New members appointed for regional arts councils

A chairperson and eight to ten other members were appointed to each of the thirteen regional arts councils. The members are all experts in the fields of the arts and culture.

Each chairperson and other member may be appointed to the arts council for no more than two consecutive terms, after which he or she may be reappointed after no less than two years.

Before appointing the regional arts councils, the Central Arts Council heard the recommendations of over 600 regional experts in the fields of the arts and culture. When appointing the members of each regional arts council, the Central Arts Council strove to ensure a broad base of expertise, as well as a gender balance in accordance with the Act on Equality between Women and Men. Linguistic interests were also taken into consideration in bilingual regions.

The regional arts councils are expert bodies of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland. The regional arts councils make decisions regarding the awarding grants and awards for artists, artist groups and organisations within their own area of responsibility on the basis of peer reviews. In addition, as expert bodies within their fields, the regional arts councils provide expert advice and participate in the strategy work of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland regarding the arts and culture.

Regional arts councils, 19.04.2013−31.12.2014:

Arts Council of Central Finland

Chairperson
Seppojuhani Ruotsalainen, theatre director, playwright, Karstula
Members
Lasse Allonen, curator, Jyväskylä
Marjo Hallila, project manager, designer, Jyväskylä
Maija Holma, light artist, Jyväskylä
Kari Kotilainen, museum director, Saarijärvi
Pauliina Lapio, cultural producer, Jyväskylä
Risto Niemi-Pynttäri, postdoctoral researcher, Petäjävesi
Jorma Rihto, cultural manager, Viitasaari
Sisko Vähämäki, film and media educator, entrepreneur, Jyväskylä

Arts Council of Häme

Chairperson                          
Anne Tamminen, visual artist, Hämeenlinna
Members
Riitta Jalonen, author, Hämeenlinna
Marja-Liisa Jokitalo, visual artist, Lahti
Hannu Lehtonen, MMus, Lahti
Seppo Linkola, musician, Lahti
Maiju Milad, lecturer, Loppi
Minna Perähuhta, architect, Forssa
Jussi Sorjanen, artistic director, Lahti
Esa Vienamo, project assistant, Parola
Hannele Yrjö-Koskinen, executive director, Launonen

Arts Council of Southeast Finland

Chairperson
Ilkka Laasonen, theatre director, Kotka
Members
Simo Helkala, musician, Valkeala
Kirsi Herala, executive director, Koria
Hannu Hokkanen, musician, Imatra
Kai Hämäläinen, industrial designer, Lappeenranta
Tatu Kosonen, photographer, Ylämaa
Sanna Majander, visual artist, Savero
Irja Sinivaara, author, Kotka
Annu Vertanen, graphic artist, Imatra

Arts Council of Lapland

Chairperson
Maria Huhmarniemi, environmental artist, lecturer, Rovaniemi
Members
Risto Immonen, sculptor, Muurola
Matti Kaarlejärvi, publisher, managing director, Ranua
Ulla-Maija Kanerva, curator, Rovaniemi
Markku Kokkola, author, MPhil, store manager, Kemi
Riitta Lönnström, design director, Rovaniemi
Katriina Pietilä-Juntura, museum director, Tornio
Ilmari Tapiola, artisan, reindeer herder, Utsjoki
Samuel Valkeapää, lecturer in precious metals, Inari
Juha Vuorinen, theatre director, Rovaniemi

Arts Council of North Karelia

Chairperson
Tuire Hindikka, theatre director, Joensuu
Members
Janne Hyytiäinen, actor, director, Joensuu
Otto Korhonen, lecturer in piano, Joensuu
Jukka Niskanen, designer, Joensuu
Marja Saurin, architect, Joensuu
Marjo Säkkinen, cultural assistant, Nurmes
Arja Valkonen-Goldblatt, visual artist, Joensuu
Katariina Vähäkallio, lecturer, dancer-choreographer, Outokumpu
Tuomas Lius, author, Liperi

Arts Council of North Savo

Chairperson
Paavo Räbinä, visual artist, Kuopio
Members
Tiina Haring, photographer, Kuopio
Juha Koponen, visual artist, lecturer in visual arts, Lapinlahti
Antti Lahti, theatre director, dancer, Kuopio
Kirsi Pehkonen, assistant lecturer, author, Kuopio
Elina Sillanpää, design teacher, textile artist, Kuopio
Pekka Vapaavuori, DMus, Kuopio
Pertti Vehreävesa, architect, Kuopio
Seija Vuorimaa, library-cultural assistant, Rautalampi

