Finnish Arts and Culture Agency launches appointment process for Pool of Experts on 16 March

The appointment of the Pool of Experts is connected to the new peer review structure of the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency. The new structure consists of a Council of Arts and Culture, a Pool of Experts and Grant Assessment Panels, which will review grant applications received by the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency from artists and communities. The Finnish Arts and Culture Agency will assemble the Grant Assessment Panels from among the members appointed to the Pool of Experts.

The principles of peer reviews and the autonomy of art, as well as of regional equality, will be maintained in decision-making.

The Finnish Arts and Culture Agency is requesting nominations for the Pool of Experts from a wide selection of national and regional actors. In addition to recipients of nomination requests, any community or individual active in the arts may nominate members. Also, individuals may express their own interest in serving on the Pool of Experts by submitting an online form. Nominations must be submitted to the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency by 24 April 2026 using the online form that can be accessed via the “Restructuring of arts council structure” webpage. 

The Finnish Arts and Culture Agency will appoint the Pool of Experts in September 2026. Approximately 300 members will be appointed to the Pool of Experts. It is hoped that nominees will represent different age groups, living in different parts of Finland and representing different genders, as well as linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It is also desirable that the nominees represent all the different sub-genres and professional groups within each field of the arts, as well as the diversity of the arts and culture sector.

Pool of Experts improves flexibility for reviewing applications

The new Pool of Experts will improve flexibility for reviewing applications: Grant Assessment Panels will be assembled from the Pool of Experts for each call for applications, and each member of the Pool of Experts will be able to influence how many applications they review and how often.
Members of the Pool of Experts are eligible to apply for a grant from the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency, provided they disqualify themselves from serving on the Grant Assessment Panel for the same call for applications.

Applications will be processed at Grant Assessment Panel meetings. The assessment of applications will be based on an opinion formed jointly by the Grant Assessment Panel at the meeting. Opinions reached on applications represent the joint opinions of the Grant Assessment Panels. The Council of Arts and Culture will decide on the awarding of grants and prizes to artists and working groups on the basis of peer reviews made within Grant Assessment Panels. The awarding of grants to communities will still be decided by the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency. 

A meeting fee will be paid for the meetings of the Grant Assessment Panels. In addition, a small fee will be paid for reviewing applications.

Online info briefing to be held on 18 March 

The Finnish Arts and Culture Agency will hold a public webinar discussing the appointment of the Pool of Experts on 18 March, 3pm. 
 

Further information

Henri Terho, Director, Arts and Culture Funding, [email protected], t. +358 295 249 006

Further information about the restructuring can be found on the Taike website.