On this page

1. Existence of a national strategy

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Revisions/updates

Existence of a national strategy

In Finland, there is no national-level strategy focusing solely on creativity and culture for young people. Instead, young people are identified as one target group in national strategies on creativity and culture, or creativity and culture are included as themes within national youth work and youth policy programmes. 
This chapter outlines how young people are addressed in various cultural policy strategies, with a particular focus on the 2024 Cultural Policy Report. 

Cultural Policy Report  

The Cultural Policy Report defines national-level objectives concerning creativity and culture for children and young people. In addition to the Cultural Policy report, other relevant national-level strategies and programmes from the perspective of young people include the Government Programme 2023–2027, Cultural Heritage Strategy 2023–2030, the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme 2024–2027 (VANUPO), and the Young Culture Strategy 2020–2026 (in Finnish).  

Scope and contents

In the Cultural Policy Report, objectives targeting young people include creating opportunities to: 

•    Participate in high-quality art and cultural education (with an emphasis on accessibility and availability). 
•    Transmit Finnish cultural heritage to new generations. 
•    Access art and cultural services. 
•    Strengthen literacy and media skills (emphasising, for example, the role of public libraries). 
•    Influence the cultural environment, as well as art and cultural services.
•    Promote wellbeing and inclusion through art and culture (with an emphasis on reading, language, and media skills).
•    Express themselves, reflect on culture, and imagine alternative futures through art and cultural activities.
•    Work in the art and cultural field professionally. 

The report adopts a cross-sectoral approach to young people and recognises that cultural wellbeing can prevent mental health issues and social exclusion. In addition, young people were involved in the creation of the report. The Ministry of Education and Culture gathered young people’s views on cultural policy through Instagram. 

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

Art and cultural sectors, as well as youth work, fall under the responsibility areas of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Thus, the ministry is responsible for creating the framework and overseeing the implementation of strategies at the national level.  

The Ministry of Education and Culture’s press release on 28 November 2024 states that the report will be followed by a separate implementation plan. The press release also noted that the Cultural and Creative Advisory Board will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of policy objectives and cooperation across government bodies. 
It is also important to note that some responsibilities are assigned to specific authorities under existing legislation.

According to the Act on Basic Education in the Arts (in Finnish, also available in Swedish), the Finnish National Agency for Education defines the objectives, content, and assessment criteria of basic art education. The agency’s Literacy Programme (Lukutaito-ohjelma, in Finnish), for example, contributes to implementing the objectives set out in the National Literacy Strategy 2030. 

Revisions/updates

The Cultural Policy Report sets out long-term policy measures extending to 2040. The Report does not specify measures for revisions or updates. However, it states that ‘...a permanent advisory body will be tasked with monitoring and evaluating the implementation of this Cultural Policy Report (...). In addition, the body will issue an annual report on the state of cultural policy to support decision-making and development.’ (Cultural Policy Report, 2024, p. 29).