New faces at the Artists’ Association of Finland

Mari Tähjä and Nelli Sinisaari are working on the nationwide organisational development project. The project aims to strengthen the position of visual artists and visual art in society and to secure the ability of artists’ organisations to carry out their mission in a changing operating environment. Its objectives are to improve advocacy for visual art and services available to artists, while enhancing the sector’s capacity to respond to future needs. The project will develop a model or models for a new national organisation for visual artists and reinforce existing cooperation. The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation has granted €500,000 in funding for the project for 2026–2028. 

As Program Manager, Mari Tähjä is responsible for the project’s implementation and administration. A central part of her role is building and maintaining an open, trust-based dialogue among the project’s various stakeholders.

Tähjä is an experienced expert in strategic foresight, organisational development, and participatory futures work. She has an extensive background in cultural content and strategic development at the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), as well as in foresight and development work within the non-profit sector. In recent years, she has worked at the Children and Youth Foundation, combining methods from futures studies and arts education to strengthen young people’s future thinking and agency. Tähjä holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and specialises in decision-making phenomena and choice architecture in leadership.

– “Meaningful development requires both sensitivity and structure: the courage to imagine alternatives, the ability to listen to different perspectives, and the skill to guide collaborative work systematically toward concrete results,” says Tähjä.

The project’s second new employee, Communications and Advocacy Project Specialist Nelli Sinisaari, is responsible for the project’s communications as well as for strengthening joint advocacy and communications efforts between the Artists’ Association of Finland and its member organisations.

Sinisaari has broad experience in communications, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement in both civil society organisations and higher education institutions. She joined the Artists’ Association from a position in strategic communications at Häme University of Applied Sciences. She holds a Master of Social Sciences degree, specialising in political science, sustainable development, and social policy.

– “I believe that through encounters, collaborative futures work, and dialogue, we can build a future in which the voices of visual artists are heard even more effectively,” says Sinisaari.

Saara Lehtonen has joined the Artists’ Association of Finland as Communications and Advocacy Specialist, serving as a substitute for Melissa Ahlberg during her parental leave. Lehtonen is responsible for planning and coordinating the Artists’ Association’s internal and external communications, as well as for advocacy together with the Executive Director and the Chair. She also oversees media relations and the overall communications for public art.

Lehtonen has experience in organisational communications, creative writing, and teaching in the social sciences. She has previously worked at the Finnish Cultural Institute in Paris in a role combining communications and production responsibilities. She holds a Master of Social Sciences degree and specialises in cultural diplomacy as well as research on politics and communication.

– “The vitality of the visual arts field and ensuring and promoting favorable conditions for artists are essential to Finnish society. It’s great to work with communication and advocacy on these issues, and I look forward to collaborating with artists, stakeholders, and decision-makers,” says Lehtonen.

Contact Information

Mari Tähjä
Tel. +358 50 513 3142
mari.tahja@artists.fi

Nelli Sinisaari
Tel. +358 50 514 6458
nelli.sinisaari@artists.fi

Saara Lehtonen
Tel. +358 50 553 2865
saara.lehtonen@artists.fi

The internship of Iisa Lusa, Administrative Assistant, at the Artists’ Association of Finland has come to an end. Warm thanks to Iisa for her contribution!