We are looking to build a brighter future for the visual arts in collaboration with artists. Our aim is to strengthen the collective voice of artists and support their livelihoods and working conditions in a changing world.
Rethinking the Future: Proposals for a New Visual Artist's Association is a nationwide organisational development project launched by the Artists’ Association of Finland and its member associations. Its purpose is to improve the status of visual artists and arts in society and to safeguard the ability of artists’ organisations to fulfil their mission even in a changing operating environment. One or more potential models for a new national organisation for visual artists will be drawn up during the project, while current collaborative operations, particularly those related to advocacy and communications, will be enhanced.
The Artists’ Association of Finland has been awarded a grant of EUR 500,000 by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation for an organisational development project to be carried out between 2026 and 2028.
Project plan
Organisations in the visual arts sector are often small, structurally vulnerable and dependent on public funding, yet existing organisations can offer considerable expertise and share best practices, which can be improved and applied more effectively through development work. Artists are the core of these organisations, regardless of their specific structures, and this will remain the case for any new organisation.
The development work will be carried out through collaboration, phase by phase. Dialogue and participation will be central to the process, and artists and member associations will participate actively in the development throughout the project period.
The practical implementation of the new organisation’s administration, decision-making structure, services, funding and operations, such as exhibition activities, will be outlined during the project, and member associations’ current functions, weaknesses and strengths, as well as threats and opportunities related to the current operating environment, will be examined in detail.
No decisions have been made on merging artists’ associations or implementing changes to their responsibilities. One or more viable models for the future of visual artists’ organisations will be prepared based on artists’ views during the organisational development project (2026–2028). Once the preparatory work has been completed, members of each organisation will decide, in accordance with their rules, whether they wish to proceed with the proposed model.
Schedule
This will be a process of continuous learning; therefore, it is important to state that the project schedule is provisional and may be revised as the development work progresses. The project funding that will enable the development work has been granted for the 2026–2028 period.
We will organise numerous opportunities for visual artists to have their say in the process for us to form an understanding of their wishes, needs and visions for the future. The first participatory events will take place in autumn 2026.
Information about events and other opportunities to participate and the progress of the project will be published on this website and through the communication channels of the Artists’ Association of Finland and the other associations involved in the development work. Visual artists are invited to join future workshops during autumn 2026. Read more about the dates and how to sign up here. Regular project updates will also be provided at open remote coffee mornings held at 9 am on the first Thursday of every month.
From 2027 to 2028, we will draw up a proposal for one or more potential future organisations for visual artists. At this stage, the aim will be to determine the kinds of structures, divisions of responsibilities and resources required to sustainably and appropriately meet the future needs of visual artists, as will be identified in autumn 2026. Building of the model(s) will be based on systematic inclusion and co-development.
Steps and timetables for preparation and decision-making will be clarified during the collaborative development work.
Our objective is to improve advocacy for the visual arts, and services aimed at artists, as well as to enhance the sector’s ability to respond to future needs.
We will examine how existing resources could be used to more effectively benefit artists in the context of advocacy efforts, services and exhibition activities, for example. It is also essential to build a stable funding base that will last well into the future.
What is the purpose of the project?
The aim of the project is to improve the status of visual arts and artists in society and to safeguard the ability of artists’ organisations to fulfil their mission even in a changing operating environment. The objective is to improve advocacy for the visual arts and services for artists as well as to enhance the sector’s ability to respond to future needs.
The work is set against a changed operating environment, with cuts to public funding having suddenly and significantly altered the funding base and operating conditions of artists’ organisations.
Visual artists’ organisations held joint discussions on their future in 2024, when they also applied for funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture for a study carried out the following year. In 2025, the representatives of the Artists’ Association of Finland also approved a strategy for 2026–2027 that included examining the potential of a merger. During the strategy period, a reasoned view will be formed on whether to proceed with a merger of the organisations.
Where are we now and what happens next?
The work is progressing in phases.
In autumn 2026, we will offer artists several opportunities to contribute to creating a shared conception of possible futures for the artistic profession and to explore artists’ wishes and needs. What future prospects, opportunities and challenges are artists facing and how can the artistic community respond to them?
Workshops, hearings and digital participation platforms will ensure that different perspectives are genuinely considered and documented.
The process will be about developing and learning, so the project schedule may also evolve.
How can artists have a say in the process?
We will invite artists to join our work on the future and they will have opportunities to participate through face-to-face and online channels. We encourage as many artists from as many backgrounds as possible to become involved as this will provide us with a better understanding of the needs, wishes and concerns of the artists’ community.
We will inform stakeholders of all opportunities on the Artists’ Association of Finland’s website, on social media and through the participating member associations’ communication channels.
Has a decision already been made about the merger of the associations?
No decision on the merger has been made yet. A decision on a potential merger will be made by the member associations and their decision-making bodies in the future.
We now have funding allocated to the project so that we can explore and prepare one or more models for how artists’ organisations might be structured in the future. Once the model or models have been prepared, the associations will decide on any changes in accordance with their own decision-making procedures.
