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]