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The aim is to produce a Government resolution for a cultural heritage strategy effective until 2030, with cultural heritage being seen as a source for sustainable solutions in all areas of society in the future.

International conventions related to cultural heritage Key conventions related to the preservation and protection of cultural heritage are, for example, the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and Conven...

Safeguarding of cultural heritage The UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, responds to the concern about the conservation of the world’s threatened cultural and natural heritage and p...

25.2.2026 | Varkaus – a living industrial cultural heritage – was awarded the Cultural Heritage Label by the European Commission. The label is designated to sites located in the European Union that strongly embody the history, culture and integration of Europe.

31.3.2025 | Joint Finnish-Swedish proposal prepared for dipnet fishing in the Torne River rapids for inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision on inscription is due in December 2026.

6.12.2023 | The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has inscribed the knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass production on the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In Finland, the Ministry of Education and Culture is in charge of matters related to intangible cultural heritage and the Finnish Heritage Agency is responsible for implementing the Convention and coordinating the application processes.

11.4.2024 | The Kalevala, the national epic of Finland, was awarded the European Commission’s European Heritage Label on 11 April 2024. The European Heritage Label is granted to sites, monuments, documents or events that have a particular significance for European history, culture and integration. The label was now granted to seven applicants.

15.12.2021 | UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee has inscribed Kaustinen folk fiddle playing to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at its currently ongoing meeting in Paris on December 15. The Nordic clinker boat tradition, which Finland proposed for inscription together with the other Nordic countries, was also inscribed. Currently, UNESCO’s lists of intangible cultural heritage include more than 600 elements from around the world.

17.12.2020 | Finland’s sauna culture was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 17 December 2020. The decision was made by an intergovernmental committee consisting of representatives of 24 State Parties. This is Finland's first inscription on the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

10.1.2024 | Finland's next element to be inscribed on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity concerns the dipnet fishing tradition along the Torne River. The proposal concerning the living tradition along the border river will be prepared in cooperation with Sweden, which will also coordinate the multinational application. The aim is to submit the application to UNESCO in March 2025.

25.3.2020 | The nomination entitled “Kaustinen folk fiddling tradition and related practices and expressions” has been prepared by the Finnish Heritage Agency in cooperation with the Finnish Folk Music Institute and communities practicing the tradition. Finland’s nomination was signed by Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen.

29.3.2019 | The Ministry of Education and Culture nominates Finnish sauna bathing for inscription on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Finnish Heritage Agency together with sauna associations has drawn up the nomination proposal, Sauna Culture in Finland. Minister of Culture Sampo Terho has signed Finland’s proposal. The decision on whether the nomination is accepted will be received in December 2020.

1.6.2018 | Finland is preparing to nominate two elements for inscription on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. One element can be nominated per year. Preparations for the nomination of the Finnish tradition of sauna bathing will begin first. The nomination will be submitted to UNESCO in March 2019. The next element to be nominated is the Kaustinen folk fiddling tradition. The Finnish Heritage Agen...

23.6.2021 | Knowledge, techniques and skills related to hand-made glass are being prepared to be submitted to the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Besides Finland, the multinational application coordinated by France includes Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic.

28.11.2018 | Finland has decided to participate in the European Heritage Label initiative. The European Heritage Label can be awarded to sites in the EU that have a particular significance for European history, culture and integration.

16.5.2013 | UNESCO?s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage will enter into force in Finland on 21 May 2013. The Convention has been ratified by 152 nations to date. Finland was the last of the Nordic countries to join.

23.11.2017 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has decided to enter 52 elements in the National Inventory of Living Heritage. The National Inventory will be supplemented at regular intervals, and it will be opened for new proposals in 2019 at the earliest. It is later possible for the elements listed in the National Inventory of Living Heritage to be nominated for inscription on UNESCO’s international lists of intangible cultural heritage.

9.2.2017 | Our Common Heritage For a National World Heritage Strategy 2015–2025 Publications of the Ministry of Education and Culture 2015:15 Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö Ministry of Education and Culture Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö • Kulttuuri- ja taid...

30.12.2021 | Finland’s presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers is coming to an end. Although the COVID-19 pandemic naturally affected event arrangements, solutions have also been found. For example, it has become commonplace to arrange remote and hybrid events, with recordings and reports produced for many events that can be used in various contexts, even after the presidency year ends. This documentat...

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...