Awarded grants and subsidies

Experimental composer Shinji Kanki (born 1953) has had a long, versatile and multidisciplinary career in auditory art. He has lived and worked in Finland since 1985, and his diverse activities have ranged from experimental music and other auditory art to experimental radio broadcasting.

Illustrator Matti Pikkujämsä (born 1976) has produced illustrations for newspapers, magazines and books. He has also designed textiles for Marimekko, Samuji and Lapuan Kankurit.

Sanna Kannisto (born 1974) is an internationally renowned photographic artist who has developed a very unique style of visual expression. Her works combine nature photography, key issues of photographic art and science-based ways of displaying nature.

Vesa-Pekka Rannikko (born 1968) is a versatile artist who achieves constant renewal by using elements from sculpture, painting and moving images. His works combine conceptuality with visually interesting and fascinating solutions, adding a firm and surprising touch to his art.

Documentary director Markku Heikkinen (born 1966) makes films that deal with topics that are important in Finnish society. Talvivaaran miehet (2014) takes a powerful stand on environmental policy, while taking part in the highly topical dialogue on the status and future of the mining industry in Finland.

Singer, lyricist and composer Maarit Hurmerinta has been one of Finland’s elite rock singers for over forty years. She is the first rock musician ever in Finland to receive the State Prize for Music.

Katja Kirsi has worked with the Zodiak Center for New Dance for ten years as Manager of Outreach and Education. During this time she has innovated, developed and implemented exceptionally wide-ranging, creative and artistically ambitious outreach and education activities.

The Mad in Finland group comprises seven strong and brilliant circus professionals who have built their careers primarily within the European circus scene.

DuvTeatern is a Helsinki-based theatre company established in 1999 that consists of theatre workers with and without intellectual disabilities. Mika Myllyaho is Director of the Finnish National Theatre.

Hannu Väisänen, a native of Finland who is now living in France, was awarded for his commendable and versatile work in literature; Jyrki Lappi-Seppälä for his fresh translation of “Don Quijote de la Mancha”.

The state prize was awarded in recognition of the founding of Teatteri Union, a new multiplex theatre venue for art in Helsinki.

Mikko Kärkkäinen is one of Finland’s prominent industrial designers.