces in accordance with the statute regulating Taike. Each regional arts council has 6–12 members, depending on the number of applications to be processed.

Alongside the arts councils, Taike appoints expert panels that give opinions on thematic forms of support. These panels include the Cultural Diversity Panel, the Cultural Wellbeing and Inclusion Panel, and the Festival Panel.

The Centrals Arts Council consulted extensively with key actors within the arts during the appointment process. In total, almost 700 people were nominated for the arts councils. More attention was paid to the implementation of cultural diversity in the appointments compared to previous years, and members of the arts councils will receive training on diversity issues at the beginning of their term.

Membership in the arts councils is limited to two consecutive terms in order to ensure sufficient rotation in terms of decision-making. The arts councils appointed now will be the last in their current form, as the Ministry of Education and Culture and Taike are preparing for the restructuring of the art councils.

Further information: 

Henri Terho, Head of Arts Support, [email protected], t. +358 295 330 901

National arts councils, 2025–2026

National Council for Architecture and Design

Chairperson: 
Wiebke Pandikow, Helsinki

Other members: 
Harri Hautajärvi, Helsinki
Marjut Kauppinen, Helsinki
Samu-Jussi Koski, Helsinki
Karin Krokfors, Helsinki
Maarit Magga, Enontekiö
Tiia Matikainen, Mänttä-Vilppula
Hannu Oksanen, Kuopio
Tero Pennanen, Espoo
Ria Ruokonen, Helsinki
Pekka Toivonen, Helsinki

National Council for Audiovisual Art

Chairperson:
Antti Pekka Ikonen, Helsinki

Other members:
Meri Ekola, Brussels
Jan Ijäs, Helsinki
Tero Koistinen, Helsinki
Marja-Riitta Koivumäki-Odd, Helsinki
Marjo Levlin, Helsinki
Reija Meriläinen, Helsinki
Juri Mikael Nummelin, Turku
Tarja Porsanger, Rovaniemi
John Webster, Espoo

National Council for Literature

Chairperson: 
Risto Turunen, Joensuu

Other members:
Siiri Enoranta, Tampere
Jari Järvelä, Kotka
Malin Kivelä, Helsingfors
Kuisma Korhonen, Helsinki
Aleksi Milonoff, Helsinki
Mila Teräs, Orimattila
Kaj Uusi-Simola, Helsingfors
Sinikka Vuola, Helsinki

National Council for Multidisciplinary Art

Chairperson:
Liisa Kallio, Helsinki

Other members:
Juliana Hyrri, Helsinki
Asta Kihlman, Turku
Mikael Kinanen, Helsinki
Oula Jukka Laukkanen, Paltamo
Paola Livorsi, Helsinki
Antti Tolvi, Turku
Omar Truco-Kallonen, Tampere
Arlene Tucker, Joutsa
Reijo Valta, Kuopio

National Council for Music

Chairperson:
Virpi Eroma, Helsinki

Other members:
Sebastian Fagerlund, Helsinki
Oula Guttorm, Inari
Sampo Haapaniemi, Helsinki
Tapio Korjus, Tampere
Sirkka Kosonen, Kerava 
Annika Mustonen, Helsinki 
Jari Perkiömäki, Kerava 
Lauri Pokkinen, Espoo
Inka Puhakka, Lappeenranta
Maiju Talvisto, Helsinki
Lotta Wennäkoski, Helsinki

National Council for the Performing Arts

Chairperson: 
Tomi Suovankoski, Söderkulla

Other members:
Marie Antikainen, Kuopio
Vesa-Petteri Asikainen, Helsinki
Anni Hiekkala, Vantaa
Noora Karjalainen, Helsinki
Anniina Kumpuniemi, Tampere
Soile Lahdenperä, Helsinki
Samuli Nordberg, Tampere
Matti Paloniemi, Helsinki
Anni Sundbacka, Kaarina
Laura Tikka, Tampere
Jonas Welander, Helsingfors

National Council for the Visual Arts

Chairperson:
Frank Brümmel, Turku

Other members:
Liisa Ahlfors, Tampere
Markku Arantila, Helsinki
Duncan Butt Juvonen, Helsinki
Petteri Ikonen, Vantaa
Heli Kaskinen, Järvenpää
Riikka Lenkkeri, Mänttä
Tiina Raitanen, Helsinki
Lars Rebers, Uusikaarlepyy
Nastja Säde Rönkkö, Helsinki
Jari Silomäki, Helsinki
Hanna Westerberg, Helsinki

Regional arts councils, 2025–2026

Arts Council of South Savo

Chairperson:
Jari Tuononen, Mikkeli

Other members:
Veera Kolehmainen, Savonlinna
Kari Kärkkäinen, Juva
Hanna Matilainen, Kangasniemi
Juho Puikkonen, Mikkeli
Susanna Tyrväinen, Pieksämäki

