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Legislation The Finnish state is neutral with regard to religions and churches. However, there are close institutional and legislative links between the State and the Church. The Ministry of Education and Culture administers matters relating to th...

Copyright in Finland Copyright in Finland is under the mandate of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Ministry drafts copyright-related bills for parliamentary decision making and negotiates international agreements involving copyright. It ...

Youth Act 2017 The objectives of the Act is to promote young people’s social inclusion and opportunities for exerting an influence; improve their skills and capabilities to function in society; support their growth, independence and sense of commu...

Freedom of religion The aim of the Ministry of Education and Culture is to ensure the freedom of religion and to provide all people with possibilities to profess and practise their religion. The Constitution of Finland guarantees freedom of religi...

12.2.2026 | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Interoperable, trustworthy, and machine-readable copyright data in the AI era CITF First Project Report (2025:23) The copyright infrastructure is generally understood as a set of rules, technologies and institutions that frame th...

23.3.2023 | On 23 March 2023, the President of the Republic approved a legislative package on the reorganisation of public employment and business services. The responsibility for organising such services will be transferred from the central government to municipalities on 1 January 2025. The reform aims to create a service structure that promotes the rapid employment of jobseekers by utilising all opportunities offered by municipal services.

2.7.2026 | The Government has appointed Minna Karvonen as Director General of the Finnish National Gallery. She has served as Director of the Division for Art and Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Education and Culture since 2018. The term in the new position will commence on 1 November 2026 and continue until 31 October 2031.

22.9.2025 | The Ministry of Education and Culture’s proportion of the 2026 budget proposal is EUR 8.9 billion, which is some EUR 4.4 million more than in the 2025 Budget. Despite continued pressure on general government finances, the proposal maintains investment in education, research and competence.

Copyright Council The task of the Copyright Council (Tekijänoikeusneuvosto) is to assist the Ministry of Education and Culture in the processing of matters related to copyright, and to issue statements on how the Copyright Act (404/1961) is applie...

Religious communities Under the Freedom of Religion Act, the religious communities are the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Orthodox Church of Finland, and religious communities registered according to the provisions of the Act. Religio...

The branch of government of the Ministry of Education and Culture The branch of government of the Ministry of Education and Culture comprises five agencies and two limited liability companies in addition to the Ministry itself. Furthermore, there ...

Persons other than those employed by a ministry may only report a breach using the reporting channel of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice . We do not cooperate with any third parties on this matter. Whistleblower protection Whistleblower pro...

Data protection and processing of personal data at the Ministry of Education and Culture The Ministry of Education and Culture needs personal data to provide services and to perform its tasks. We only process personal data on lawful basis for reas...

Universities in Finland A total of 13 universities operate within the Ministry of Education and Culture's administrative branch. Two of these are foundations pursuant to the Foundations Act and the others are corporations under public law. Higher ...

8.6.2026 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie has presented seven State Awards for Public Information in acknowledgment of the dissemination of significant public information. The award ceremony will be celebrated on 8 June in Oulu, which is a European Capital of Culture this year.

State subsidies for arts and culture Parties that maintain museums, theatres and orchestras are granted state subsidies with which to cover the institutions' operating costs. The Government participates in this way in the funding of cultural servi...

Comprehensive school Comprehensive schools provide general basic education from year 1 to year 9. Some folk high schools, upper secondary schools for adults and other educational institutions also offer general basic education. Under the Basic Edu...

23.9.2024 | The Ministry of Education and Culture’s proportion of the 2025 budget proposal is EUR 8.45 billion, which is some EUR 411 million more than in the 2024 Budget. The proposal implements the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government, which aims to invest, even in a difficult economic situation, in raising the level of education and training and improving the conditions for conducting science, research and development.

United Nations The United Nations (UN) works for human rights, equality, social rights, tolerance and peace. Finland became a member in 1955. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of its goals are to...

Prohibition to seize exhibition items The purpose of the prohibition against seizure is to promote the organisation of important exhibitions in such a way that the return of items can be guaranteed. Upon application, the Ministry of Education and ...