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Work on preparing the legal amendments concerning the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and its arts councils is progressing on the basis of the consultation round that concluded in January. Taike will begin internal preparations regarding the restructuring of its arts council during March. The opinions submitted on the draft legislation raised concerns related to the autonomy of the arts, peer reviews and regional equality. These are also key issues to be addressed from Taike’s perspective.

Here we answer frequently asked questions regarding this autumn’s calls for applications.

Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, has awarded the title of Art Academic to master folk singer and musician Hilja Grönfors and architect, professor emeritus Vilhelm Helander.

The national arts councils of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) have awarded state prizes for 2024 to distinguished artists and art communities. State prizes are awarded in recognition of outstanding artistic work within the past three years, a long meritorious artistic career, or a contribution to a specific artform. The combined value of the state prizes is 250,000 euros.

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) has further clarified the distribution of appropriations for 2025. The priorities aim to ensure the preservation of key structures, a regional balance and the possibility of renewal. Due to the scale of the budget cuts, they will still impact the work opportunities of artists, as well as the nationwide availability of art and culture.

Regional grants and artist grants can be applied for from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) in March-April. The grant period for regional grants has changed: the period during which they can be used will start in July 2025.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture appointed an Advisory Board for the Creative Economy on 3 December 2024 with the aim of promoting the growth and internationalisation of Finland’s creative industries. The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) is represented on the Advisory Board by Director Kaisa Rönkkö (Member), Head of Arts Support Henri Terho (Personal Deputy Member) and Internationalisation Expert Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber (Member of Secretariat).

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) has decided on the distribution of appropriations among forms of support and specific artforms in 2025. The decision is based on priorities that aim to ensure the preservation of key structures, a regional balance and the renewal of the arts sector. The relative reduction in Taike’s discretionary grants compared to 2024 amounts to 4.6 million euros.

The government proposal on legislation on the reform of the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture has been approved today by Parliament. According to the draft legislation, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) will merge to form the Arts and Culture Agency Finland at the beginning of 2026. At the same time, the peer review structure will change.

Calls for applications for artist grants and regional grants were open in March 2025. These grant decisions will be sent to applicants in the order that the arts councils make their decisions.

The theme of the latest Arts and Culture Barometer was funding and support for artistic work. The results of the barometer indicate uncertainties related to funding the work of professional artists. According to the respondents, income generation for artists is often fragmented among several different sources, and funding for artistic work does not correspond to actual needs. As changes and cuts are being made simultaneously to several factors related to funding and income levels, the impacts on making art and the livelihoods of artists can be profound and unpredictable, according to the results of the barometer.

The organisational structure of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) will be renewed as of 1 August 2025. The aim is to respond more strongly to the tasks defined in Taike’s strategy guidelines and legislation. The current area of responsibility for arts promotion will be divided into two units: Arts and Culture Funding, and Arts and Culture Networks.