Arts Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu

Chairperson
Samu Forsblom, musician, event manager, Oulu
Members
Kirsi Autio, visual artist, Raahe
Timo Hannula, conductor, musician, Haapavesi
Anssi Kirkonpelto, dancer, Oulu
Kaarina Kuusisto-Lukkari, ceramist, Sotkamo
Kati Leinonen, light artist, Oulu
Taina Ronkainen, MPhil, event producer, Oulu
Joni Skiftesvik, author, Oulu
Kari Suhonen, actor, Kajaani

Arts Council of Ostrobothnia

Chairperson
Eija-Irmeli Lahti, actress, Seinäjoki
Members
Tuija Ahola, acting museum director, Lappajärvi
Matti Hakamäki, director, Folk Music Institute, Kaustinen
Marko Hautala, author, Vaasa
Tuomo Kallio, project assistant, Seinäjoki
Henna Mantere, MA, Lapua
Jimmy Pulli, visual artist, Vaasa
Mats Sandström, photographer, Uusikaarlepyy
Mia Wiik, dance instructor, Korsholm

Arts Council of Pirkanmaa

Chairperson
Maila-Katriina Tuominen, critic, journalist, Tampere
Members
Juha Elomäki, theatre manager, Tampere
Suvi Leinonen, programme producer, Tampere
Petri Mäkipää, dancer-actor, Tampere
Elisa Piispanen, actress, Tampere
Janne Salokannel, model construction teacher, Ikaalinen
Markku Turunen, author, Tampere
Laura Uimonen, executive director, Valkeakoski
Sampsa Virkajärvi, visual artist, art teacher, Mänttä-Vilppula

Arts Council of Pirkanmaa

Chairperson
Maila-Katriina Tuominen, critic, journalist, Tampere
Members
Juha Elomäki, theatre manager, Tampere
Suvi Leinonen, programme producer, Tampere
Petri Mäkipää, dancer-actor, Tampere
Elisa Piispanen, actress, Tampere
Janne Salokannel, model construction teacher, Ikaalinen
Markku Turunen, author, Tampere
Laura Uimonen, executive director, Valkeakoski
Sampsa Virkajärvi, visual artist, art teacher, Mänttä-Vilppula

Arts Council of Satakunta

Chairperson
Päivi Setälä, executive director, light artist, Pori
Members
Maija Anttila, architect, Kankaanpää
Päivi Granö, professor, Rauma
Jarmo Huida, journalist, Pori
Matti Mäntylä, actor, Pori
Paavo Paunu, visual artist, Rauma
Jussi Rinta, lecturer, Pori
Emma Susi, producer, Pori
Taina Teerialho, author, Pori

Arts Council of South Savo

Chairperson
Chieko Okabe-Silvasti, singing teacher, opera singer, Savonlinna
Members
Marjo Eskonen, lecturer, MA, Savonlinna
Fanny Gurevitsch, dance instructor, lecturer, Mikkeli
Pirkko Heikkinen, LPh, Mikkeli
Sami van Ingen, visual artist, DA, Savonlinna
Juhani Joensuu, playwright, director, Pieksämäki
Antti Mustonen, architect SAFA, Savonlinna
Pauliina Rundgren, designer, Mikkeli
Hannu Salmenkivi, university lecturer, pianist, Savonlinna

Arts Council of Uusimaa

Chairperson
Isto Turpeinen, MA (dance), Helsinki
Members
Kristoffer Albrecht, DA, art photographer, Degerby
Jasmin Anoschkin, MFA, sculptor, Helsinki
Stig Baumgartner, visual artist, lecturer, Helsinki
Aino Favén, textile artist, Helsinki
Mia Halme, MA, film director, Helsinki
Laura Lindstedt, author, Helsinki
Meri Louekari, architect, Helsinki
Jaakko Lukkarinen, MMus, musician/composer, Helsinki
Erik Pöysti, MA (theatre), director, Tammisaari
Maija Helasvuo, sculptor, Hyvinkää

Arts Council of Varsinais-Suomi

Chairperson
Kari Levola, author, Raisio
Members
Heini Aho, visual artist, Turku
Mia Franck, author, Turku
Minna Havukainen, light artist, Turku
Marko Heikura, lecturer, Salo
Lauri Mäntysaari, composer, Turku
Raija-Liisa Seilo, theatre director, Turku
Lotta Skaffari, executive director, Turku
Pekka Vapaavuori, architect, Turku
Mervi Vuolas, textile artist, Masku

Further information:
Minna Sirnö, Director, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, t. +358 295 330 719, [email protected]
Tiina Rosenberg, Chairperson, Central Arts Council, [email protected]