Regular Working and Expenditure Grants (Finland)

Types of Grants

• There are two types of grants: working grants and expenditure grants. It is possible to apply for both a working grant and an expenditure grant in the same application. Examples of these include artistic work combined with the purchase of a pottery kiln, doctoral dissertation research combined with the use of laboratory services, or artistic work included in a dance production combined with the cost of costumes and other production costs. It is possible that the grant will be awarded solely for working or for expenditure:
  • Working grants: are intended for scientific or artistic work. An individual may apply for a working grant alone or as a part of a working group. Working grants are exempt from tax up to an amount confirmed annually (national artist grant).
  • Expenditure grants: are awarded to cover activity-related expenses, such as the costs of archaeological excavations, theatre productions, music master classes, or individual acquisitions of tools.
  • Multi-year working grants: The Cultural Foundation also awards multi-year grants for private individuals for work. Since only a limited number of multi-year grants are awarded, it is possible that a number of those who applied for them are awarded shorter grants instead.

Funding Information

• Working Grant for full-time (100%) grant work:
  • 12 Months: €32,000 (36,000)
  • 11 Months: €29,500 (33,000)
  • 10 Months: € 27,000 (30,000)
  • 9 Months: € 24,000 (27,000)
  • 8 Months: € 21,500 (24,000)
  • 7 Months: € 19,000 (21,000)
  • 6 Months: € 16,000 (18,000)
  • 5 Months: € 13,500 (15,000)
  • 4 Months: € 11,000 (12,000)
  • 3 Months: € 8,000 (9,000)
  • 2 Months: € 5,500 (6,000)
  • 1 Month: € 3,000 (3,000)
• Working Grant for part-time (75 %) grant work:
  • 12 Months: € 24,000 (27,000)
  • 11 Months: € 22,000 (25,000)
  • 10 Months: € 20,000 (22,500)
  • 9 Months: € 18,000 (20,500)
  • 8 Months: € 16,000 (18,000)
  • 7 Months: € 14,000 (15,000)
  • 6 Months: € 12,000 (13,500)
  • 5 Months: € 10,000 (11,500)
  • 4 Months: € 8,000 (9,000)
  • 3 Months: € 6,000 (7,000)
  • 2 Months: € 4,000 (4,500)
  • 1 Month: € 2,000 (2,500)
• Working Grant for half-time (50 %) grant work:
  • 12 Months: € 16,000 (18,000)
  • 11 Months: € 15,000 (16,500)
  • 10 Months: € 13,500 (15,000)
  • 9 Months: € 12,000 (13,500)
  • 8 Months: € 11,000 (12,000)
  • 7 Months: € 9,500 (10,500)
  • 6 Months: € 8,000 (9,000)
  • 5 Months: € 7,000 (7,500)
  • 4 Months: € 5,500 (6,000)
  • 3 Months: € 4,000 (4,500)
  • 2 Months: € 3,000 (3,000)
  • 1 Month: € 1,500 (1,500)
• Working Grant for part-time (25 %) grant work:
  • 12 Months: € 8,000 (9,000)
  • 11 Months: € 7,500 (8,500)
  • 10 Months: € 7,000 (7,500)
  • 9 Months: € 6,000 (7,000)
  • 8 Months: € 5,500 (6,000)
  • 7 Months: € 5,000 (5,500)
  • 6 Months: € 4,000 (4,500)
  • 5 Months: € 3,500 (4,000)
  • 4 Months: € 3,000 (3,000)
  • 3 Months: € 2,000 (2,500)
  • 2 Months: € 1,500 (1,500)
  • 1 Month: € 1,000 (1,000)

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants include all Finnish nationals, and people and organisations residing or operating in Finland. Others are eligible as well, provided their application demonstrates clear, strong ties to Finland or Finnish culture. The applications of those under 15 years of age must be filled in by their legal guardians under the applicant’s name.
• In the October round of applications, a grant may be applied for by:
  • a private individual for their personal work, for expenditure, or for both purposes. An individual applicant may submit only one application in a single application round. They can, however, be a member of a working group (not the person responsible) in a different project than the one targeted by their personal application.
  • a working group comprised of several people for the work of the group members, for project expenditure, or for both purposes. The applicant is designated as the person responsible for the group and is liable for the possible grant to be awarded to the Cultural Foundation and, if need be, to the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution MELA, to the Finnish Tax Administration, and to other members of the group.
  • An artistic working group is eligible to apply for a working grant also for the producer of the project, provided the producer is a part of the artistic working group in question.
  • The members of a working group are not eligible to apply for personal grants for the same project with separate applications. Only one application may be submitted for the same purpose.
  • a registered organisation (such as an association or cooperative) for project expenditure, including labour expenses.
  • Grants are not awarded for core activities of organisations that are essentially publicly financed (for example, a university or a city theatre receiving Government Transfers). Grants may be awarded, however, to short-term individual projects. Organisations funded with discretionary state or municipal subsidies are generally eligible.
  • If the organisation has not been registered, the application must be submitted as a working group.

Ineligiblity Criteria

• Grants are not awarded:
  • as wage increments or incentive grants
  • on social grounds
  • to basic (bachelor’s and master’s) degree students as working grants or for student exchange included in studies
  • for postdoctoral research abroad except for visits lasting less than one semester (less than 6 months)
  • to cover plain printing costs
  • for internships

For more information, visit Finnish Cultural Foundation.