National Council for Photographic Art

Each year the National Council for Photographic Art awards approximately half a million euros in artist grants for photographic art. Each year artist grants are awarded to approximately 30 photographic artists, including 15 on five-year grants, 6 on three-year grants and the remainder on one-year or half-year grants. 

The National Council for Photographic Art also awards grants and subsidies for Media Arts. Each year artist grants are awarded to approximately 15 media artists, including 11 on five-year grants or three-year grants and the remainder on one-year or half-year grants. 

In addition, the National Council for Photographic Art awards approximately 650,000 euros a year in other grants and subsidies for photographic art and approximately 170,000 euros for media arts. Photographic artists typically receive grants for holding exhibitions, whereas media artists typically receive grants for creating media art. The support also allows high-quality photographic art books to be published.  The ten regional photography centres receive annual operational subsidies in order to organise workshops, events and exhibitions.

The National Council for Photographic Art also selects the recipient of the state prize for photographic art. In addition, when requested to do so by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the council evaluates artist pension applications.

The Central Arts Council appoints national arts councils for a two-year term.

National Council for Photographic Art 2013 - 2014

Chairperson
Harri Laakso, professor, Akaa

Members
Vesa Aaltonen, photographer, Turku
Ari Kakkinen, photographic artist, Helsinki
Sandra Kantanen, photographic artist, Hangonkylä
Alla Räisänen, executive director, Oulu
Juha Suonpää, photographer, Tampere
Hanna Weselius, photographer, researcher, Helsinki

Presenting officer 
Seppo Kauhanen, Special Advisor
t. 0295 330 707
seppo.kauhanen@minedu.fi