Request for Proposals: Local Culture Projects (Finland)

A grant may be applied, for example, for documenting cultural heritage, showcasing of cultural environment, promoting urban and neighbourhood culture, and histories of local communities and societies, exhibitions, and events.

Local Culture Projects grants may also be related to multi-location or independent-of-place local heritage projects, for home region may be taken to mean a natural environment, a built-up environment, social and mental environment, as well as a virtual home region, which a person themselves finds meaningful. Scientific research into a local culture is not considered a local culture project. Note that applicants for the local culture projects grants must choose the field of science or art that their work most closely relates to.

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 January and October rounds 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.

For more information, visit Finnish Cultural Foundation.