Cultural development grant to support cooperation and the renewal of Espoo’s cultural offerings
What kind of cultural activities have not yet been experienced in Espoo? Are innovation and multidisciplinary cooperation strengths of your community?
In October 2024, the City of Espoo’s Culture Committee decided on a development grant, which is open for applications for the first time between 3 February and 1 September 2025.
The grant is intended for the development of new forms of activity that increase vibrant urban culture in Espoo. The activities to be supported will bring visibility and opportunities to Espoo-based art and cultural operators and respond to the needs of the cultural sector and those involved. The development grant encourages collaboration with professionals from different sectors.
The assessment criteria for the development grant are in particular cooperation and partnerships, responsibility and sustainable development, as well as inclusion and participation.
The development grant may be applied for by communities, associations or working groups with sufficient experience and competence to be in charge of a project and to coordinate it with the cooperation partners. The applicant’s domicile does not need to be Espoo, but the activities to be supported must take place in Espoo.
The lower limit for an application is EUR 6,000. It is to the applicant’s advantage that there are several sources of funding and that the project does not depend solely on the support of the city. The project’s partnerships should already be agreed at the application stage.
“We are expecting to see goal-oriented and bold project plans from the creative fields submitted to the Culture Committee for decision. The cultural grants team is happy to provide advice to applicants. We can, for example, suggest suitable cooperation partners before the application is submitted,” says Specialist Katja Koskela from the City of Espoo’s Cultural Unit.
“Espoo’s cultural operators should keep in mind that Espoo-based entrepreneurs working in the cultural or creative fields can also take advantage of the free business advice offered by the Business Espoo service network,” adds Ville Tolvanen, Business Advisor specialising in the creative fields.
More information on the development grant and application instructions on the website.