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Cultural tourism The Ministry of Education and Culture promotes the development of cultural tourism and cultural routes. This can enable the creative industries to operate better, encourage more sustainable tourism and engage in European cooperati...

Culture Finland’s cultural policy comprises the different sectors of arts and culture, museums, cultural heritage, libraries, cultural exports and creative work. Arts and culture are supported by both central and local government. The Ministry of ...

The European Capital of Culture 2026 Based on a recommendation given by a European panel of experts, the Ministry of Education and Culture designated the City of Oulu as a 2026 European Capital of Culture. The other Capital of Culture in 2026 will...

EU and international cooperation in arts and culture The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for international cultural policy and participates in its development and implementation in international organisations and the European Unio...

EU and international cooperation in arts and culture The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for international cultural policy and participates in its development and implementation in international organisations and the European Unio...

The aim of the project is to develop a cross-administrative strategy for broadening the international scope of culture.

26.7.2026 | The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to inscribe the Aalto Works on the World Heritage List at its 48th session held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 19 to 29 July 2026. The property comprises 13 modern architectural sites across Finland designed by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto.

28.5.2026 | The EU ministers responsible for competitiveness meet in Brussels on 28–29 May 2026. Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto (internal market and industrial policy) and State Secretary Kristiina Kokko (research and space) represent Finland at the meeting.

24.5.2024 | Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala has granted EUR 3.3 million in discretionary government grants to those operating in the cultural and creative industries. Structural support is part of the Sustainable Growth Programme and is designed to create innovative services and to devise novel production and operating procedures.

8.5.2026 | The EU ministers responsible for education, youth, culture and sport will meet in Brussels on 11–12 May. Education ministers are expected to adopt a general approach on the next Erasmus+ programme and outline the role of artificial intelligence in education. Other items on the agenda include the EU Youth Dialogue, the new AgoraEU programme, and mental health in sport.

23.4.2026 | The evaluation of Finland’s National World Heritage Strategy (2015–2025) finds that implementation has been broad‑based and substantive. The strategy has reinforced Finland’s standing as a responsible steward of world heritage and deepened cooperation between world heritage sites. The findings and the role of the strategy were discussed at the World Heritage Forum in Vaasa.

23.6.2021 | Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen has allocated nearly three million euros towards developing cultural tourism. This appropriation will contribute to the objective in the Government Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin to boost cultural tourism. The objective is linked to promoting the conditions for the creative industries to operate. The appropriation will also support culture ...

New architectural policy programme Finland’s new architectural policy programme (apoli), published in January 2022. The programme sets out objectives and measures for developing the sustainability of the built environment comprehensively until 203...

International Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) Finland has cooperation agreements, programmes and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with over 50 countries. The agreements are bilateral treaties covering all the Ministry's fields ...

Creative economy Creative economy emphasises the significance and added value of culture and creativity in the national economy. Exploitation of the skills, products and services of creative industries has become a significant competitiveness fact...

18.1.2018 | Traditions, sense of community and a wide range of arts were the factors that secured the victory for Fiskars Village, located in Raasepori, in the Culture EDEN in Finland competition. Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport Sampo Terho presented the award at the Nordic Travel Fair Matka 2018 in Helsinki today. In addition, “Backwoods Paradise” in the Art Town Mänttä-Vilppula, Parppeinva...

14.5.2024 | The Finnish Heritage Agency and its partners have produced a 3D model of Petäjävesi Old Church to help preserve valuable information of this cultural heritage site for future generations. Accurate measurement data will also help those planning the restoration and repairs of the church.

Performance sports By providing elite athlete grants and developing the conditions for coaching, the Ministry of Education and Culture promotes performance sports geared toward the achievement of international success. The Ministry does not provid...

15.1.2019 | During President Niinistö’s state visit to China, Finland has been forging closer links with the Chinese cultural and audiovisual industries. As part of the President’s visit to Beijing, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on cooperation in the fields of culture and cultural tourism. The ongoing negotiations on film and television co-production agreements also progressed.

21.5.2021 | The Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) has awarded a cultural route certification to the Alvar Aalto Route – 20th Century Architecture and Design. The Aalto Route is the first certified route led by Finland.

24.8.2017 | Finland will join the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA). The aim of the Cultural Routes programme is to increase awareness of European culture and cultural heritage and to promote sustainable cultural tourism. Finland’s membership will become effective on 1 January 2018.

12.1.2021 | The working group that prepared the Architectural Policy Programme has considered how the Finnish architecture and built environment will be able to respond to the great societal challenges. Climate change, population ageing, urbanisation, new technologies and internationalisation are challenges, but they can also be seen as opportunities. The aims of the programme include more flexible use of buildin...

