Press release

Taike awards 13 regional art prizes

The regional arts councils of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) have awarded 13 regional art prizes for 2025. Regional art prizes are awarded to artists, artist groups and artist communities who have promoted the visibility and status of art in their own region and promoted a discussion of and interest in art.

Published

20.11.2025

The highest number of regional art prizes were awarded to artists and artist groups in the visual arts and theatre. This year, an exceptionally large number of prizes were also awarded to associations and communities, including the Villa Suruton art gallery in Savonlinna, the Meri-Lappi Theatre Association, the Legioonateatteri theatre in Tampere, the Jakarte Visual Arts Society in Pietarsaari, the North Karelia Theatre Cooperative, and the Oulu Artists Association.

Among artists, regional art prizes were awarded to sculptor Markku Hirvelä, graphic artist Naoji Ishiyama, director Topi Marin, musician Jussi Lehtisalo, poet Erkka Filander, cultural journalist Ilkka Kuosmanen, and the editors of NO NIIN Magazine, Elham Rahmati and Vidha Saumya.

Due to budget cuts, Taike did not award state art prizes this year. However, it was decided to award regional art prizes due to their exceptional importance for highlighting regionally significant artists and art communities, as well as the role they play in strengthening regional equality.

Taike has 13 regional arts councils, each of which awarded one regional art prize. The amount of each prize is 5000 euros. The Amos Anderson Fund participated in funding the prizes.

Further information about recipients and justifications for awarding regional art prizes (in Finnish):

Further information

Henri Terho, Head of Arts and Culture Funding, [email protected], t. +358 295 330 901