Who will decide on possible changes?
Concrete decisions on a possible merger or changes to the associations’ responsibilities will be made independently within each organisation in accordance with its rules.
Is it possible that no merger will occur at the end of the process?
All outcomes are possible, and participation in the development work does not oblige any organisation to make changes to its rules or organisational structures, for example. One or more potential models for a new future structure for visual artists’ organisations will be prepared during the project and, once this phase is completed, the associations will make decisions on their futures for themselves in accordance with their rules. This means that it is possible that only some of the associations involved in the development work will join the renewed organisational model or that no merger will take place.
Where can I find more information?
All information related to the project can be found on the Rethinking the future: Proposals for a New Visual Artists' Association page on the Artists’ Association of Finland’s website. Up-to-date information about matters such as the progress of the project, details of workshops and opportunities for participation will be gathered on the page.
We will proactively update members on the process through channels such as the Artists’ Association of Finland’s newsletter and social media accounts, as well as through the communications channels of the participating member associations, including newsletters.
Who do I contact if I have a question?
Programme Manager Mari Tähjä is responsible for the project implementation while Communications and Advocacy Project Specialist Nelli Sinisaari is overseeing project communications. They can be contacted by email; addresses conform to the following format: firstname.lastname@artists.fi.
You can also contact your own association’s representatives in the project working group.
How will this project affect my daily life as an artist?
At this point we are only preparing for a possible future organisational model or models. Members of the visual artists’ associations are encouraged to take an active role in the preparatory work through workshops and online surveys, for example. By becoming involved, you can have a say in the development of your association.
The associations will carry on their activities and services as usual during the development work phase. As part of the development work, efforts will also be made to actively pilot shared practices that benefit members even within the framework of the current organisational model.
Will existing associations and members lose their decision-making powers?
Associations have the decision-making power over any changes affecting themselves and/or their members in accordance with their respective rules. We currently do not know what the new organisational model or models will be. Various organisational models, decision-making structures and related matters will be examined during the preparatory work.
What will happen to the activities that the associations currently offer, such as galleries, exhibitions and services?
No decisions or agreements have been made yet. The purpose of the development work is to find the best solutions for delivering services that are important to artists and carrying out the associations’ core activities in a sustainable, logical and efficient manner in the future.
Exhibition activities are an essential part of the associations’ service, and a merger would not jeopardise this service. Consequently, a potential merger between the associations would not require the cessation of galleries or art sales operations. Decisions on exhibition activities will also be made by artists themselves.
Where will the project funding come from and will this affect the outcome?
The project is funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation. The funding covers the work of the programme manager and the communications and advocacy project specialist, for example, and will allow future work to be carried out without putting pressure on the associations’ core duties. Some of the project funding will also be allocated to improving cooperation between the associations and developing current activities, particularly those related to communications and advocacy.
The work, daily life and future of visual artists are the heart of the project. The development work will be based on artists’ experiences, needs and views, and artists are encouraged to participate to ensure that the greatest variety of insights is received and that future activities serve everyone in the visual arts sector.
Information about the project will be published on the Artists’ Association of Finland’s website and other communication channels and the participating member associations’ communication channels.
The project participants are the Artists’ Association of Finland and its member associations: Finnish Painters’ Union, Association of Finnish Printmakers, Association of Photographic Artists, Artists’ Association MUU and Union of Finnish Art Associations.
The development work and project progress are led by Programme Manager Mari Tähjä and Communications and Advocacy Project Specialist Nelli Sinisaari.
Visual artists are at the core of the development work and are among the project’s key stakeholders and decision-makers. Engaging a number of visual artists with diverse views is essential to the success of the project.
If the organisational model or models generated during the project require changes to associations’ rules or structures, each association involved in the development work will make decisions on the changes independently in accordance with its own rules, leaving the decision-making powers over visual artists’ organisational activities in the hands of visual artists.
The project is steered by the Board of the Artists’ Association of Finland, which consists of the chairs of the member associations. Practical modelling work is supported by a working group composed of representatives from all participating associations:
- Henna Harri, Association of Photographic Artists (deputy: Hertta Kiiski, Association of Photographic Artists)
- Kukka-Maaria Kärki, Union of Finnish Art Associations (deputy: Tiina Vehkaperä, Union of Finnish Art Associations)
- Elisa Lientola, Finnish Painters’ Union (deputy: Tiitus Petäjäniemi, Finnish Painters’ Union)
- Timo Soppela, Artists’ Association MUU (deputy: Noora Ylipieti, Artists’ Association MUU)
- Riikka Tuomarla, Association of Finnish Printmakers (deputy: Tuukka Peltonen, Association of Finnish Printmakers)
- Annukka Vähäsöyrinki, Artists’ Association of Finland (deputy: Laura Salo, Artists’ Association of Finland)
The activities of the working group are supported by Janne Marniemi, a specialist in organisational development.