22.3.2019 | Consultation on Cultural Routes in the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) will take place the 26 and 27 March in Helsinki, Finland. Organised in the framework of the Routes4U Project the event will discuss about the Cultural Routes rich and diverse cultural heritage in the macro-region and new cultural routes projects to be developed in the Baltic Sea Region. The event is hosted by the Ministry of Educat...

11.3.2026 | Mr Pietrangelo Buttafuoco President of La Biennale di Venezia Mr Luigi Brugnaro, Ms Tamara Gregoretti, Mr Luca Zaia Board of Directors of La Biennale di Venezia For information: Mr Alessandro Giuli Minister of Culture of the Italian Republic Honou...

18.11.2022 | Minister of Education Li Andersson has awarded eight education providers 13 new authorisations to provide vocational education and training to complete a qualification as of 1 January 2023. The decision will expand the supply of education in English especially in the fields of cleaning and property services, accommodation, restaurant and catering services, tourism services, health and social services, and mechanical engineering and production technology.

18.6.2019 | A report on a viable business model for Paimio Sanatorium commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of the Environment has been completed. It proposes that the Hospital District of Southwest Finland, the central government, the Alvar Aalto Foundation and the City of Paimio establish a foundation to administrate the sanatorium. The future administration and management...

14.7.2026 | Suur-Karja 23 / 15076 Tallinn, Estonia / + 372 628 2222 / [email protected] / www.kul.ee / Registration No 70000941 Commissioner Glenn Micallef European Commission [email protected] Dear Commissioner Glenn Micallef, We sincerely appreciat...

10.10.2018 | The Ministry of Education and Culture and the City of Helsinki decided on 8 October to launch a preparation project to establish a new world-class architecture and design museum in Helsinki. The project will run until 28 February 2019.

3.11.2017 | Parliament has ratified the Faro Framework Convention and passed a bill bringing into force the provisions of a legislative nature of the Convention in Finland. The Faro Convention emphasises the role of cultural heritage as a common and valuable resource, the diversity of cultural heritage, and the significance of cultural heritage as a resource for sustainable economic development. The Convention entered into force internationally in June 2011.

1.3.2023 | The reform of continuous learning, launched under the Government Programme, has promoted the opportunities of working-age people to improve their knowledge and skills, and increased the availability of skilled labour. The final report on the reform implementation and on the next steps was submitted on 1 March 2023 to the Members of Parliament who participated in the drafting of the parliamentary policy approaches for continuous learning. 

18.9.2012 | Opportunities for apps developers, designers and other digital innovators will be boosted as the digital portal Europeana opens up its dataset of over 20 million cultural objects for free re-use.

13.12.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has authorised four vocational education and training providers to use English as a language of instruction and qualifications for five different qualification programmes.

20.7.2021 | Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen will visit the Tokyo Summer Olympics on 23–27 July 2021. During his visit, Minister Kurvinen will attend the opening of the Olympic Games and show his support for Finland’s athletes. He will also meet with Japanese partners to discuss issues related to education, research and innovation.

7.10.2019 | A budget of EUR 6.8 billion is proposed for the Ministry of Education and Culture’s administrative branch for 2020. The draft budget measures seek to increase the skills level in Finland, make education more equitable, improve the quality of education and enhance the wellbeing of children and young people. Financing for the arts and culture will support creative work and production and promote equal access to the arts and culture.

3.12.2019 | China-Finland Year of Winter Sports Closing Ceremony took place at Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi on 3 December 2019. Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen and Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan took part in the celebrations.

10.1.2019 | The year 2019 was designated as the China Finland Year of Winter Sports at the meeting of the Finnish and Chinese presidents in spring 2017. Finland is the first country with which China has agreed on this type of winter sports partnership. The thematic year and the preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing are expected to boost Chinese interest in Finnish winter sports expertise.

8.10.2007 | 8 October 2007, Kajaani

2.4.2019 | Compendium of recommendations from ex- post evaluations of European Capitals of Culture 2007-2016 Brussels March 2018 2 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................

1.11.2022 | President of the International Olympic Committee Dear Mr Bach, We, the like-minded ministers of the Member States of the European Union responsible for the sports agenda, are concerned by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine caused by the ongoin...

9.2.2017 | Fostering Our Common Heritage Implementation Plan for the National World Heritage Strategy until 2025 Publications of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland 2016:44 Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö Ministry of Education and Culture Fostering...