Cultural grants in 2026
Event and project grants (till May 2026)
A total of 143 000 euros was distributed as project grants. Grants were awarded to 53 applicants. There were 122 applications.
- AFRICAN DIASPORA DEVELOPMENT NETWORK, 2500€: Fugu Festival Finland. Showcasing Ghana's Rich Northern Culture through music and crafts
- Alkum Somali Cultural Association, 1000€: Alkum community’s culture and youth center project
- Alttoviulu-opettajien tuotantoryhmä, 1500€: Children’s and Youth Viola Event Altistu! 2027
- Ancient Culture Association Ry, 2500€: Live Garba Carnival - 2026
- Arctic Ensemble Osk, 4000€: For creating the contemporary‑circus piece Karkelot
- Asian Dance Group RY, 1000€: Espoo-Day Event 29th of August
- Emsalö musikfestival rf., 2000€: Symphony of Arts and Nature
- Espoo Creative, 3000€: Creative afternoon for all ages – art, music, and coffee
- Espoon Kirjailijat ja Espoon Kaupunginteatterin Kannatusyhdistys - yhteistyöryhmä, 2000€: Flow of Memories – A Christmas Poetry Evening
- Espoon kirjailijoiden ja Espoon Kaupunginteatterin Kannatusyhdistyksen yhteistyöryhmä, 10 000€: Espoo Book Festival 2026
- Espoon Sotaveteraanit ry/ Espoon Sotaveteraanikuoro, 2000€: National Senior Choir Event
- Espoon Taiteilijakilta ry, 2500€: Pecha Kucha -event
- Espoon tanssiopiston kannatusyhdistys ry, 750€: Espoo Day’s dance event
- Gaamiir ry, 2500€: Somali Literature and Culture Fair
- GAYY ry & Chair Aalto, 1000€: From Fragments/Sirpaleista
- Haukka Juhani, 4000€: The Right of the Silent
- Heidi Holmström ja työryhmä, 3000€: Opening of the Tapiola Central Tower for a public exhibition series
- Hoppi Jenni, 2000€: Image of a Tree – contemporary dance piece and workshop
- Kamarihelmi-festivaalin työryhmä, 6000€: Kamarihelmi-festival 2027
- Kauko Räsäsen ateljeetalosäätiö sr, 2000€: In memoriam Anna & Kauko Räsänen
- Kino Soi! -tuotantoryhmä, 2700€: Kino Soi! – concert series performances in autumn 2026
- Kivenlahden kuvataideryhmä, 700€: Bringing joy to children and the elderly in the Espoonlahti area through art
- Kultturikeskus Ninho ry, 1500€: Kolibrí Festival 15th edition- Living Community – Long Live Community!
- Kulttuuriyhdistys Naava ry, 2100€: Move, Play, Connect – capoeira for children
- Laajalahti ry, 1000€: Children’s and young people’s electrical cabinet art for Laajalahti
- Laininen Henna, 3000€: Intergenerational creative writing workshops in the Planetary Garden
- Lankoski Jussi, 3000€: Espoo Day Stand-Up Festival
- Leminen Maija, 900€: Intergenerational Concert – Dan + Claudia Zanes from the USA!
- Liu-Sertti Hong, 2000€: Art camp
- Los Espoo Music, 2000€: Espoo Days rap special 2026
- Luovat Lyylit, 1000€: Art Belongs to Everyone – printmaking workshop at the Tapiola Library
- Luovuustiimi Satu & Anni, 3400€: Karhusaari’s Craft Workshop – summer camps
- Manla Mohammad, 1500€: Yalla Workshops – cultural music and movement workshops for children and families
- Musiikkikoulu Tauko, 1500€: Dance and Ballads from Ireland
- Musiikki improvisaatioteatteri Sointi, 6000€: mprovised musical and workshop in Finnish and English
- Musiikkiopisto Avonian kannatusyhdistys ry, 2000€: Näppäri course in Espoo
- NotaBene art group, 1500€: Kukkuu Moon!
- Pentala-Herrö Seura r.y., 1500€: Musik På Pentala / Rock the Boat
- POC-lukupiiri ry, 2000€: POC- Reading circle
- Siirala-Marin Tuomisalo Kortekangas, 4000€: Restless Blood – a staged film concert on Espoo Day
- Sinkkonen Johanna, 700€: Organising a participatory exhibition and workshop at Galleria Aarni
- Sotiemme 1939- 1945 Pääkaupunkiseudun Perinneyhdistys ry Espoon veteraanikuoro, 1500€: Choir activities in 2026
- Soukan Kamerat r.y.,700€: FotoEspoo 2026 - Photography competition
- Style Dance Industry, 2500€: Espoo Digi Dance International: Dance & Music festival
- Taito Etelä-Suomi ry, 7000€: Taito Handicraft and Design School – Development of basic education in the art of handicrafts in Espoo
- Talent Tupa ry, 2700€: A play in Arabic: Abd Elhameed's family
- Tanssiareena ry, 3000€: International Liikkeellä marraskuussa festival in Espoo 2026
- Tapiolan Kamarikuoro ry, Tapiola Kammarkör rf, 3800€: Tapiola Chamber Choir’s Baroque music concert Bach and Hasse – friends and colleagues.
- TeatteriQo, 1250€: Karavaani kylässä – a touring event visiting villages
- Teatteri Hevosenkengän kannatusyhdistys r.y / Museo Leikki, 2000€: Vapaus kasvaa – Museum Leikki’s Pride 2026 event for young people
- Tuomarila-seura ry, 2500€: Tuomarila Movie Day
- Understödsföreningen för kören Ecoro rf., 2500€: Ecoro & Kauko Räsänen anniversary year – four Nordic composers
- Ziegler Denise, 1500€: Sculpting Time
- Espoo Big Band ry, 8000€: Finnish jazz showcase in Espoo
- Espoon kuvataiteilijat ry, 30 000€: Art Space Mari
- Espoon musiikki festivaalit yhdistys ry, 6000€: Light art and vocal music – a project for developing immersive concert experiences
- Muistot ja murros -työryhmä, 10 000€: Memories and change (in Tapiola)
- Suomen kello- ja korumuseosäätiö sr, 30 000€: Museum Crown development project 2026
- Suomen Taikurit ry, 18 000€: Magic – Nordic Magic Days
- Työryhmä Tähtihetki, 8000€: Star Moment – digital storytelling workshops for older adults
Art grants
A total of €148,435 euros in artist grants was distributed. The grant was awarded to 22 artists. A total of 108 applications were received, so 20% of the applicants were awarded a grant.
- Alaheikka, Viljami: Film Art
- Eriksson, Lauri: Photographic Art
- Heijster Sten: Dance
- Heinonen, Jonne: Photographic Art
- Jäntti-Tuominen, Markus: Photographic Art
- Kauppala, Katri: Media Art
- Kautto, Toivo: Circus Art
- Kim, Jeongdo: Literature
- Konstig, Joonas: Literature
- Kuczora, Éva: Design
- Kärkkäinen, Iris: Film Art
- Laakso, Heidi: Theatre Art
- Lukkarinen, Susanna: Music
- Nishida, Hikari: Photographic Art
- Niva, Nella: Circus Art
- Pertamo, Karoliina: Illustration and comics
- Preda, Luiza: Photographic Art
- Ruotsalainen, Topi: Photographic Art
- Sipilä, Johanna: Photographic Art
- Tanttu, Antti: Photographic Art
- Teir, Sebastian: Music
- Tikkanen, Tiina: Literature