Arts Council of Häme

Chairperson:
Inkeri Jaakkola, Lahti

Other members:
Anna-Kaisa Eriksson, Hämeenlinna
Mikko Kentta, Lahti
Terttu Keskinen-Rönkkö, Lahti
Jarmo Kukkonen, Hollola
Juha Rouhikoski, Hämeenlinna
Anniina Vainionpää, Riihimäki

Arts Council of Southeast Finland

Chairperson:
Mikko Sakala, Kouvola

Other members:
Jimmy Asikainen, Lappeenranta
Sirpa Hannele Heinonen, Kouvola
Olli Mantere, Kotka
Antti Nieminen, Taipalsaari
Maiju Pohjola, Hamina
Minna Raskinen, Kouvola

Arts Council of Central Finland

Chairperson:
Jari Hoffren, Jyväskylä

Other members:
Miia Elivuo, Jyväskylä
Timo Hannunen, Keuruu
Paula Honkimäki, Jyväskylä
Nina Huisman, Jyväskylä
Juri Joensuu, Jyväskylä
Kari Toiviainen, Jyväskylä

Arts Council of Lapland

Chairperson:
Venla-Eeva Kakko, Kemi

Other members:
Áile Aikio, Inari
Henri Hagman, Rovaniemi
Anu Jormalainen, Rovaniemi
Minna Kurttila, Sieppijärvi, Kolari
Marko Niemelä, Rovaniemi
Lauri Sallinen, Rovaniemi

Arts Council of Pirkanmaa

Chairperson: 
Tuula Linnusmäki, Lempäälä

Other members:
Yasmin Ansanullah, Tampere
Aimo Hyvärinen, Tampere
Juha Markus Mantere, Tampere
Antti Oksa, Tampere
Jukka-Pekka Palviainen, Sastamala
Saara Sillanpää, Tampere
Marja-Liisa Torniainen, Tampere

Arts Council of Ostrobothnia

Chairperson: 
Ulla Hyväluoma, Vaasa

Other members:
Annika Bergvik-Forsander, Pietarsaari
Antti Hintsa, Seinäjoki
Rosita Koskinen, Seinäjoki
Markus Luomala, Kaustinen / Helsinki
Anssi Orrenmaa, Seinäjoki
Anna-Irina Parviainen, Kokkola
Jouni Ilari Tapio, Vaasa

Arts Council of North Karelia

Chairperson:
Mathilda Kauppila

Other members:
Elina Arminen, Joensuu
Kaisa Jussila, Tohmajärvi
Jari Knuutinen, Sotkuma
Jaakko Tohkanen, Joensuu
Juhani Tuomi, Joensuu

Arts Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu

Chairperson:
Minna Rytisalo, Kuusamo

Other members:
Jukka Laukkanen, Paltamo
Urho Kähkönen, Kuhmo
Joose Mikkonen, Oulu
Moosa Myllykangas, Oulu
Katja Johanna Sutela, Liminka
Pekka Tähkävuori, Raahe
Darja Zaitsev, Oulu

Arts Council of North Savo

Chairperson: 
Markku Laakso, Kuopio

Other members:
Mari Arvinen, Suonenjoki
Sannamaria Kuula, Kuopio
Taina Natunen, Kuopio
Santeri Niskanen, Kuopio
Jouni Tossavainen, Kuopio

Arts Council of Satakunta

Chairperson:
Kati Aalto, Pori

Other members:
Matei Gheorghiu, Kankaanpää
Kirsi Jaakkola, Kankaanpää
Maria Pere, Pori
Niilo Rinne, Pori
Matti Velhonoja, Kankaanpää
Susanna Virkki, Pori

Arts Council of Uusimaa

Chairperson:
Outi Rousu, Porvoo

Other members:
Petri Ala-Maunus, Helsinki
Mi Grönlund, Hanko
Jenni Haili, Helsinki
Mikko Innanen, Helsinki
Jussi Järvinen, Helsinki
Henna Kaikula, Raasepori
Henrik Pathirane, Helsinki
Sepideh Rahaa, Vantaa
Pia Sirén, Loviisa
Lauri Toivio, Järvenpää
Mika Wickström, Helsinki

Arts Council of Varsinais-Suomi

Chairperson:
Pauliina Mäkelä, Turku

Other members:
Magdalena Hai, Masku 
Riina Kotilainen, Turku
Maire Krusberg, Iniö
Heikki Kännö, Turku 
Benny Majabacka, Kaarina 
Kyösti Mäkimattila, Lieto
Lotta Petronella, Turku
Kimmo Schroderus, Salo 
Anna Torkkel, Turku