Cultural grants

We do not provide grants and stipends for equipment purchases, publication activities, recordings, studies, theses, travel or clothing.

Personal stipends and project grants are not awarded for rent of premises.

The only exception to this rule is operating grants, which can also be used to pay for expenses related to facilities. 

The City of Turku awards discretionary operating grants to cultural sector companies and foundations that are part of the City of Turku group.

The operators who have signed an agreement include professional artists’ associations and cultural institutions that have established themselves as key players in the city’s cultural production sector. They support professionals in finding employment and increase the visibility of their work.  

In addition to artistic quality and experience, the assessment criteria include the long-term development of activities, continuity, collaboration with other actors, and the scope of other funding. Those who have signed an agreement also include operators that develop and promote education and internationalisation of the sector.

The city drafts agreements that last for three years, and no new agreements are finalised while the existing ones are active. 

The city will begin negotiations for the next agreement in the spring of 2025. At that time, it will also accept applications from new parties interested in signing an agreement.

The grant is intended for associations and working groups that do not receive operating grants from cultural or art institutions. 

We assess the applications based on the applicant’s experience and the recognition they have earned for their artistic work. The main goal is to support the work of professionals.

The grant supports the production of artistic content, but you can also include costs related to premises in your application.

The grant is intended for recreational associations and working groups involved in artistic and cultural work, organising year-round events open to the public in Turku. The grant is not intended for district associations representing specific areas of the city.

We assess the applications based on their potential to improve residents’ well-being, the number of people and participants involved, and the quality of the activities.  

The grant supports the production of artistic content, but you can also include costs related to premises in your application.

Grants for basic education in the arts are intended for operators who have signed an agreement and whose curriculum has been approved by the Cultural Committee.

The grant is intended for associations, co‑productions and working groups based in Turku to cover venue rental costs at the Turku Music Centre Fuuga and staffing costs related to events.

The grant model includes two applicant categories:

Category A is intended for professional, public‑benefit producers of music performances with year‑round activities, significant state funding and a valid agreement with the City. Eligibility for Category A is assessed annually in connection with the City’s operating grant. Category A support covers 100% of venue rental and staffing costs.

Category B is intended for other public‑benefit actors in the arts and culture sector. The support covers 75%, 50% or 25% of venue rental and staffing costs.

The assessment criteria are the suitability of the content for Fuuga’s programme and artistic quality. A prerequisite for applying for the grant is a preliminary agreement regarding the event with Fuuga.
Grant decisions are made by the Head of Cultural Services.

The grant is intended for artist groups in Turku for the purpose of implementing new and innovative projects, as well as for new actors starting their operations, and existing actors experimenting with or developing new ways of operating.

This is a one-off grant mainly intended for groups of professionals.

In their application, applicants must demonstrate how they plan to manage the activities and associated funding after the development grant is awarded.

In addition to artistic quality, we assess the applications based on innovativeness, contributions to enhancing the city’s attractiveness, project versatility, collaboration with other parties, and the number of partners involved. As a general rule, the city does not provide project grants to associations or artists who are already receiving a grant from another category.

The grant is intended solely for the production of artistic content. The project grant is not intended for financing the operator’s general activities. We do not provide grants for the purchase of equipment.

The project must produce an artistic output for the City of Turku or create new models for the provision of cultural services.

 The Cultural Committee may, at its discretion, commit to funding a development project for several years. In such cases, a cooperation agreement will be concluded.

Individual grants are intended for professional artists based in Turku, regardless of their field of art.

The grant is intended for artistic work and may be awarded for a maximum period of six (6) months.

The principles guiding the grant allocation are professionalism, artistic foundations, and a proven track record of previous artistic work. We do not award grants to the same artist twice in a row or to individuals with an annual or multi-annual government grant.

We award the Aboa Grant, a one-year (12‑month) working grant, annually to a professional artist based in Turku. The selected artists represent various artistic disciplines.

The amount of the grant is determined annually based on the level of state grants awarded by the Arts and Culture Agency. In 2026, the amount of the Aboa Grant is EUR  27,129.93.

We assess the applications based on their artistic quality, merit, and the potential to enhance the city’s attractiveness. If feasible, the grant includes the opportunity to present an artistic output at the City of Turku’s art institutions. Alternatively, the results of the work process may be incorporated as a visible part of the City of Turku’s cultural offerings in other ways.