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. 

Cultural Policy Report  
 

The Cultural Policy Report defines the national-level objectives concerning creativity and culture for children and young people. In February 2026, the Report was followed by the Implementation Plan for the Cultural Policy Report. 

Other national-level strategies and programmes relevant to young people, in addition to the Cultural Policy Report, include the Government Programme 2023–2027, the 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 (see page 37 of the report). 

Measures targeting young people at the Implementation Plan level

The Implementation Plan for the Cultural Policy Report mentions making both children and young people active consumers and creators of art and culture as a policy objective that aims to strengthen Finland’s cultural value chain (under the thematic area of Consumption, use, participation, and appreciation). 

The concrete measures for realising this objective include implementing the National Literacy Programme 2030, improving the availability and accessibility of art and cultural services at the national level, promoting cross-sectoral cooperation between the culture, art, and education sectors, and improving the participation and consultation of young people in the planning of activities. (See pages 9–10 and 28 of the Implementation Plan for the Cultural Policy Report.)

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

The Ministry of Education and Culture is mainly responsible for coordinating the policy implementation. The Ministry gives guidance to the responsible government agencies: the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency, the Finnish Heritage Agency, the National Archives of Finland, and the Finnish National Agency for Education. In addition, municipalities, regional administration, wellbeing services counties, and organisations are responsible for realising concrete measures. A more detailed illustration of the distribution of responsibilities can be found on page 12 of the Implementation Plan for the Cultural Policy Report.

The responsibilities for measures that support children and young people in becoming active consumers and creators of art and culture are allocated especially to the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish National Agency for Education, and municipalities. 

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. The Implementation Plan for the Cultural Policy Report states that the realisation of the policy objectives will be monitored through a follow-up study every five years.