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1. Governance

2. Cross-sectorial cooperation

Governance

The Ministry of Education and Culture is the main governmental authority ‘responsible for legislation, central government financing and strategic steering and for providing prerequisites for artistic and cultural activities,’ as described on the Ministry’s sub-page Culture. Responsibilities are shared between various agencies: the Arts Promotion Centre Finland, the Finnish Heritage Agency, and the National Audiovisual Institute. Here, it is important to note that an Act on the Arts and Culture Agency (in Finnish, also available in Swedish), entering into force on 1 January 2026, will merge the Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the National Audiovisual Institute. The grant assessment structures will also be reformed. 

Young people’s cultural activities can be funded as part of the youth and/or cultural field. Organisations receiving ministry funding include, for example, Young Culture, which supports young people’s participation in art and cultural activities. The programme is managed by the Finnish Youth Association. 

In addition, the Finnish Film Foundation, the National Gallery, the Finnish National Opera, and the Finnish National Theatre receive state funding and are central actors in their respective creative industries. Finnish municipalities (see Glossary) and wellbeing services counties (see Glossary) share responsibilities at the regional level. 

Municipalities promote culture as a public service, for example, through securing library services, financially supporting the cultural sector, and providing cultural activities. They may also support performing arts, museums, and basic education in the arts. The organisation of cultural activities is outlined in The Municipal Cultural Activities Act (in Finnish, also available in Swedish), which does not include specific measures targeted at young people. In addition, 94% of municipalities have reported having policies to foster residents’ engagement with cultural activities. The scope of responsibilities and funding schemes varies between municipalities, and further information on municipal-level funding models can be found in the Cultural Policy Report. (The Cultural Policy Report, 2025).  

Wellbeing services counties and municipalities are jointly responsible for promoting cultural wellbeing. According to the Cultural Policy Report 2025 ‘multidisciplinary expertise related to the utilisation of the wellbeing impacts of culture will be strengthened and made part of the operations of all wellbeing services counties.’  

Cross-sectorial cooperation

The Cultural Policy Report aims to strengthen parliamentary and cross-sectoral cooperation by bringing together actors within the state, municipalities, and private sector (Cultural Policy Report 2025).  

Regarding young people, the report emphasises the development of cooperative models to promote children’s and young people’s media and literacy skills, culture and art education, as well as participation in the development of art and cultural services. These cooperative models include, for example, cultural education plans. (Cultural Policy Report 2025.)

Based on §7 of the Municipal Cultural Activities Act (in Finnish, also available in Swedish), the objectives of the Act should be pursued in cooperation with other municipalities, wellbeing services counties, local authorities, and regional-level actors in the culture and art sector. The framework for cross-sectoral cooperation at the regional level is outlined, for example, in counties’ local strategies and programmes (see, for example, the Cultural Programme 2030 of the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme, in Finnish).