Call for applications 2023: Special Subsidies for Cultural Activities in Sparsely Populated Rural Areas
The deadline for submitting applications is 4:00pm (16:00) on the last day of the application period. This is the absolute deadline by which time Taike must receive the application.
Applications should be submitted online during the application period.
The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) requires that applicants familiarise themselves with the call for applications and guidelines for applying before filling in the application.
Intended recipients
Special subsidies are intended for communities, such as municipalities, foundations, associations, cooperatives and companies. However, unregistered communities and private persons carrying on trade are not eligible for special subsidies.
These subsidies intended to support cultural activities in sparsely populated rural areas. Applicants should check from the following urban-rural classification that the planned activities are implemented primarily in the intended rural areas.
Urban-rural classification maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
Who decides
Applications and the operations of applicants are evaluated by Taike’s experts. Decisions are taken by the Director of Taike based on a proposal by a Special Advisor.
Purpose and amount
These subsidies are intended for the following types of projects to be implemented in 2023–2024:
- Art and culture projects in sparsely populated rural areas.
- Art and culture projects that promote the inclusion and participation of those living in sparsely populated rural areas and that take into consideration local conditions and starting points.
The project should focus primarily on the sparsely populated rural area, and its beneficiaries should be within the sparsely populated rural area.
The subsidy may be awarded for the following:
- Employing artists
- Environmental and public art
- Community art projects
- Developing artist-in-residence programmes
- Developing art and culture events
- Developing cultural tourism and routes
- Intangible cultural heritage sites
- Investments/projects that improve accessibility to art and culture
- Cultural cooperation projects between municipalities.
Municipalities who are classified as sparsely populated rural areas may apply for the subsidy also for cultural cooperation projects between municipalities. The cooperation project may be with a municipality that is not classified as a sparsely populated rural area, but the project’s activities must be implemented in a sparsely populated rural area. The classification of municipalities can be checked by contacting Taike or from here:
The minimum amount of each subsidy is 10 000 euros. Subsidies are not awarded to cover the costs of a community’s regular operations. Subsidies may cover only a portion of the total funding of the project and not all expenses. If the project generates a profit, the recipient may be asked to return the subsidy in full or in part. Volunteer work may not be used as the self-financing portion of the project.
Special subsidies for cultural activities in sparsely populated rural areas are based on the decision by the parliamentary working group on sparsely populated areas coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to fund cultural development projects in sparsely populated areas. Read more about the activities of the parliamentary working group here. Taike is responsible for implementing the call for applications.
Decision-making criteria
The awarding of subsidies is based on an evaluation, comparison and overall assessment of applications. When evaluating applications, the following criteria is used:
Quality of the project
- Is the project plan of high quality and are its objectives interesting?
- What kinds of ideas and operating models does the project offer for developing sparsely populated areas?
- How realistic is the project in terms of its implementation objectives?
- Does the community pay wages and fees in accordance with fair remuneration practices?
Impact of the project
- Will the project be implemented, or is the focus of its activities, in a sparsely populated area?
- Does the project promote the inclusion of those living in sparsely populated areas, strengthen services and take into consideration local conditions and starting points?
- How does the project promote an active cultural life in the sparsely populated area?
- What kind of permanent impacts does the project seek to achieve?
Project financing
- How have the community’s finances been managed in previous years?
- How realistic is the project’s budget?
- Is the amount of the subsidy that has been applied for in relation to the scope of the project?
- What is the need for the subsidy in relation to the community’s financial situation?
- What other funding does the project have?
The regional distribution and language of applicants are taken into consideration, as is the amount of available funding. Equality and fair treatment are also taken into account.
General terms and conditions
- Support awarded by other parties are taken into consideration when awarding subsidies.
- Recipients of subsidies must submit written clarification and a financial statement of how the subsidy was used.
What to include with your application
- Mandatory: The community’s audited financial statements (signed) for the previous financial period (annual report, long income statement and balance sheet) and operating plan and budget for the forthcoming year.
- In addition, you may also include up to two attachments that are relevant to your application. The file names should describe the content. The maximum file size for each attachment is 4MB.
Attachments may not be sent by e-mail. Applications and attachments will not be returned.
Grounds for not awarding a subsidy
- If the application arrives after the application deadline. Applications must be received by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland by 4:00pm (16:00) on the last day of the application period.
- If the application is incomplete (if the required information has not been delivered to the Arts Promotion Centre Finland following a request for such information).
- If the applicant has not submitted written clarification of previously awarded subsidies before the given deadline.
This subsidy is subject to the Act (657/2012) and statute (727/2012) on Taiteen edistämiskeskus (only in Finnish); Discretionary Government Transfers (688/2001); and the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003). The Arts Promotion Centre Finland monitors the use of subsidies and is entitled if necessary to review the finances and activities of the recipient.
How to apply
Log in and fill in the application online (User interface in Finnish)
You can log in using Suomi.fi e-identification.
Instructions for using online services
If you are unable to use our online services, please contact Taike’s customer service.
Processing of applications and notification of decision
This call for applications is subject to the negotiated procedure in which applications are processed in two stages. Some applications may be taken for further processing in accordance with the evaluation criteria of the call for proposals, during which further discussions about the projects will take place with the applicants. Decisions on the awarding of subsidies will be taken after the second stage of processing.
All applicants will be notified of the decision in writing by the end of June. Applicants will be informed by e-mail when the decision can be accessed from our online services. If you do not receive the e-mail to your inbox, remember to check also your junk mail folder. Applicants are responsible for checking their e-mail messages on the address supplied in the application.
Publicity of applications
Applications submitted to Taike are public documents, about which everyone is entitled to receive information according to Finnish law (Act on the Openness of Government Activities 621/1999). For example, the media can request to view applications. The project plans of communities are confidential to the extent that they contain information considered to be business secrets, such as artistic ideas or information about private individuals. Taike does not disclose confidential information. Information about subsidies awarded to communities is published on the Taike website.
Further information
Special Advisor Susanna Mäki-Oversteyns, susanna.maki-oversteyns@taike.fi, puh. 0295 330 837
Customer service, t. 0295 330 700, asiakaspalvelu@taike.fi