Varsinais-Suomi Grants

The next Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund grant application period takes place from 22 Jan to 9 Feb 2024 until 4 pm local Finnish time.

Eligible Applicants

The Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund supports scientific studies, artistic work, and other cultural activities taking place in or focused on the region. The Fund will award a total of 1,470,000 euros from the general fund and the different donor funds in the 2024 January round of applications. It is possible to apply for a grant in all fields of science and art.

Applying for a Grant

You may apply for a grant on the Online Application Service and provide a reference on the Online Reference Service. All applications and references must be submitted to the online service before 4 pm local Finnish time (EET) on the deadline date. Applications and references submitted in any other way will not be considered. The applicant should familiarise themselves carefully with the application guidelines and make sure they have appended all requested attachments in their application. More information on the January round of applications can be found here.

Grant Focus Areas

It is possible to apply for a grant in all fields of science and art.

In the evaluation of projects, it is considered an advantage if the project, by means of science or art, boosts general confidence in factual knowledge and promotes good interaction in the society. At least one full-year working grant, the total amount of which is 30,000 euros, will be awarded in visual arts. There is also a minimum amount of 20 000 euros reserved for children's culture.

Regional Fund Special Purpose Grants

Spearhead Projects

Spearhead projects requiring larger-than-usual funding will receive a minimum of 40,000 euros in the form of one or two grants. Such projects require fresh or exceptional points of view, content, quality, or design.

Art for Everyone Grant

20,000 euros have been earmarked for Art for Everyone projects in the January round of applications. The aim of this form of support is to promote the equal realisation of cultural rights and to improve the quality of life of people in need of special support or care, through art. The work or project may take place in welfare and nursing institutions or other environments, the residents or users of which may otherwise have limited access to art. Possible institutions include sheltered homes, day centres, and homes of the elderly, hospitals, prisons, reception centres, care units for substance abusers, and child welfare institutions.

Local Culture Projects

A grant may be applied, for example, for projects focusing on local culture of the region and cultural heritage projects, such as documenting cultural heritage, showcasing of cultural environment, promoting urban and neighbourhood culture, and histories of local communities and societies, exhibitions, and events. Local Culture Projects grants may also be related to multi-location or independent-of-place local heritage projects, for home region may be taken to mean a natural environment, a built-up environment, social and mental environment, as well as a virtual home region, which a person themselves finds meaningful. Scientific research into a local culture is not considered a local culture project. Note that applicants for the local culture projects grants must choose the field of science or art that their work most closely relates to.

Donor Funds

The grants are awarded from a general fund and those donor funds open for application in the next round:

Terttu Enckell Fund
Mandi Eskola Fund
Astrid Joutseno Fund
Seija and Kyösti Jumppanen Fund
Viivi and Niilo Kallio Fund
Annikki and Kalevi Koponen Fund
Leo Koskelo-Lassila Fund
Länsivoima Oyj Fund
Perttelin Aaltoset Fund
Rakennustoimisto Ruola Fund
Salon Seudun Sanomat Fund
Urho Snellman Fund
Turun Sanomat Fund
Väinö Tanner Fund
Uuskaupunki 400th anniversary Fund
Hertta and Veikko Valtonen Fund
Varma and Viljo Varkko Fund
Lyyli and Kalle Vihanto Fund
Sauli Viikari Fund
Irma Ääri Fund

Grant Guidance

Grant-related enquiries should be sent to varsinais-suomi@skr.fi. Enquiries may also be directed to Manager Timo Vuorisalo and Coordinator Anniina Majanlahti-Binaku.

Grant Decisions

The grant decisions are made by an administrative committee consisting of regional experts from various fields. If necessary, outside experts can be called upon to evaluate applications. The grant decisions of the January round of applications 2024 will be announced at the latest on May 21st. Both favourable and unfavourable grant decisions will be sent to grant applicants by email approximately two weeks before that. The 2024 grants can be withdrawn from 22 May 2024.

If you need the logo of the South Karelia Fund for your website, newsletter, social media or brochures, you can download it from the link below. If you share information about your grant on social media, we would be especially appreciate it if you use the tags #kulttuurirahastontuella or #skr2024 (grant year).

Download the logos