The Arts Council of Finland granted over 30 million for artistic activity
In 2011, the support for artistic activities by the Arts Council of Finland was over 30 million. The support was allocated as grants, subsidies, prizes and salaries of artist professors and regional artists. The share of support is 0.06 % of state expenditure, 7.5 % of art budget.
The Arts Council of Finland is a funding and adisory body for promoting the arts under the Ministry of Education and Culture. Its mission is to safeguard the working conditions of artists and to support the arts.
The total support by the Arts Council of Finland increased by 5 % compared to previous year. All in all, a total sum of 33, 3 million was allocated through the system of arts councils as a promotion for the arts.
The support granted by National Art Councils was about 28 million and by Regional Arts Councils 4.5 million. In addition, Regional Arts Councils financed artist residencies and arts promotion projects by over 900 000. The highest shares of support went to literature, visual art and music.
The number of applications to the Art Council of Finland remained somewhat the same compared to previous year. The number of individual applicants slightly decreased. The proportion of grant recipients of applicants was same as in 2010.
The share of those applicants whose native language was other than Finnish or Swedish remained the same (4 %). The proportion of this language group of grant recipients decreased by one percent unit (3 % ).
Nearly 1.2 million for international activities
Each year the Arts Council of Finland and its subcommittees, the national arts councils, the regional arts councils and the boards for grants award over 30 million euros in grants and subsidies, as well as operational subsidies and project grants for communities in the various fields of the arts.
The Central Arts Council allocates support for international activities by awarding travel grants, grants for international co-operation and for artist-in-residence scheme. Besides, national councils distribute support for international activities by awarding e.g. project grants.
In 2011, altogether nearly 1.2 million was granted for international activities. Over one third of the sum went to multidisciplinary projects - mainly artist residencies - and 17 % to visual art.
Further information:
- Support granted by the Arts Councils (pdf). Facts and Figures 1/2012. The Arts Council of Finland.
- Grants and subsidies / Arts Council of Finland